Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
May God Bless You and your blog.
May God Bless You and your blog.
Thanks!
Thanks!
v.4-6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called ; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
One body; one Spirit; one hope; one Lord; one faith; one baptism; one Father.
v.4-6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called ; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
One body; one Spirit; one hope; one Lord; one faith; one baptism; one Father.
v.3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
(From Barclay) “the spirit which bears insult and injury without bitterness and without complaint. It is the spirit which bears the sheer foolishness of men without irritation. It is the spirit which can suffer unpleasant people with graciousness and fools without complaint”.
v.3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
(From Barclay) “the spirit which bears insult and injury without bitterness and without complaint. It is the spirit which bears the sheer foolishness of men without irritation. It is the spirit which can suffer unpleasant people with graciousness and fools without complaint”.
v.10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.
In the NLT
“And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.”
Reminds me of Revelation 21:22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
One day, with the entire universe filled with the presence of God there will be no need of a temple.
v.10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.
In the NLT
“And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.”
Reminds me of Revelation 21:22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
One day, with the entire universe filled with the presence of God there will be no need of a temple.
v.14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
Men in their cunning and craftiness and deceitful scheming. Reminds me of some atheists I’ve been reading about recently that quote sources as if they are authoritative when they are not.
v.14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
Men in their cunning and craftiness and deceitful scheming. Reminds me of some atheists I’ve been reading about recently that quote sources as if they are authoritative when they are not.
v.15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
We are to grow up into Christ so there is always something more. We need never get bored with the Christian life.
I find speaking the truth in love a challenge, not so much the love part – though that is not always easy, but rather the speak part, because mostly I would rather keep quiet.
God wants us to grow up and he provides all the means for us to do so.
v.15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
We are to grow up into Christ so there is always something more. We need never get bored with the Christian life.
I find speaking the truth in love a challenge, not so much the love part – though that is not always easy, but rather the speak part, because mostly I would rather keep quiet.
God wants us to grow up and he provides all the means for us to do so.
v.11-13 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers so that the body of Christ would mature. Different ministries one purpose to build up the body.
v.11-13 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers so that the body of Christ would mature. Different ministries one purpose to build up the body.
v.8 “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”
In the Message:
v.8 He climbed the high mountain, He captured the enemy and seized the booty, He handed it all out in gifts to the people.
This pictures Christ as the victorious king (took many captives) giving gifts. Interesting that the defeat of the enemy is connected with God giving gifts to his people. But perhaps it just emphasises that Christ is indeed victorious and as a gracious victor gives gifts to his people.
v.8 “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”
In the Message:
v.8 He climbed the high mountain, He captured the enemy and seized the booty, He handed it all out in gifts to the people.
This pictures Christ as the victorious king (took many captives) giving gifts. Interesting that the defeat of the enemy is connected with God giving gifts to his people. But perhaps it just emphasises that Christ is indeed victorious and as a gracious victor gives gifts to his people.