BIBLE STUDY WORKSHOP

No Longer Strangers
A Study of the Letter to the Ephesians

Horizons 2002-2003 Bible Study Workshop for Leaders

Return to Contents | Return to Introduction | Lesson One

Purpose

To introduce No Longer Strangers: A Study of the Letter to the Ephesians, by Kay E. Huggins to Presbyterian Women circles and other study groups and to suggest ways they might lead the study with their group.

Length

The workshop is designed to take 50--90 minutes.

Personal Preparation

Spend time in prayer reflecting on what God can accomplish through this study of scripture. Ask God to direct your preparation and to speak through your words and actions in your presentation. Pray for the workshop participants.

The Letter to the Ephesians contains only six chapters, which can be read thoughtfully in less than an hour. With paper and pencil in hand, read them through at one sitting. Choose at least 10 verses you find especially significant for Christian life and witness today.

While Ephesians offers many possibilities for study, leaders using No Longer Strangers are responsible only for the nine concepts chosen by Kay Huggins-one for each lesson. Spend time exploring the lesson content, the illustrations, the Text in Context, the Stranger Guide poems and the Lesson Overview. Review the Suggestions for Leaders. If you will be teaching only one lesson, note the Introduction and what comes before and after the one you will teach. Especially note lesson titles and the Living Lesson (or theme) for each session.

In a standard or Bible dictionary, look up any unfamiliar words. Check out Ephesus in an encyclopedia.

If you have access to a Bible commentary, read what scholars have said about Ephesians over the years.

Background Study

Ephesus: Find the city on a map of western Turkey. Once, it was an important trade city in the Roman province of Asia Minor. Traders exchanged news as they moved their camel caravans through the city. The streets of Ephesus were paved with marble and lined with imposing structures, such as a library, baths and a theater that seated 25,000 people. A statue of the goddess Artemis (Diana) was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Paul and Ephesus: Paul briefly visited Ephesus on his second missionary journey, and his friends, Prisca and Aquila, stayed there. On his third missionary journey, his preaching was so successful in Ephesus that sales of silver images of Diana declined, causing riots in the business community. After Paul left, Timothy ministered to the new church there. Scholars are uncertain whether the Letter to the Ephesians was actually written to a congregation in Ephesus, or even if Paul was the writer, but it seems likely that Paul wrote his letters to Corinth from Ephesus, and he later wrote to Christians in Ephesus from prison.

The Letter to the Ephesians: Since there are few references to persons, places, events or issues, the letter was probably written to be passed around among several young congregations. Carried by Tychicus (probably Paul's companion) it summarizes Paul's teaching about Christ and the church-thanksgiving and praise in prayers, celebration, advice, warnings and rules-and was probably read aloud to groups or used as a basis for sermons. Perhaps in answer to Greek Gnostic philosophy, the writer declares the Christian "mystery" (the gospel) is the source of true wisdom; that Jews and Gentiles are equal before God; and that all are united in Christ.

Appropriateness for Today: The world of Paul and today's society hold many similarities. In spite of advances in science, we still wrestle with personal and social problems. Back then, most people explained troubling events as the capriciousness of numerous gods and goddesses, who lived above the world but cared little about the fate of human beings. In contrast, the Hebrew people trusted the one true, loving God of Abraham, who gave commandments for living and rituals for worship. Although the Hebrew prophets had proclaimed it and Jesus' teaching exemplified it, accepting that God loves all people equally was difficult for some new believers.

The Bible Study Leader's Role: People learn in many different ways, including oral expression (conversation, reading and praying aloud, singing); physical movement (exploring resources, games, partner interaction); creative imagining (role play, drawing, storytelling); cognitive thinking (research, debate, discussion); and creative writing (prayers, poems, journals). Challenge leaders to reach learners through each of their five senses at least once during the study. For example, to learn about Ephesus, enable them to hear the sound of temple bells, smell incense for idols, taste Middle Eastern food, feel smooth marble and see photos, slides or films about Ephesus excavations.

Room Preparation

--If possible, arrange chairs in a circle, including one for the leader. Place tables for books and writing in a square or circle. For discussion, make sure people can see each others' faces. Have near the leader's chair a lined flip-chart and marker on an easel, or a chalkboard with chalk and eraser.

--Prepare three tables to attract participants' interest as they arrive.

Table One: Display items that relate to Paul's travels, to Ephesus, or to the Letter to the Ephesians (scroll, clay pots, image of "the whole armor of God," items from Western Turkey, camel bells, dates or figs, candles, incense, sandals, small silver statue or object; see Text in Context, p.29).

Table Two: Group copies of No Longer Strangers(NLS), Book of Common Worship, The Presbyterian Hymnal, a pictorial encyclopedia, National Geographic or other publications showing pictures of Ephesus, related articles from Horizons magazine, any of the books listed on NLS, p. 75 and several translations of the Bible.

Table Three: Gather the following items: several short lengths of yarn or string (see NLS, p. 9, col. 2); strips of heavy paper, markers (see NLS, p.17, col. 2); paper and pencils (see p. 25, bottom of col. 2); notecards for each participant to write a prayer for herself and for the ones she teaches.

Presenting the Workshop

--Welcome all who enter and encourage them to look at the three table displays.

--Take your seat and invite participants to join you. Explain the purpose of the workshop: that Bible study leaders will be introduced to the Horizons 2002-2003 PW Bible study. They will discover the main themes of each lesson and ways to help learners understand, remember and act upon those themes. Express the hope that they will gather some ideas for effective Bible study presentation. Emphasize that although many ideas may be presented, they can select the ones with which they feel most comfortable.

Exploring the Study Book

If the group is large enough, divide into nine sections. Each section is to look briefly at one lesson and related leaders' suggestions in the book (group one, lesson one; group two, lesson two, etc.) and choose one word that expresses the theme of the lesson. After a few minutes, call the whole group together and list the words chosen on flip-chart or chalk board. Emphasize the points made by Kay Huggins on each theme. As study group leaders, their task will be to help group members grow in understanding of each lesson's theme, as expressed in Ephesians.

To continue, for a 50-minute workshop, choose one of the following activities. For a 90-minute workshop, do all three. You will need to divide the group into three smaller groups. Allow about five minutes for reading and about 15 minutes for discussion.

Option One: Background Study

Ask Group One to spend a few minutes reading NLS, p. 2 and then be ready to explain to the larger group why this title was chosen.

Ask Group Two to read Text in Context, NLS, p.15 and p.45. They will be asked to give the whole group answers to the questions, "Did Paul really write the Letter to the Ephesians? Why do you think so?"

Ask Group Three to read Ephesians 2:13-22 and write on a flip-chart or chalk board for the whole group a summary of what the letter writer was saying to Christians at Ephesus.

Closing: After all three sub-groups have reported to the whole, ask everyone to discuss who are the strangers among us today and how this study can help us welcome them.

Option Two: Hymn Study

If a piano and pianist are available, some members may want to gather to learn some hymns that relate to Ephesians. Look up the following in The Presbyterian Hymnal:

465 "Here, Oh Lord, Your Servants Gather"
324 "Open My Eyes That I May See"
471 "O Praise the Gracious Power"
343 "Called as Partners in Christ's Service"
416 "Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation"
417 "Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation"
366 "Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me"
358 "Help Us Accept Each Other"
490 "With Glad, Exuberant Carolings"

Closing: Use the closing from Option One.

Option Three: Creating Activities

Ask the group to contribute ideas for making lesson concepts come alive. For ideas, see NLS, p. 9, col.2; p. 17, col. 2;
p. 25, bottom of col. 2. Provide note cards for participants to write prayers expressing the results they desire for themselves and those they lead in this study.

Closing: Use the closing from Option One. Invite individuals to read their prayers aloud to all.

Closing

Invite group members to tell one other person the action steps they hope their study group will undertake as a result of doing this study. Close with a prayer or a verse from one of the hymns above.

Related Resources Available Summer 2002

-- Large-print version with Suggestions for Leaders, item #HZN-02-150, $12

-- Audiocassette, item #HZN-02-180, $8 and Compact Disc, item #HZN-02-181, $10, slightly abridged study book and scriptures read aloud; no leader helps

--Worship bulletins (blank inside) with Horizons Bible study cover design, item #HZN-02-170, $6.90
for 100

-- Spanish translation, item #HZN-02-110, $4

-- Korean translation, item #HZN-02-120, $4

--Horizons magazine with Bible study helps in each issue

-- Puzzle Game, item #HZN-02-602, $2.50

Add cost of shipping to all items.

Bible Study Resources

--"The Confession of 1967 " (9.01-9.56) in The Book of Confessions. Louisville, Ky.: The Office of the General Assembly. PDS #OGA-99-017, $7.50; 800/524-2612.

-- Hestenes, Roberta. Using the Bible in Groups. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1983.

-- McKim, LindaJo. The Presbyterian Hymnal Companion. Louisville, Ky.:
Westminster John Knox Press, 1993.

-- Palmer, Parker J. The Company of Strangers: Christians and the Renewal of America's Public Life. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1992.

--Ramsey, William M. "Ephesians" (p.452-458) in The Westminster Guide to the Books of the Bible. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 1994.