• Lesson 12 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 6:10-17.

The sword of the Spirit may be one of the most distinctive parts of the Christian armor because while everything else seems to be protective in defense, swords can go on the offense as well. The word of God is a tool that not only helps us to know God better, but it helps us ward off the spiritual forces that try to attack us.

Jesus beautifully displays this when he is tempted by Satan in the wilderness to the point where he tells Satan he doesn’t survive simply from natural food, but the word of God (Matthew 4:4).

Paul illustrated for us the reality that a life following Christ is not a game. It is not one we can take lightly or passively. There is a very real adversary who is trying his best to unravel everything God hopes for our lives and cause us to live in despair. Though we cannot always see that working physically, we must be aware there is always a plot and scheme trying to work against us, ready to overtake us if we are not careful and on guard.

If we run to battle with playground clothes, there is a higher chance of us becoming injured or even worse, a casualty. Those garments designed to give us freedom as we play and enjoy are not designed for us to have protection from things being hurled at us from the enemy to harm us. As we have often heard, “You cannot bring a knife to a gun fight.” In the same way, you cannot wear playground and sport court clothes to the battleground.

There is good news. Jesus has already defeated this adversary through his sacrificial work on the cross, but we must take the initiative of receiving Jesus as our Savior and picking up the armor he has laid out for us to take. He is the captain of the army; we are his soldiers. He has the war plan, and we must execute it. But we cannot fight unless we are wearing the right armor.

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• Lesson 11 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 5:17-18.

Paul showed us there are two ways we can live, wisely or foolishly. God’s will is for us to live a life of wisdom by being filled with the Spirit, but this world offers so many opportunities to go in the opposite direction.

The intentionality of our walk helps us choose which path we will take. We cannot overlook all the influences, and the fact that it seems as if there are so many more people in our culture who are proud of living foolishly than living wisely for Christ. Social media and podcast culture emphasize the humanistic and individualistic overtone of our society, which glorifies what makes the self happy and not what pleases God.

Even some Christians seek a god that serves them and makes their life better through what they can acquire in this life rather than God who is calling for their radical transformation into his image through the act of his radical love.

While it is easy to point the finger at those who get caught in the tide of culture, it may be more helpful for us as Christians to engage lovingly our brothers and sisters in Christ who are struggling to discern God’s will for their lives. As we all work to lovingly engage the world to learn of God’s will, we must remember there is a broad gate that leads to destruction but a narrow gate that leads to life (Matthew 7:13–14).

Passivity does not lead to an effective and impactful Christian life. We must be intentional about the way we live and pay close attention to where we go, what we say, what we do, and who we are around in order for us to avoid the traps of drunken or foolish living.

Yes, the days are evil. Culture makes it seem more enticing to consider our own desires above God’s, but Scripture shows us that a life in God’s will is one full of songs, worship, thanksgiving and submission to one another. So let us pray for God’s will and let us sing to and serve God and one another as we posture our lives in thanksgiving to God for all his blessings.

The immeasurable love of Christ gives us access to wisdom and love. We do not have to walk in darkness and foolishness, following after the things of the world that only seek to bring us fleeting pleasures, which set us up for eternal death. Christ’s love disciplines our hearts and minds to want what God wants and walk the road less traveled, experiencing the joy of eternal life with the Father.

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• Lesson 10 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 5:8-14.

Paul contrasted the lives of these Ephesians before they knew Christ with their current lives as people of faith. He wrote, “You were once darkness … you are now light in the Lord.”

Note that he didn’t say they once lived in darkness. He said they “were once darkness.” That’s pretty serious. Darkness wasn’t external but internal. It penetrated their whole lives. But once they found Christ, they became light, and that light began to illuminate their lives all the way to the center.

How does that work? God is light, and as we embrace his dramatic transformation, we will find ourselves shining as lights in a world that loves darkness.

God’s grace ensures you will grow more like Christ over time. If we desire to speak, act and think in such ways that are consistent with our Christian identity, we must talk, behave and think in almost the exact opposite ways of current culture. We are not to participate with those who don’t imitate God. We are children of light, not darkness.

Christians who walk in the light don’t waste time pursuing fruitless darkness. They don’t expend energy doing the kinds of things that displease God and harm their neighbors. Christians don’t do or say the kinds of empty things that cause divisions among people. Verse 13 says the light of their lives should expose sin rather than join sin.

Curiously, if there were no Christians in the world, there would be no need for excuses. Who would notice or care how anyone lived? Who would decide right from wrong? But Christians call attention to sin by the way they live.

Paul commanded believers to walk or live “as children of light.” Just as Jesus is the light of the world, so Christians are to walk as He walked—as lights of the world. In fact, Jesus himself said to His followers, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).

As believers, let us commit to living every day reflecting the light of God that is in us. We walk in light by exhibiting light, exposing darkness, and exhorting unbelievers.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 9 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 4:17-24.

God calls us to put off the old and put on the new. Unfortunately, too often we want to kill the bad habits without dealing with our heart. We try to put off just enough to avoid a negative consequence. So, we end up replacing the bad habit or sinful behavior with something else that displeases God. Maybe we stop looking at porn but never deal with the lust, or we eliminate the bad habit of gossip but don’t deal with the bitterness.

Our old nature will rob us of physical, mental and spiritual strength, leaving us unfruitful in Christian service. The influence of the life of a Christian may be ruined, if one does not exercise a stronger will to stand against deceitful lusts through the power of the Word and Spirit.

When you repented of your sins and turned to Christ by faith, you made a decision to die to self and live for Christ. You have been made new. The challenge is for us to live as who we already are by faith.

One problem is we don’t all think the same way about sin. We continue to justify, rationalize and embrace what we want. But all sin is futile—it never gives us what we think it will give us. It’s short-sighted—it always thinks about the here and now and not the consequences or eternity. It’s ignorant—separated from the life of God. It’s consuming—sin wants more and more.

You can possess all the talent and ability in the world, all the spiritual giftedness, yet your spiritual immaturity will greatly hinder your ministry in the church. In fact, you will not serve well unless you are committed to your own spiritual growth and spiritual maturity.

Too many of us regularly embrace the sins of the old life because they still come naturally to us. It’s easier to go back to what we came from instead of growing in Jesus, especially when going back takes no effort, while growing takes surrender, faith and obedience.

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• Lesson 8 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 4:11-16.

Paul didn’t simply offer good moral advice with a spiritual flavor. He intended to root Jesus’ behavior into our Christian identity, and he knew the best tool given to us by God to make that happen was Christ’s church.

The church is not just a random group of people who show up at the same place to sing the same songs and study from the same holy book. Rather, we collectively are called out by God to accomplish his work according to his gospel.

God expects us to work together and to grow together so we, as individuals, will become more like Jesus, and the church will reflect the love, light and grace God wants to show to the world. God didn’t leave us on our own to figure this out. God gave us his Holy Spirit to guide us, and he gave us spiritual gifts to help us minister to each other.

Verse 11 lists four specific leadership gifts given by Christ to build the church and equip its members. This is only a partial list—more are listed in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. The gifts, known as spiritual gifts, enable members to serve the church with effectiveness and skill. The four gifts listed here are given so the church may grow in fellowship, service, encouragement and maturity.

Originally, apostles were eyewitnesses to Jesus and his ministry, and they knew the resurrected Jesus personally. But while the office of apostle was destined to change, the spiritual gift remains. It resides among missionaries and church planters, people who have a deep desire to take the gospel to those who have not heard it.

Prophets are gifted by the Holy Spirit to preach and proclaim the gospel. This is primarily a gift of proclamation, not prediction. People with the gift of prophecy take what God has given to them and reveal it to God’s people. They have a passion for speaking God’s truth and are often church planters. Evangelists are specifically gifted for communicating the gospel in relevant, compelling terms to people who are not Christians.

Pastor and teacher as used here are usually combined to represent different aspects of the same gift. The word “pastor” means to shepherd and protect, and describes someone who leads and cares for the church. “Teacher” means to shepherd and teach, interpreting God’s word to his church.

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• Lesson 7 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 4:1-6.

Since believers are called to serve in accordance with their respective ministries, they should seek to do so with a humble and gentle spirit, with merciful compassionate love, and always seeking the unity and betterment of the church in seeking to keep the peace.

First, Paul said, walk worthy of your calling, and with a sense of urgency. These are your conditions, or the characteristics of believers whose aim is to walk worthy of their divine, heavenly calling.

Second, Paul asked that it be done with humility (lowliness) and gentleness (meekness) of heart—to be completely humble and gentle in your living. God has called imperfect people to serve a perfect God. Believers must know they are blessed to be called by such a holy and righteous God and be grateful and honored to serve, whether it is as a greeter or as a minister.

Third, serve with patience (longsuffering)—do it with endurance. Paul said to this church in Ephesus that they must understand what God has called them to do would not be easy, but it carries eternal rewards with it.

If your ministry is to serve as a greeter, and somebody refused to return your smile and kindness, be patient with them, do not give up—endure the hardship as a good soldier because you know your rewards are stored up for you in heaven.

As Paul wrote in Romans 8:28, you know it is all working out for good to those who love God and are called to his purpose. You might have to put up with other people’s messes and their noncooperative attitudes, but remember you are a part of a royal family and have rewards. You have fellowship with Christ, faith in Christ, friendship with other believers, and your future faith and future hope will help you to endure.

Finally, Paul highlights why believers will do their best to encourage cooperation and unity, rather than chaos and confusion. He wrote in Ephesians 4:3, “being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Being diligent or “endeavoring” means to make every effort. Do your very best to cooperate with one another, to keep the peace rather than to cause chaos and confusion.

There may be times while you are serving in your ministry that Satan wants to cause confusion, because he does not want you and your fellow worshipers to worship God in the Spirit of peace and truth. God wants what is chaotic to be calm. On the Sea of Galilee while Jesus was asleep in the boat there was a chaotic sea, but Jesus spoke, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39, KJV) to calm the situation.

Paul understood that God is not the God of confusion, but of peace. Yes, we are called by God, to work in a particular ministry, but the choice is ours. Yes, there are some conditions, that are set by God and God’s word.

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• Lesson 6 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 3:14-21.

It is a blessing to have a person who loves and cares for you to pray that the love of Christ and Christ’s presence might be present in you. We find in verses 17–19, Paul was praying Christ would dwell in the hearts of the Ephesian Christians; that is, Christ would rule at the center of their intellect and emotions.

Having Christ dwell in their hearts speaks to the Gentiles seeking Christ’s words and way of life to guide them daily. With the Holy Spirit empowering them and God’s riches being supplied to them, Paul concluded it is their faith that will help them to be rooted and grounded in God’s love.

Faith, as mentioned in verse 17, takes an active role in ensuring they would be properly rooted like a plant and grounded, established as one who not only knows God’s word, but is actively living it out daily. As Jesus said to his disciples in John 14:23, the evidence of true, grounded love is seen in the words and actions of obedience to God’s word. “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15).

Paul gave four dimensions (width, length, height and depth) to show the importance of grasping the true depth of the love of Christ. For the Gentiles truly to be knitted together as one family, they must know of the complete love of Christ. If any area is lacking in any dimension, it will be more difficult for them to have the power needed to be unified as members of the body of Christ.

This requires the individual to have a holistic representation of Christ’s love, as well as the collective gathering of the people. If any member is lacking, then the entire unit is lacking because of the member’s absence of love. The earlier scholars looked at Paul’s notation of the four dimensions of Christ’s love, referring to the cross and its four corners as a reminder of the depth of Christ’s love.

As the comprehension of Christ’s love is gained, so will their unity be with God as their Father, Jesus as their Christ, the Holy Spirit as their comforter, and with one another. In Ephesians 3:19, Paul noted the more one comprehends the love of Christ, the better we understand God more fully. But since the love of Christ is so great, it is almost incomprehensible to fully grasp the depth of such love.

This love is so much in tune with God that it defies humanity’s ability to see why someone would go to such great length to sacrifice his life to redeem those who would eventually reject Christ’s love. But because Christ’s obedience to his Father is grounded in God’s love, it is only when we try to understand why God would sacrifice his Son that we can understand Christ’s love.

Therefore, the more we grow in appreciation and understanding of God’s love, the more we will understand Christ’s love. Finally, the love of Christ is the love he bears to us and is the motive of his sacrifice for our redemption.

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• Lesson 5 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 3:1-13.

Because we are blessed to be God’s children (Gentiles and Jews alike), we all have been blessed with the privilege to share God’s word and testify of the mystery of God’s love and the riches of God’s grace.

What a powerful statement to know that previously the Hebrews/Israelites/Jews were the sole heirs of God’s promise to redeem and reconcile humankind to himself, but now through the sharing of the gospel, the Gentiles are blessed to be “sharers” together in promise of God’s saving hope (NIV, 3:6).

Paul was mindful that the first step is accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The moment that acceptance is made known in one’s heart and confessed with one’s mouth (Romans 10:9–10), he or she becomes a part of God’s holy family—they become joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

It is amazing that Paul did not speak of one purchasing a membership, taking a test, or asking someone to join this unique, elite group. Instead, Paul spoke of one’s admittance and acceptance can only come through the gospel, accepting Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior.

Once you are accepted as member of the body of Christ, you have the same privilege as a Jew. We are all one and equal. As stated in Galatians 3:28 (ESV), “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Paul was also mindful that his calling to serve (3:7) was again because of God’s grace. One can sense Paul’s degree of humility and gratefulness to serve. Although Paul was known as an educated student of Rabbi Gamaliel, a Pharisee of Pharisees, none of that mattered to him as much as being called by God to share the gospel to the Gentiles.

The “working of his power” is a reference to Paul’s acknowledgement that only God has the power to save by the preaching of God’s word. It is definitely not within himself that he possessed such power. As Paul stated in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (NASB). “To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things” (3:8–9).

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 4 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 2:19-22.

The Icon of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) is currently the world’s largest cruise ship, five times larger than the Titanic. How are these massive ships built in just one- or two-year’s time? The stateroom is part of a modular system, built at multiple sites. These are then brought to the final assembly area.

We might see the church—this new, holy temple of the Lord’s—as a building project in which the different modules (believers) are joined together.

In verses 21-22 “joined together and built together” are present passive verbs. Present means that the work is ongoing, not finished. Passive means the joining and building are works of God. This work will continue in each of us until we draw our dying breath.

Recall from verse 10, the faithful in Christ (believers) are God’s workmanship. As such, we are not designed to be set on a shelf or displayed on a wall. What a great picture here of God coming to live in the lives of believers. Think back to Jesus’ promise of the Advocate in John 14. He would come to live in and through all who follow Christ.

It is easy in our Western culture to become individualized in our approach to faith. We are more independent minded. However, Paul noted these multitudes of believers are assembled together into one dwelling.

This dwelling is a permanent place. God is not preparing himself a one-room apartment for eternity. He is the architect and builder. Across the world there are old, sometimes ancient stone fences. These fences used no mortar. The builder used rocks of all shapes and sizes to make one fence. The skilled builder had an eye for knowing just the right spot for any rock.

In similar fashion, God knows just the right spot for you to serve in his kingdom through his church. As long as you live, there is a place for you.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 3 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 2:8-10.

As much as you may have despised freshman English, there are times when grammar is important. This is one of those times. “Have been saved” is a perfect passive verb. Perfect identifies a completed past action that continues to have effect in the present. Passive means you were not the cause of action in the verb; essentially you were acted upon.

The “saints, the faithful in Christ” (Paul’s label for the Ephesian Christians seen in 1:1) have a past salvation from spiritual death that continues to give spiritual life in the present. Those once separated from God are restored to relationship with him. These saints did not bring about this salvation.

John Stott has said, “We must never think of salvation as a kind of transaction between God and us in which he contributes grace and we contribute faith.” I think back to the birthday and Christmas presents my sons received from their grandparents. The boys had done nothing to deserve those gifts, except to exist. The gifts were freely given but did not have any effect until the boys grasped them in their hands.

Faith always follows grace. The grammatical order of the sentence identifies grace as the gift, not faith. The pattern we see God develop throughout Scripture is that God initiates the call to grace. Where do many Christians go wrong? They fail to act daily, in faith, to the accomplishment Jesus made on the cross.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 2 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 1:15-23.

It may seem elementary to say the source of our spiritual power and insight is God. However, this is the foundational understanding to putting that power to work in our daily lives. Paul’s prayer can be your prayer, but only when offered in the power of the death and resurrection of Christ.

Scripture speaks of two earthquakes in the crucifixion story, one at the cross and one at the tomb. Can you imagine the power required to resurrect a dead body? It’s no wonder the earth shook!

Paul used three intense words in succession as he described this explosiveness: power, strength and exerted. Incredibly, this is the same power that transforms the life of any believer. Christians must tap into the truth that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead stands ready to energize Christ-like living today. Beware of any who would suggest this power is for a special class of believer. The only condition is obedience.

Battery innovation has progressed immensely over the past 100 years. Your grandfather’s 6-volt flashlight battery weighed about two lbs. The wafer-thin battery in your smartphone is virtually imperceptible and provides more intense light. For all the technological advancement, batteries cannot sustain themselves. They must be replaced or recharged.

It is impossible for the finite human mind to fully comprehend the resurrection power that was made available at your salvation. It continues full strength, never waning. The question we believers must confront for ourselves is whether we will maintain our access to God’s awesome power.

In John 15, Jesus taught this idea using the Greek word meno, to continue, remain or abide. Because we who believe have been reborn by the resurrection power of Christ, we can remain in the vine and bear fruit for the kingdom.

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• Lesson 1 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians1:3-12.

During the “Trial of the Tarts” in Alice in Wonderland, the king declared, “Begin at the beginning.” Paul began this letter at the proper beginning by offering praise to God. Praise and bless are from the same word family; the NIV uses them to distinguish between a benefit we receive from God (bless) and the praise we offer to God.

What is the reason for this praise? The blessings given to all who are in Christ. Psalm 103:2 commands us to “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” We might say the raw material of these benefits was mined in heaven. The blessings of God stand ready at the believer’s disposal, activated by faith. In the verses that follow, Paul defined what he meant by spiritual blessings.

Who is the “us” in verse 4? God’s holy people, the faithful in Christ. What has been chosen for us? Spiritual blessings. The first of these blessings is that we would be separate and unblemished. In Romans 8:29 Paul frames this concept in the language of conformity. God determined that believers would be formed in the perfect image of Jesus Christ.

God’s foreknowledge cannot be compared to human intuition, in which he makes a good guess based on prior knowledge. It is not looking forward into time. It is not even a “Back to the Future” scenario in which God has bounced back and forth through time. Our Creator is not bound by time; in fact, God exists outside of time. Wrap your mind around that! We live in the confines of time; God does not. The good news is he entered our timeline and bought our salvation.

The second blessing, or benefit, is that God predetermined all who received Christ would be adopted. Some would argue this choosing and predestining is about the believer’s individual salvation. It could be said this is Paul’s follow up to the wonderful news—“For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16).

Think about it for a moment: God chose to formalize for you all the benefits of what it means to be a child of God. What you have as a result of your relationship with God is not an accident. The blessings are intentional.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.