Bible Study

Day 1-Matthew 10:37-39 ; Romans 1:1; Ephesians 3:1-2
We often think of Christian stewardship as being the management of our money, but it
can be much more than that. Paul was a prisoner of Christ for the sake of the Gentiles
(Ephesians 3:1). His stewardship was of God's grace and was given to him (Ephesians
3:2). From these verses, we can see some important things concerning stewardship. We
may not a prisoner, but we are called to be bondservants of Christ (Romans 1:1). We
serve others, yes, butwe serve them as a servant of Christ. Paul's stewardship was for
the sake of the Gentiles; he was to do this for their good and benefit. God gives
us responsibilities for the sake of others, and in one of paradoxes found in Christian
living, it is when we lose our "self" in fulfilling these responsibilities that we truly find
our "self" in Christ. Paul's stewardship was of God's grace in bringing the Gentiles into
Christ's body, the church. The responsibilities God gives us may not be the same as
Paul's, but they are specific things given to us from God.

Day 2-Galatians 1:15-18; Ephesians 3:3-4
Paul's stewardship was concerning God's grace in bringing the Gentiles and Jews into
one body. In Galatians, Paul tells us that after God converted him on the road to
Damascus, he went to Arabia. He did not receive the gospel from man, but rather from
God when he was alone in the desert in Arabia. What he had the responsibility to tell
people was not from man but from God. Isn't that what a true stewardship is? It should
not be something we decide to do or others think we should do. It should not even
be something which "needs" to be done. It must be given to us from God.
Think of the things, the responsibilities, you are doing "for God". Are
given to you by God, or do them originate from self or from others?

Day 3-Ephesians 3:3-6
The word translated "mystery" is "musterion" and has different New
Testament meanings:
(1) Something hidden or not made manifest (ex. II Thessalonians 2:7)
(2) Some sacred thing which is hidden or secret and cannot be
known by man's natural reasoning but can only be known
through God's revelation to man (ex. I Timothy 3:16).
(3) In Paul's writings it is sometimes applied to the calling of the
Gentiles and the fact that the Gentiles should be a part of
Christ's body, the church (ex. Ephesians 1:9; 3:9, 6:19).
(4) A spiritual truth hidden under an external representation
and only understood if some explanation is given (ex. Ephesians 5:32).
In classical Greek writings, this word "musterion" was often used for secret political or
religious information which was communicated to those initiated into the group and
which was in turn to be kept secret. (Lexical Aids to the New Testament, Key Word Study
Bible)

Day 4-Ephesians 3:3-6
Looking back to the meanings of the word "mystery" from Day 3, can you see some
differences in the mysteries revealed in the Bible and those passed between men in the
Greek societies? First, biblical mysteries are from God and revealed by Him through His
apostles and prophets through His word. Man may help one another understand the
truths of God, but be wary of anyone who says he has a new revelation from God.
Secondly, the mysteries based within the Greek societies were to be kept secret,
revealed only within the society. God has given His scriptures with its revelations
concerning "mysteries" and other truths for all men, although natural man may not be
capable of understanding them all. As an apostle, Paul was given the stewardship to
reveal truths in the scriptures. As followers of Christ, we are given the responsibility to
share the truths revealed in the scriptures with all those around us, not
just a select few.

Day 5-Ephesians 3:6
The message Paul was entrusted with was that the Gentiles were fellow heirs, fellow
members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise. "Fellow heir" means an heir
together, a joint heir. The Gentiles were joint heirs with the Jews because all members
of Christ's body are joint heirs with one another. "Fellow members of one body" means
that all saints are together or united in one body which is Christ's church. "Fellow
partaker" means a sharer together with others. Of what were they fellow sharers? They
were sharers in the promises of God which He has graciously given His children in
Christ. All these point to the fact that all members of the church exist together as one in
the body.

Day 6-Ephesians 3:7-11
In verses 8 and 9, we see a summation of the stewardship given by God to Paul:
to preach Christ to the Gentiles and to instruct so as to let people see and understand
the mystery of Christ's body, the church. Paul says he was made a minister according to
God's grace given to him according to God's power. This mystery had been concealed
throughout the ages, but now in God's timing, Paul was to reveal it according to God's
purpose. Any responsibility we have from God is given by Him, according to His grace
and power, in His timing, and for His purpose. It is not about us; it is about Him.

Day 7-Ephesians 3:1-11
Today, I am going to reread these verses, thinking as I do about the responsibility God
has given me to write this Bible study. As you reread them, let God speak to you
concerning whatever responsibilities He has given you. Let us be as faithful to our
stewardship as Paul was to his.