We continue in our two week series through Ephesians 1–3, with guest writer Dr. David Starling. Now to him… | Eph. 3:20–21 The core of the first half of Ephesians, as we have already seen a few days ago, is made up of three salvation stories that Paul strings together in 2:1–10, 11–22 and 3:1–13, to ground… Continue reading Now to him… (Eph. 3:20–21)

We continue in our two week series through Ephesians 1–3, with guest writer Dr. David Starling. That he may strengthen you with power | Eph. 3:14–19 Yesterday our focus was on the reason Paul gives for why he prays. Today our focus is on what he says to the Ephesians about the content of his prayers. Two… Continue reading That he may strengthen you with power (Eph. 3:14–19)

We continue in our two week series through Ephesians 1–3, with guest writer Dr. David Starling. For this reason… | Eph. 2:15, 3:1, 14 Today we focus on just one phrase, “For this reason…”, repeated by Paul three times in the first three chapters of the letter, as a kind of introduction to the prayers that he… Continue reading For this reason… (Eph. 2:15, 3:1, 14)

We continue in our two week series through Ephesians 1–3, with guest writer Dr. David Starling. Your story—from mystery to revelation | Eph. 3:1-13 Our passage today (Eph. 3:1–13) is the last of the three salvation-stories that Paul includes within this central section of the first half of the letter. Each of the stories has a… Continue reading Your story—from mystery to revelation (Eph. 3:1–13)

We continue in our two week series through Ephesians 1–3, with guest writer Dr. David Starling. Your story—from far to near | Eph. 2:11-22 Yesterday’s passage (Eph. 2:1–11) was the first of three salvation-stories that Paul tells within this central section of the first half of the letter: a story about the dead being brought to life.… Continue reading Your story—from far to near (Eph. 2:11–22)

We continue in our two week series through Ephesians 1–3, with guest writer Dr. David Starling. Your story—from death to life | Eph. 2:1-11 How do we learn who we are? A big part of the process is the stories that we’re told and retell to each other. As the people of God, in the Old Testament… Continue reading Your story—from death to life (Eph. 2:1–11)

We continue in our two week series through Ephesians 1–3, with guest writer Dr. David Starling. In order that you may know | Eph. 1:15–23 How should we pray for one another (and for ourselves) in the light of the things Paul has been writing about in verses 3–14? If God is the one who is… Continue reading In order that you may know (Eph. 1:15–23)

We continue in our two week series through Ephesians 1–3, with guest writer Dr. David Starling. And you also | Eph. 1:11–14 As we saw yesterday, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians begins (after the initial greeting in verses 1–2) with a doxology—a psalm of praise that blesses God for all the gracious, saving things that he… Continue reading And you also (Eph. 1:11–14)

We continue in our two week series through Ephesians 1–3, with guest writer Dr. David Starling. Beginning with a Blessing | Eph. 1:1–10 You can tell a lot about a letter from the way it begins: Paul’s letter-openings are never just conventional throat-clearing, warming up his voice (and warming up the audience) before he gets… Continue reading Beginning with a blessing (Eph 1:1-10)

As we study the first three chapters of Ephesians over the next two weeks, our guest writer is Dr. David Starling. David teaches New Testament with me at Morling College and is head of Bible & Theology. He used to be the senior pastor at Petersham Baptist Church in Sydney, and is the author of UnCorinthian… Continue reading Introducing Ephesians