Day 1 - Lord's Day - Sunday - The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, - 2022-2023 - Logos

 November 13

Lesson 11 (KJV)

Christ Is Wisdom

Devotional Reading: Psalm 16

Background Scripture: Acts 19; Ephesians 1:15–23; Revelation 2:1–7

Ephesians 1:15–23

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Photo © Getty Images

Key Text

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what the hope of his calling is, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.—Ephesians 1:18

God’s Exceptional Choice

Unit 3: We Are God’s Artwork

Lessons 10–13

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. List the things for which Paul prayed.

2. Explain the meaning and significance of the “eyes of your” statement.

3. Make a list of people he or she will promise to pray for as Paul did.

Lesson Outline

Introduction

A. Everything Looks So Different!

B. Lesson Context

I. Prayer for the Present (Ephesians 1:15–16)

A. Because of Faith and Love (v. 15)

B. Of Thanksgiving (v. 16)

A Gracious Cycle

II. Prayer for Growth (Ephesians 1:17–19)

A. To Know Him (v. 17)

B. To Be Enlightened (vv. 18–19)

Rags or Riches?

III. Praise of God’s Power (Ephesians 1:20–23)

A. Glorified Christ (vv. 20–21)

B. Body of Christ (vv. 22–23)

Conclusion

A. Live a Full Life

B. Prayer

C. Thought to Remember

How to Say It

Achaia	Uh-kay-uh.
Aquila	Ack-wih-luh.
Demetrius	De-mee-tree-us.
Miletus	My-lee-tus.
Oral	Oh-roo-awl.
Pax Romana (Latin)	Pahks Ro-mah-Nah.
Priscilla	Prih-sil-uh.
Psyche	Sigh-kee.

What Do You Think? How do you incorporate thanks for fellow believers into your prayer life? Digging Deeper How does the state of your relationship with those believers—whether friends, “competitors,” or strangers—affect your thanksgiving for them?

What Do You Think? What blessings do you pray to see in the lives of your fellow believers? Digging Deeper How do you see those blessings benefitting the body of Christ?

What Do You Think? Is hope in the Lord contagious? Why, or why not? Digging Deeper What practical way can you prepare yourself to grow stronger in hope?

Visual for Lesson 11. Play a hymn recording or ask the class to sing this verse together before ending the course with prayer.

What Do You Think? How do you experience Jesus’ rule as a current reality? Digging Deeper How does the knowledge that Jesus has already defeated evil empower you in situations where Jesus’ rule has not yet been completed?

What Do You Think? How has your experience in the church led you to a fuller understanding of who Christ is? Digging Deeper How can you address the failures of fellow believers while still loving the worldwide church as the body of Christ?

Conclusion

A. Live a Full Life

Even the best of times can be very challenging. Paul’s thanksgiving prayer in today’s lesson reminds us that in Christ, we have an eternal reality that has already begun that transforms our lives. We can experience the fullness of living because Jesus gives that fullness to His body, the church.

The call to action for this lesson is quite simple—but quite tricky: rest in the truth of what Paul has taught. We do nothing to create the reality: that the Father has chosen to reveal himself in the Son and bring us more excellent knowledge of Him through the Spirit. All we can do is give thanks for this reality and constantly strive to live worthy of the calling. Our Lord is the Lord of the universe and gives us life to the fullest.

B. Prayer

Thank You, Father, for choosing to show the fullness of Your love through Jesus. We ask that Your Spirit continue to enlighten and guide us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

C. Thought to Remember

Nothing can stand against Christ, our Lord.

 Weatherly, Jon et al. “Christ Is Wisdom.” The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2022–2023. Ed. Jane Ann Kenney, Ronald L. Nickelson, and Taylor Z. Stamps. Vol. 70. Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2022. 95. Print. The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary.