June 11, 2017 – Ephesians 4:7-10

Lesson Date: June 11, 2017

Focal Scripture Passage: Ephesians 4:7-10

AIM: To lead students to recognize that Jesus Christ has gifted every believer for service and allowed us to participate in His victory over Satan and his forces, and to commit themselves to victoriously serving the Lord through His church.

Before class: Read the notes on Ephesians 4:7-10 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book. Enlist some class members who are comfortable reading aloud to look up the following scriptures and be prepared to read them when called upon: Luke 16:19-31; 2 Corinthians 2:14-16; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Colossians 2:15; 1 Peter 3:19; 2 Peter 2:4.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Ask the students if they’ve ever seen one of those old movies about ancient Rome, in which a conquering general paraded through the streets of the city, leading captives and the spoils of war. Tell them such victory parades actually took place in ancient times. The parade was called a “triumph.” Read the following:

A Roman military triumphal procession was one of the grandest spectacles of ancient times. It was granted to a conqueror only when certain conditions had been fully complied with. Among these it was required that the victory be complete and decisive, that it should be over a foreign foe, that at least five thousand of the enemy should be slain in a single battle, that the conquest should extend the territory of the state, and that it put an end to the war. When the senate decided that all required conditions had been met, a day was appointed and every necessary arrangement was made for the splendid pageant. When the day arrived the people crowded the streets and filled every place from which a good view of the procession could be obtained. The temples were all open and decorated with flowers, and incense was burned on every altar. Fragrant odors from burning spices were profusely scattered through the temples and along the streets, filling the air with perfume.

In the procession were the senate and chief citizens of the state, who by their presence honored the conqueror. The richest spoils of war—gold, silver, weapons of every description, standards, rare and costly works of art, and everything that was deemed most valuable by either conqueror or vanquished—were carried in open view in the procession. The general in whose honor the triumph was decreed rode in a chariot that was of peculiar form and drawn by four horses. His robe was embroidered with gold, and his tunic with flowers. In his right hand was a laurel bough, and in his left, a scepter. On his brow there was a wreath of Delphic laurel. Amid the shouts of the soldiers and the applause of the populace, the conqueror was carried through the streets to the temple of Jupiter, where sacrifices were offered, after which there was a public feast in the temple.^[1]

Tell the class in today’s lesson we will learn a little about the victory Jesus Christ won and how we get to share in that victory.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind the students that we are in the midst of a six-month study of the New Testament book of Ephesians.
   • Remind them that the Apostle Paul spent a great deal of time in Ephesus during his missionary journeys. He was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote this letter to the believers there (locate Rome and Ephesus on the map).
   • Ask: “What did we learn about in chapter 1?” (the fact that all three persons of the Godhead are involved in salvation).
   • Ask: “What did we learn about in chapter 2?” (God’s plan and purpose for salvation).
   • Ask: “What did we learn about in chapter 3?” (God saves Jews and Gentiles the same way and places them together in one new body – the church).
   • Ask if any volunteer would be willing to recite last week’s memory verse (Eph. 4:1).
   • To help set the context, read Ephesians 4:1-6 to the class.
   • Ask: “How did you do at walking worthy of the Lord this week? Did your life manifest lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, unity, and peace?”
2. Gifts of Grace.
   • Read Ephesians 4:7.
   • Ask: “Who has been given grace?” (“every one of us” – all Christians).
   • Ask: “How much grace have we been given?” (“according to the measure of the gift of Christ” – all that Jesus Christ wants us to have).
   • Ask: “What must we do to earn that grace?” (it cannot be earned, it is a gift).
   • Explain that the grace gifts Christ gives believers are our individual spiritual gifts, through which we serve Him in His church. We will learn more about that next week.
   • Tell the class in ancient times conquering generals often gave gifts to those who shared in their victory.
   • The Bible pictures Jesus as a victorious King. Let’s learn about that victory.
3. Christ Ascended and Gave Gifts.
   • Read Ephesians 4:8.
   • Ask: “Where does this verse say Jesus went?” (He ascended on high – to heaven).
   • Ask: “Who did He lead?” (He led those who had previously been captives).
   • Ask: “To whom did He give gifts?” (to men).
   • Explain that just as ancient generals and kings led victory parades and gave gifts to those who shared in their victory, Jesus Christ is pictured in this verse as a triumphant king, leading a victory parade and giving gifts.
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read 2 Corinthians 2:14-16.
   • Explain the following:
     • The word triumph in verse 14 refers to a victory parade, like the one you described earlier.
     • We (those who are saved) are a sweet smell to God. Victory parades included a lot of flowers and perfumes, producing a sweet smell.
     • The ancient victory parades included both the victorious soldiers who were celebrating the victory, as well as some captives who might be executed at the end of the parade.
     • The sweet smell of the parade would be a smell of life and triumph to the victors, but a smell of impending death to the captives.
     • In Christ’s victory parade we are the sweet smell of life to all who are saved, but the smell of impending and ultimate doom to Satan, his demons, and all who are lost.
4. Christ’s Brief Ministry in the Lower Parts of the Earth.
   • Tell the class that verses 9-10 are parenthetical; the real thrust of this passage is that Jesus Christ has given His children gifts with which to serve Him (we’ll learn more about that next week). For now, let’s see what those verses say.
   • Read Ephesians 4:9-10.
   • Ask: “If Jesus Christ is the one who ascended (verse 8), where does this verse say He descended?” (“into the lower parts of the earth”).
   • Explain that this phrase can be used to refer to the mother’s womb ( 139:15) or to physical death (Ps. 63:9), but many scholars believe in this context it refers to the place where the spirits of the dead went in Old Testament times.
   • The Old Testament speaks of the unrighteous going to a place of terrible torment called either “hell,” “hades” or “the pit.”
   • Since Jesus’ blood is the only thing that pays the price for sin and makes one fit for heaven, the righteous people who died before Jesus’ crucifixion went to a place of bliss, peace, and rest, referred to as “paradise” or “Abraham’s bosom.”
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read Luke 16:19-31.
     • That familiar passage says the lost rich man went to hell where he was in terrible torment.
     • Lazarus went to Abraham’s bosom where he was in comfort and bliss.
   • Explain that the place of torment and the place of paradise were two separate and distinct compartments of one larger place, called sheol (the Hebrew word used in the Old Testament to refer to the place of the dead, both righteous and unrighteous).
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read 2 Peter 2:4.
     • That verse says some of the angels who sinned are held in chains in hell.
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read 1 Peter 3:19.
     • Tell the class that verse says Jesus Christ went and preached (literally made an announcement) to the spirits in prison.
     • That does not mean those who were lost got a second chance to be saved. They merely heard an important announcement.
   • Summarize all of this by explaining the following:
     • When Jesus Christ died on the cross He made a brief trip to sheol, the place of the Old Testament dead.
     • While there, He announced His completed work of redemption and His triumph over Satan and his evil forces.
     • Jesus also “led captivity captive,” taking the spirits of the righteous dead from paradise to heaven, where they could be in God’s presence.
   • Stress the fact that saved persons who die now go directly to heaven.
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read 2 Corinthians 5:8.
   • When a Christian today is “absent from the body” (dead), he or she is immediately “present with the Lord.”
5. Christ’s Triumph.
   • Say: “If Christ triumphed, it is logical for us to ask who He triumphed over.”
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read Colossians 2:15.
   • Remind the class that in the Bible the words “principalities and powers” refer to demon spirits (see Eph. 3:10; 6:12).
   • Ask: “What did Jesus do to those demon spirits?” (He made a public spectacle of them).
   • Jesus Christ made a public spectacle of Satan’s forces, much like an ancient conquering general.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Ask the following rhetorical question: “What does all of this mean to us?” Tell the class that ancient conquering kings gave gifts to those who participated in their victory. While we had nothing to do with Christ’s triumph over Satan, He has chosen to include us in the triumph parade and to give us gifts.

Say: “Jesus Christ has won the victory over Satan and his forces. Jesus lets His children be part of the victory celebration. He has given us gifts.”

Ask: “When ancient generals gave gifts to those who were included in the triumph, how do you think those people felt toward the general?” (thankful and eternally loyal – because of their love and devotion to the general they would follow him into any future battle). Ask: “How do you think we should feel toward Jesus Christ, our triumphant King?” (we should be eternally grateful to Him; our love and devotion should motivate us to serve and follow Him anywhere).

Tell the class that Christians must realize that we are on the winning side, because Jesus Christ causes us to triumph. We ought to thank God for that. Lead a prayer of thanksgiving.

After that prayer, tell the students that since Jesus has given us gifts with which to serve Him in His church, we should get to work for Him. If your class is in need of Care Group Leaders, an Outreach Leader, or those who will go out on visitation, tell them now. Invite them to speak to the Class Coordinator or to you about this after class. Lead a closing prayer of commitment to victoriously serve the Lord through His church.

CONCLUSION: Tell the students to remember that through Jesus Christ they are victors. Urge them to get busy serving the Lord through the church. We will learn more about that in next week’s lesson.

^[1] Freeman, J. M., & Chadwick, H. J. (1998). Manners & Customs of the Bible (pp. 541–542). North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers.