Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians (and us).

Have you heard stories about people with enormous amounts of wealth and yet they live like paupers? Warren Wiersbe wrote in Be Rich:

“She had gone down in history as ‘America’s Greatest Miser,’ yet when she died in 1916, ‘Hetty’ Green left an estate valued at over $100 million. She ate cold oatmeal because it cost to heat it. Her son had to suffer leg amputation, because she delayed so long in looking for a free clinic, that his case became incurable. She was wealthy, yet she chose to live like a pauper.”

Sometimes having wealth can be a blessing in one’s life or a curse. Why is it that wealth can oftentimes destroy a person’s life? “I’d like that challenge,” you say. People don’t want to be poor, yet, I believe history has recorded that many, if not most, lack the capacity to handle wealth. (The story of the “prodigal son” testifies to this.)

Paul was concerned that the Christians would never know of, appreciate or use the wealth of blessings that God has given.

Paul teaches us that God, our Father, has entrusted us with great wealth. Ephesians 1:3 says that He has “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ.” What are some of these blessings? Do we have the capacity to appreciate and use them? Paul wants us to understand that, not only has God provided us with these spiritual blessings, but also the capacity to enjoy them and use them for His glory.

In the study of Chapters 1-3 we will learn about

• the wealth of blessings that are found in relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ;
• how, when and why they were given;
• how God has equipped the Christian with all that is necessary to use and enjoy them–not for oneself only, but for others, and especially our heavenly Father.

It’s important to realize that Paul wrote chapters 1-3 because the spiritual learning from these words is necessary for accomplishing what is written in chapters 4-6.

The class begins at 9:30 am. We begin on time so please make a special effort to be there on time.