Ephesians: Chosen, Loved, and Equipped for Living
Introduction — Sets the context and goal for the entire series
Session 1: Chosen Before Time Began (Ephesians 1:3-5)
Session 2: Loved With a Love You Don't Deserve (Ephesians 1:7-8)
Session 3: Eyes Open to What's Really Ours (Ephesians 1:18-19)
Session 4: Growing Roots in God's Love (Ephesians 3:14-19)
Session 5: Living With Gratitude, Not Grumbling (Ephesians 5:18-20)
Session 6: Standing Firm in God's Armor (Ephesians 6:10-18)
Ephesians: Chosen, Loved, and Equipped for Living
Introduction
We are beginning a short study of Paul's letter to the Ephesians. This is not a detailed, verse-by-verse study. Instead, we want to focus on the big ideas that Paul keeps coming back to—ideas that matter deeply for us as we move through the later chapters of our lives.
Paul wrote Ephesians to a church that was sometimes unsure of who they were in God and what they had been given. In many ways, we face the same questions. After a lifetime of faith, after all the years of church attendance and Christian living, we may wonder: Does God still see me? Does he still have a purpose for me? Can I trust that his grace is enough, especially when I look back at my mistakes? The book of Ephesians answers these questions with clarity and power.
The heart of Ephesians is this: God has chosen you, loved you completely, and equipped you with his Holy Spirit for everything you need. Not because of anything you have done or can do, but because of who Jesus is and what he has accomplished. Paul wants the Ephesians to understand that their identity, their security, and their strength all come from God's choice and God's grace. He wants them to live that truth out loud. And he wants them to stand firm in that faith, no matter what comes.
We are studying Ephesians because we need to hear that message. In our later years, when our bodies may slow down, when we have more time to think about our past, when some of us may feel less useful or less connected to our church family, we need to be reminded: you are chosen. You are loved with a love you did not earn and cannot lose. You have been given the Holy Spirit, which means you have the power of God himself living in you and working through you. That changes everything.
Our goal in these six sessions is not to finish a book or check something off a list. Our goal is to keep our hearts and minds focused on God during these important years. We want to remember what is true about God and what is true about us because of Jesus. We want that truth to shape how we live—how we treat each other, how we respond to difficult circumstances, how we spend our time and energy, and how we think about the future. If we can hold tight to who God says we are and what God says we have, we will not drift away from our faith. We will stay grounded. We will finish well.
As you come to each session, bring your Bible and an open heart. Listen to what Paul is saying. Think about what it means for your life right now. And let the Holy Spirit remind you of the good news that has been true since the day you first trusted Jesus: you belong to God, you are loved, and you are never alone.
Session 1: Chosen Before Time Began - Ephesians 1:3-6
What to Look For
Notice how Paul begins by praising God for choosing us before anything else existed.
Look for the word chosen and what it means to be set apart by God before time began.
Pay attention to why God chose us—it was all about love, not about anything we did.
Scripture
Ephesians 1:3-6
(NIV) 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
(NLT) 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
Note to Self
I have spent a lifetime wondering if I was good enough. I've looked in the mirror and seen my mistakes, my failures, the times I fell short. But Paul is telling me something that changes everything: God didn't choose me because I was good. He chose me before I was even born. Before time started. That means God's choice of me wasn't based on my performance—it was based on his love. When I think about that, when I really let it sink in, I have to ask myself: Do I believe that God chose me that way? Can I accept that his love for me doesn't depend on how well I've lived? And if it's true, what should that do to how I see myself right now, at this point in my life?
Overview
Before time began, God chose that humanity would be His family. He initiates with every person. Those who respond enter the life He intended from the beginning. Ephesians 1 was written primarily as a passage of praise and assurance, not as a philosophical system. Believers should know their salvation rests securely in God’s gracious purpose through Christ.
In our culture, we are used to being chosen based on merit. You make the sports team because you're fast or tall. You get the job because you have the right skills. You're included in a group because you're useful or entertaining. Everything comes down to performance and what you can do. But Paul is introducing us to a completely different way of thinking. God didn't choose you because you earned it. God didn't choose you because you proved yourself. God chose you in love, settled it before time even began, and that choice is not subject to your performance ever changing. For people in our later years, this is especially important. Our bodies don't perform like they used to. We may not feel as useful. We can't do as much. But God's choice of us isn't based on any of that. We were chosen when we were young and strong, and we are still chosen now.
This May Surprise You
Verse 5 says God "predestined us to be adopted as his sons and daughters." The word predestined can sound like God is controlling everything and we have no choice. But that's not what it means. Predestined means God made the decision ahead of time that he wanted us in his family. It's not that our choices don't matter—it's that God's mind about us was already made up before anything bad happened, before we did anything wrong, before we stumbled. God decided we would be his children. That kind of commitment can only come from love.
Seeds for Thought
We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ — Paul is saying that because Jesus died and rose again, we have everything we need spiritually. We lack nothing. We have received all God has to give.
He chose us in him before the creation of the world — This is not about what you have done. It is not about your past or your future. God made his choice about you long before you were born, long before you ever lived your life.
He chose us to be holy and blameless in his sight — This is God's goal for us and his promise. It is not something we can achieve on our own. It is something Christ has done for us and continues to do in us.
In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship — Adoption was the ultimate gift in the ancient world. To be adopted meant you were chosen, wanted, and protected. You were made part of the family by decision and love, not by accident.
Take-Home Thought
At some point in our lives, most of us have felt like we weren't chosen. We didn't get picked for the team. We weren't selected for the job. We weren't invited to the party. Those moments sting. They make us feel less than. But Paul wants us to know that there is one choice that was made about us that will never change: God chose us before anything else existed. He chose us in love.
That means you don't have to wonder if you're valuable. You don't have to earn your way into God's family. You don't have to prove yourself worthy of his love. The decision was made long ago, and it was a decision of love. As we get older, as our abilities fade and our usefulness seems to diminish, that choice remains. You are chosen. You were chosen then, and you are chosen now. That is who you are, and nothing can change it.
Quotes
"God knew that he would one day choose us before the foundation of the world was laid. This shows us the greatness of God's love—it is not reactive but proactive. God does not choose because he discovers something good in us. He chooses us, and in choosing us, makes us good." — John Stott, Biblical Scholar and Pastor
"Being chosen by God is not about being the best. It is about being loved. The love of God does not seek value in its object; it creates value in its object." — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Theologian and Pastor
Biblical Connections
Deuteronomy 7:7-8 — God's choice of Israel was not because they were numerous or worthy, but because of his love
Jeremiah 1:5 — Before Jeremiah was born, God knew him and set him apart; similar language about being chosen beforehand
Romans 8:29-30 — Paul explains that God foreknew us, predestined us, called us, justified us, and will glorify us—all because of his plan
1 Peter 1:19-20 — Jesus was chosen before the creation of the world to be our Redeemer; we are redeemed by his precious blood
John 15:16 — Jesus says, "You did not choose me, but I chose you"; emphasizes that God's choice is primary
Galatians 4:4-7 — When the time was right, God sent his Son, and through him we are adopted as sons and daughters
How Does This Help Me Trust God Today?
Trusting God is difficult when we feel uncertain about our place in the world. If we base our sense of worth on what we can do or what people think of us, we will always be anxious. But if we base it on what God has decided about us, we can rest. God didn't choose you by accident, and he didn't choose you by mistake. He chose you knowing everything you would become. He chose you knowing the mistakes you would make. He chose you in love. That is the foundation for trust. When you don't know what tomorrow holds, you can trust the One who chose you before time began. When you feel forgotten or left behind, you can trust that you were chosen in love. When you wonder if your life matters anymore, you can trust that being chosen matters more than anything you can do.
Session 2: Loved With a Love You Don't Deserve - Ephesians 1:7-8
What to Look For
Pay attention to what Paul says we receive through Christ's blood and what that means about forgiveness.
Look at the two words grace and redemption and see how they connect.
Notice that Paul emphasizes how rich or abundant God's grace is—it is not measured or limited.
Scripture
Ephesians 1:7-8
(NIV) 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,
(NLT) 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
Note to Self
By now, I have lived enough years to know my own heart. I have made mistakes I wish I could undo. I have hurt people I love. I have fallen short of my own standards, not just God's. I have carried guilt about things from decades ago, and I have disappointment about more recent failures. When I think about standing before God, sometimes I wonder if my whole life is just a record of my failures. But Paul is telling me something that feels almost too good to be true: through Jesus, I have redemption. My sins are forgiven. And it's not just a simple forgiveness—Paul calls it the riches of God's grace. It's abundant, beyond what I deserve or can even understand. Do I really believe that God has forgiven all of it? Can I actually let go of the guilt I have been carrying? And if God forgives me that completely, what should that do to how I treat myself and others?
Overview
In today's world, forgiveness comes with conditions. If you hurt someone, you have to apologize and prove you have changed before they will forgive you. If you break something, you have to pay to fix it. Forgiveness is earned. But that is not how grace works. Grace is receiving something good that you do not deserve and cannot earn. It is a free gift. Paul is saying that through Jesus Christ, we have been given complete forgiveness. Every sin you have ever committed, every mistake you have made, every time you fell short—it has been forgiven through Christ's blood. Not because you earned it or paid for it, but because Jesus paid for it.
For those of us in our later years, this is crucial. We have a lifetime of regrets, mistakes, and things we wish we could change. We cannot go back and fix our past. We cannot undo what we have done. But grace says that we do not have to carry that weight anymore. We do not have to spend our remaining years trying to make up for our mistakes. We can be free from all of it.
This May Surprise You
Paul uses the word redemption, which comes from the world of slavery. In the ancient world, a slave could be redeemed, or bought back, if someone paid the price for their freedom. Jesus is that price. He paid with his own blood to buy us back from sin and death. This is a powerful image. Sin has enslaved us, held us captive, kept us from being free. But Jesus has paid the price to set us free. When Paul says we have redemption through his blood, he means Jesus has done what no amount of our own effort could ever do. He has purchased our freedom. That freedom is not something we earn or work toward. It is a gift bought with the greatest price ever paid.
Seeds for Thought
In him we have redemption through his blood — Jesus' death and resurrection have purchased our freedom. Everything we need for salvation and forgiveness comes through what Jesus has already done.
The forgiveness of sins — Every sin you have committed has been forgiven. Not some sins, not just recent ones, but all of them. This is complete forgiveness, not partial.
In accordance with the riches of God's grace — Grace is not something small or limited. It is rich, abundant, overflowing. It is so much more than we need or deserve.
That he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding — God does not give grace stingily. He pours it out abundantly. And he gives it to us along with wisdom and understanding so we can know what to do with it.
Take-Home Thought
One of the hardest things we do as human beings is forgive ourselves. We can forgive other people more easily than we can let go of what we have done. We replay our mistakes in our minds. We think about the person we hurt or the opportunity we missed. We remember the choices we made that we wish we could unmake. And we carry the weight of that for years, sometimes for a lifetime.
But Paul is telling us that we do not have to carry that weight anymore. Through Jesus, we have redemption. We have forgiveness. And not just any forgiveness—the riches of God's grace. It is abundant, overflowing, more than we can imagine. God does not forgive us reluctantly. He does not forgive us while keeping a record of what we have done. He forgives us completely, and he lavishes that grace on us. If God has forgiven us that completely, then we can let it go. We can stop punishing ourselves. We can stop bringing up our old sins and reminding God what we have done. We can accept that we are forgiven and move forward. That acceptance, that release, is what grace makes possible.
Quotes
"Grace is not about wiping the slate clean as if we never sinned. Grace is about making us clean. It is not simply a pardon; it is a transformation. God's grace reaches into the deepest places of our shame and guilt and makes us new." — Timothy Keller, Pastor and Author
"The Christian does not think he is more sinful than other people, but he knows that he is a sinner in a way others do not know; he knows something of the riches of divine forgiveness." — C.S. Lewis, Christian Apologist and Author
Biblical Connections
Leviticus 17:11 — Blood is for atonement; the shedding of blood is God's way of providing forgiveness for sin
Isaiah 53:4-6 — The suffering servant (Jesus) bears our iniquities; his wounds bring us healing
Romans 3:24-25 — We are justified freely by God's grace through Jesus' redemption
Colossians 1:13-14 — We are redeemed from the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of light
Hebrews 9:22 — Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness
1 Peter 1:18-19 — We were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ
How Does This Help Me Trust God Today?
Trust is built on knowing that someone cares about us and that we are safe with them. One of the deepest barriers to trusting God is the guilt we carry. If we believe God is keeping track of our sins, judging us, waiting to punish us, then we cannot trust him. But grace changes that completely. Grace tells us that God already knows everything we have done, and he has already paid the price for all of it through Jesus. We are not in danger of being punished. We are not on trial. We are forgiven. When we truly believe that and accept it, we can trust God in a way we never could before. We can come to him without fear. We can admit our struggles without shame. We can ask for help because we know he is not against us—he is for us. The riches of his grace have already been given to us. That is the foundation for trusting him with everything else.
Session 3: Eyes Open to What's Really Ours - Ephesians 1:18-19
What to Look For
Notice that Paul is praying for the church and asking that their spiritual eyes would be opened.
Watch for what he wants them to understand—the hope, the inheritance, and the power available to them.
Pay attention to the fact that this power is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
Scripture
Ephesians 1:18-19
(NIV) 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength
(NLT) 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power
Note to Self
I have been a Christian for so long that sometimes I think I know what God offers and what he has given me. But Paul is praying that my eyes would be opened—really opened—to see what is actually available to me. He is praying that I would understand the hope God has given me and the power that is working in me. When I think about it honestly, I wonder if I live like I really believe this. Do I actually live as if God's power is working in me? When I face a problem, do I act like I have access to the power that raised Jesus from the dead? Do I really grasp what my inheritance in Christ means? And if God's power is really available to me, why do I so often live like it is not?
Overview
We live in a world that tells us to rely on what we can see and touch and measure. If we cannot prove something scientifically, we are told it is not real or not important. But Paul is talking about something that is just as real as anything physical—the spiritual reality of who we are in Christ and what we have been given. He recognizes that it is easy to miss this reality. That is why he prays that our spiritual eyes would be opened.
As we get older, we become very aware of what we can and cannot do. Our bodies have limitations. Our energy is not what it was. We may feel like we have less to offer. But Paul is reminding us that there is a reality beyond what we can see with our physical eyes. We have a hope that is eternal. We have an inheritance that is spiritual and cannot be taken away. We have access to a power that is greater than any physical limitation. The question is: Do we believe that? Do we really see it? Or are we living as if the only real things are the physical things we can measure and control?
This May Surprise You
Paul says the power that works in us is the same mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead. Think about that for a moment. The most powerful event in all of history is the resurrection of Jesus. Death could not hold him. No human power could have done that. It took the absolute power of God himself. And Paul says that same power is available to those who believe in Jesus. We have access to resurrection power. Not just power to help us get through the day or solve a problem, but the power that conquered death itself. That is the reality Paul wants us to see with our spiritual eyes open.
Seeds for Thought
The eyes of your heart may be enlightened — Our spiritual understanding comes from the heart, not just the mind. Paul is praying that we would see spiritual truth the way we see physical truth.
The hope to which he has called you — God has given us a hope that is not about this world or this life only. It is an eternal hope based on God's promises.
The riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints — We will inherit everything that is God's. It is valuable beyond measure and cannot be lost or taken away.
His incomparably great power for us who believe — The power available to believers is so great that Paul says it cannot be compared to anything else. It surpasses all other power.
Like the mighty power that raised Christ from the dead — Resurrection power is the ultimate power. It means no circumstance is too big, no situation is too hopeless. The same power that conquered death is working in us.
Take-Home Thought
There is a difference between knowing something in your head and knowing it in your heart. You can know intellectually that God is powerful. You can know that Jesus rose from the dead. You can know that you are part of God's family. But there is something deeper than knowing—it is seeing. It is understanding with your whole being what these truths mean for your life right now.
Paul is praying that we would truly see what we have. He wants our spiritual eyes to be opened to the reality of our hope, our inheritance, and the power available to us. When you see something clearly, it changes how you live. If you really saw that you have access to the power that raised Jesus from the dead, would you worry the way you do? If you really saw that your inheritance is secure in God's hands, would you spend your time the way you do? If you truly grasped that you have hope that extends beyond this life, would you feel as discouraged as you sometimes feel? Paul is calling us to open our spiritual eyes and see what is actually true about us.
Quotes
"There is a God-sized reality that exists beyond what our five senses can detect. Faith is not about closing your eyes to reality; it is about opening them to a larger reality." — N.T. Wright, Biblical Scholar and Theologian
"The greatest tragedy in the church today is that we believe in the power of God intellectually while living as though he is powerless. We have eyes that cannot see." — A.W. Tozer, Pastor and Theologian
Biblical Connections
Psalm 19:8 — The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart, and the commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes
Matthew 13:10-16 — Jesus explains that many see but do not perceive; blessed are the eyes that see and the ears that hear
John 11:40 — Jesus says to Martha, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" Belief leads to sight.
Romans 4:17 — Abraham believed that God calls into being things that were not; his faith opened his eyes to God's reality
2 Corinthians 4:18 — We fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal
Hebrews 11:1 — Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not yet see
How Does This Help Me Trust God Today?
Trust grows when we see reality clearly. If we only look at our circumstances—our limitations, our problems, our losses—we will not have much reason to trust. But if we open our spiritual eyes and see what Paul wants us to see, trust becomes natural. We see that we have a hope that cannot be shaken. We see that we have an inheritance that cannot be taken away. We see that we have access to power that is incomparably great. When we see those things, we realize that our problems and our limitations are not the biggest reality. They are real, but they are not the whole story. The whole story includes the fact that God is for us, that he has already won the victory through Jesus, and that his power is working in us. That is why we can trust him, not because everything in our circumstances tells us to, but because we have opened our eyes to a deeper reality.
Session 4: Growing Roots in God's Love - Ephesians 3:14-19
What to Look For
Notice that Paul is bending his knees in prayer, asking God to strengthen us from within.
Look for the words rooted and grounded and what they mean about stability.
Pay attention to the four dimensions Paul mentions—width, length, height, and depth—and how they relate to understanding God's love.
Scripture
Ephesians 3:14-19
(NIV) 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
(NLT) 14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Note to Self
After all these years of faith, I should be stronger, deeper, more rooted than I have ever been. I should be like an old tree with deep roots that cannot be shaken by storms. But sometimes I feel like I am just barely holding on. My faith seems shallow at times. I get discouraged easily. I worry. I forget what I know to be true. Paul is praying that I would be strengthened in my inner being, that I would develop roots in God's love that go down deep. He wants me to understand that God's love is bigger than I can imagine—stretching in every direction, deeper than I can measure. Do I really let God's love sink deep into me? Am I allowing myself to be rooted and grounded in something solid? Or am I still living like a tree with shallow roots, vulnerable to every wind that blows?
Overview
In our culture, we are taught to be independent. We are told to stand on our own two feet and not depend on anyone else. But Paul is describing something different. He is talking about being rooted and grounded—which means being deeply connected to something larger than ourselves. A tree that is rooted is dependent on the soil and the water. But that dependence is what gives it strength. The deeper the roots, the stronger the tree can be.
As we get older, we may feel less independent. Our bodies fail us. We need help from others. We cannot do everything we used to do. This can feel like a loss. But Paul is saying that the opposite is true. If we become deeply rooted in God's love, that loss of independence actually strengthens us. We are not trying to stand alone anymore. We are grounded in something eternal. We are supported by God's love that will never fail us. The question is not whether we can do everything by ourselves. The question is whether we are so deeply rooted in God's love that we cannot be shaken.
This May Surprise You
Paul says that God's love is so vast that it has width, length, height, and depth. In other words, it goes in every direction. It is not just big—it is incomprehensibly, infinitely big. It covers every situation we face. It extends to every moment of our lives. It reaches higher than our greatest hopes and deeper than our darkest fears. And Paul prays that we would somehow understand and experience this love that surpasses knowledge. He is saying that God's love is not just a doctrine or a belief. It is something we can feel, something we can experience in our bones. It is something that can fill us completely and transform how we live.
Seeds for Thought
I kneel before the Father — Paul positions himself in humility and reverence before God. This is the posture of someone ready to receive from God.
May he strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being — Strength comes from the inside out, from the Holy Spirit working in our deepest self. This is not physical strength but spiritual strength.
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith — Jesus living in our hearts through faith is the center of everything. It is where our strength comes from.
Being rooted and established in love — Like a tree with deep roots, we need to be firmly planted in God's love. This foundation cannot be shaken.
To grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ — God's love covers every dimension of existence. It is bigger than any problem we face.
And to know this love that surpasses knowledge — We cannot fully understand God's love with our minds, but we can experience it in our hearts and in our lives.
Take-Home Thought
The strongest things on earth are not the newest things. The ancient redwoods are stronger than the youngest saplings. The deep rivers flow with more power than the shallow streams. The longest-standing mountains are immovable. What makes things strong is not how new or impressive they are, but how deep their roots go.
Paul is calling us to develop roots. Not roots that show on the surface, but deep roots that no one can see. Roots in God's love. Roots that go so deep that we cannot be shaken by the storms of life. After a lifetime of faith, we should be the strongest generation in the church. We should be the ones with the deepest roots, the ones who cannot be moved by circumstances or doubt or fear. Not because we have never faced hard things, but because we have faced hard things and our roots have grown deeper with each one. We are grounded. We are established. We know that God's love is real because we have experienced it across decades.
Quotes
"To be rooted is to know that you are loved completely, as you are, right now. This love does not depend on your performance or your circumstances. It is the very ground of your being." — Henri Nouwen, Theologian and Spiritual Director
"The purpose of prayer is not to change God's mind but to change our hearts so that we can receive what God has already freely given. Paul's prayer is that we would grow in our ability to receive God's infinite love." — Eugene Peterson, Biblical Scholar and Pastor
Biblical Connections
Psalm 1:1-3 — The righteous are like trees planted by water, yielding fruit in season; their roots are deep
Isaiah 40:31 — Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles
John 15:4-5 — Jesus says, "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; you must remain in me"
Colossians 2:6-7 — Just as you received Christ Jesus, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in faith
1 John 4:9-10 — This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son; this is love
Romans 8:38-39 — Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ; Paul lists all the forces that try but all fail
How Does This Help Me Trust God Today?
Trust requires feeling secure. When we feel unstable or uncertain, it is hard to trust anyone. But when we are rooted and grounded in something solid, trust becomes possible. Paul wants us to be rooted in God's love so deeply that we feel secure even when everything around us is changing. Our bodies may be failing. Our circumstances may be uncertain. People may disappoint us. The world may seem unstable. But if we are rooted in God's love—if we truly understand how wide and long and high and deep that love is—then we have a foundation that cannot be shaken. From that foundation, we can trust God with anything. We can trust him with our health, our future, our relationships, our death. Because we are rooted in the one thing that is eternal and unchanging: God's love.
Session 5: Living With Gratitude, Not Grumbling - Ephesians 5:18-20
What to Look For
Pay attention to what Paul says it means to be filled with the Spirit—he describes it in very practical terms.
Notice that he contrasts being filled with the Spirit with being drunk. Look for what Paul says should result from being filled with the Spirit: singing, speaking, and giving thanks.
Observe how gratitude is connected to being filled with God's Spirit.
Scripture
Ephesians 5:18-20
(NIV) 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(NLT) 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Note to Self
I notice that as I get older, it is easier to complain than to be grateful. My body hurts more. I cannot do things I used to do. I have lost people I love. I feel less part of things. It would be so easy to spend my days grumbling about what I have lost and what is wrong with the world. But Paul is telling me that being filled with the Holy Spirit shows up as gratitude and joy, not complaints. He is saying that when I am truly connected to God's Spirit, thankfulness will flow out of me naturally. The question is: Am I really filled with the Holy Spirit? If I am, why am I so quick to complain? What would change if I started looking for things to be grateful for instead of things to criticize? And can gratitude actually become a spiritual practice that strengthens my faith?
Overview
In our culture, we are encouraged to focus on problems. The news highlights everything that is wrong. Social media is full of complaints and criticism. We are trained to notice what is broken and what needs to be fixed. This habit of noticing problems can follow us into our faith. We focus on our doubts instead of our blessings. We dwell on what we have lost instead of what we have. We talk about our aches and pains instead of our answered prayers.
But Paul is saying that the Holy Spirit leads us in a different direction. When the Spirit fills us, we speak in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. We sing. We speak words of thanksgiving. We give thanks for everything. Not because everything is good, but because God is good and he is with us. Gratitude is not about denying reality. It is about choosing to focus on God's presence and provision even when life is hard.
This May Surprise You
Paul compares being filled with the Spirit to being drunk. That might seem like an odd comparison, but it is actually very clear. When someone is drunk, it changes how they act, what they say, their whole personality. They are no longer in control of themselves. In the same way, when we are filled with the Spirit, it takes over our lives. It changes what comes out of our mouths. It affects our attitudes and our actions. Instead of complaints, we find ourselves giving thanks. Instead of anger, we find joy. Instead of focusing on what we lack, we focus on what we have. The difference is that being filled with the Spirit changes us for good, while drunkenness leads to harm. One fills us with joy that is real. The other is a false joy that fades.
Seeds for Thought
Be filled with the Spirit — This is not something that happens once and is done. It is a continuous filling, a constant opening of ourselves to God's Spirit working in us.
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit — When we are filled with the Spirit, our words change. Instead of complaints and criticism, we speak encouragement and spiritual truth to each other.
Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord — Joy comes from the heart. Real praise is not about having a good voice or perfect words. It is about expressing to God from the depths of who we are.
Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything — Gratitude is not optional or occasional. Paul says we should give thanks for everything. This is the natural result of being filled with God's Spirit.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ — We give thanks not to some vague force but to God through Jesus Christ. Our gratitude is rooted in what Jesus has done for us.
Take-Home Thought
There is a famous study about gratitude and happiness. Researchers found that people who regularly write down things they are grateful for report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. But gratitude is more than a self-help technique. It is a spiritual discipline. It is a way of aligning ourselves with God's reality instead of our own negative thoughts.
Paul is telling us that when we are truly filled with the Holy Spirit, gratitude will flow out naturally. We will speak about what God has done. We will sing about God's goodness. We will give thanks. Not because we are forcing ourselves to have positive thoughts, but because we are genuinely filled with the presence of God and aware of his provision. In our later years, when our bodies may fail and our losses may pile up, gratitude becomes an act of faith. It says: I trust that God is still good. I believe that even in loss, I have received his grace. I choose to see my life not as a story of decline, but as a story of God's faithfulness.
Quotes
"Gratitude is the most transformative spiritual practice because it shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have been given. It changes us from victims of our circumstances to witnesses of God's goodness." — Ann Voskamp, Author and Speaker
"A grateful heart is a sign of a heart that is trusting God. When we give thanks in all circumstances, we are declaring that we believe God is good and that he is in control." — Charles Stanley, Pastor and Author
Biblical Connections
Psalm 100:4 — Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks and praise his name
Philippians 4:4-7 — Rejoice always, and in every situation present your requests to God with thanksgiving
Colossians 3:15-17 — Let the peace of Christ rule, and be grateful; and let the message of Christ dwell among you as you sing
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 — Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances
Luke 17:11-19 — Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one returns to give thanks; Jesus asks where the other nine are
Romans 1:21 — Paul explains that ungodliness begins when people do not honor God or give thanks to him
How Does This Help Me Trust God Today?
It is hard to trust someone while you are complaining about them. Complaint and trust work against each other. When we focus on what God has not done, what we lack, and what we are unhappy about, we are not in a position of trust. But when we practice gratitude—when we actively look for and give thanks for what God has provided—we shift our mental and spiritual state. We move from suspicion to trust. We move from feeling abandoned to feeling cared for. We move from doubt to faith. Paul is saying that the Holy Spirit will help us make this shift. If we open ourselves to being filled with the Spirit, the Spirit will lead us toward gratitude and away from grumbling. And gratitude is the gateway to trust. When we give thanks for what God has done in the past, we trust him with the future.
Session 6: Standing Firm in God's Armor - Ephesians 6:10-18
What to Look For
Pay attention to Paul's repeated call to be strong and to stand firm. Look at each piece of armor he describes and what it represents—truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and God's word.
Notice that Paul calls this struggle spiritual, not physical.
Watch for how prayer connects everything together.
Scripture
Ephesians 6:10-18
(NIV) 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
(NLT) 10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Note to Self
I sometimes think that my days of being useful to God are behind me. My body is weaker. I am less visible. Younger people are doing the important work. But Paul is telling me something different. He is saying that I am still in a battle. The struggle is not physical strength or visible accomplishments. It is spiritual. And I am equipped with everything I need to stand firm. I have truth. I have righteousness. I have faith. I have God's word. Paul is saying that I have not retired from spiritual warfare. I am still needed. My faith still matters. My prayers still count. The question is: Do I believe that? Am I standing firm in what I know to be true? Or have I let go of the armor and given up the fight?
Overview
In our culture, we think of retirement as stepping out of the game. Once you reach a certain age, you are supposed to stop working, stop being involved, and enjoy what time you have left. But Paul is describing something very different. He is describing a Christian life that does not have a retirement age. We are in a spiritual battle that continues as long as we live. That battle is not always visible. It is not about physical strength or performance. It is about holding onto what is true when lies come our way. It is about staying faithful when the world pulls us toward compromise. It is about trusting God when circumstances suggest we should not.
For those of us in our later years, this is essential to hear. We are not on the sidelines. We are still in the game. We still have a role to play. We still need to stand firm in our faith. And we have been given everything we need to do that. The armor Paul describes is not about physical might. It is about spiritual reality. And spiritual armor does not wear out or lose its power because we are older. If anything, a lifetime of faith means we know how to use this armor better than we ever did.
This May Surprise You
Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God, and he lists six pieces: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. These are not literal pieces of armor. They are spiritual realities. Truth protects us from lies. Righteousness protects us from guilt and compromise. The gospel of peace gives us foundation and confidence. Faith shields us from fear and doubt. Salvation gives us assurance about our future. God's word is our weapon. The amazing thing is that we do not have to go anywhere to get this armor. We already have it. If we believe in Jesus, we have truth. If we have trusted him with our lives, we have righteousness. If we know his gospel, we have peace. The armor is not something we need to acquire. It is something we already possess. We just need to remember it and use it.
Seeds for Thought
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power — Our strength does not come from ourselves but from God. The more we connect to him, the stronger we become, regardless of our age or circumstances.
Put on the full armor of God — We are not to pick and choose which pieces we like. We need all of it. Complete protection comes from using all the spiritual resources God has given us.
Your struggle is not against flesh and blood — The real battle is spiritual. Our conflicts with people or circumstances are not the ultimate enemy. The enemy is doubt, disbelief, and the forces of darkness.
Stand your ground after you have done everything — Standing firm is not something we do once. It is a continuous stance. We keep standing, keep believing, keep trusting.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers — Prayer is not extra. It is the connection that makes all the armor work. Prayer keeps us in relationship with God.
Take-Home Thought
There is something beautiful about finishing well. An athlete training for years prepares for one moment. A student studies for the test. A craftsperson works to complete the masterpiece. But a Christian life is not one moment or one accomplishment. It is a lifelong journey of standing firm in faith. And the later years are not the time to sit on the sidelines. They are the time to show what a lifetime of faith looks like.
Paul is calling us to finish strong. He is saying that you have been given everything you need. You have truth. You have righteousness. You have peace. You have faith. You have assurance of salvation. You have God's word. You have the Holy Spirit. You have prayer. The battle is still real. The enemy still tries to steal your faith, fill you with doubt, and pull you away from God. But you are not defenseless. You are not weak. You have the armor of God. You can stand firm. You can finish well. You can reach the end of your life having remained faithful to the God who chose you, loved you, and equipped you. That is the message of Ephesians. And it is as true for you now as it was the day you first believed.
Quotes
"The greatest victory a Christian can win is not a single battle but a lifetime of standing firm. It is the person who, after fifty or sixty or seventy years of following Jesus, still believes, still trusts, still walks in the light. That is the armor of God in action." — R.C. Sproul, Theologian and Pastor
"We do not fight for victory. We fight from victory. Christ has already won. Our job is simply to stand firm in what he has already accomplished." — William Gurnall, Puritan Pastor and Author
Biblical Connections
Joshua 1:6-9 — God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous, keeping God's word always on his lips
Psalm 27:10 — Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me; stand firm in faith
2 Timothy 2:3-4 — Endure hardship like a good soldier of Christ Jesus; a soldier aims to please the one who enlisted him
1 Peter 5:8-9 — Be self-controlled and alert; your enemy prowls around, but resist him, firm in faith
Revelation 2:10 — Jesus says, "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown"
Hebrews 10:35-36 — Do not throw away your confidence; you need to persevere so that you will receive what God has promised
How Does This Help Me Trust God Today?
Trust grows through experience. When you have faced hard things and God has been faithful, you learn to trust him with the next hard thing. When you have seen him provide in the past, you trust him for the future. By now, in your later years, you have decades of evidence that God is trustworthy. You have stories of his provision. You have seen his faithfulness in your own life and in the lives of people you love. That is the foundation for standing firm. You are not trusting God blindly. You are trusting based on a lifetime of experience. You know that he is strong. You know that his promises are true. You know that his armor works. Paul is calling you to use that knowledge now. Stand firm. Do not give up your faith because life is harder now. Do not drift away because you feel less useful. Put on the full armor of God. Trust the God you have known all these years. He has not changed. He is still strong. His grace is still sufficient. His word is still true. And you can still stand.