My name is Donna Ring. I came to Riverside via City Chapel when the two churches merged several years ago. This October I will have been in my house on the west side for 25 years! One of the blessings of living on this side of town is that I’m only 5-6 minutes away from The Beacon.

Read Ephesians 6:1-9

The theme of the Lenten studies is “Living like we are His people”.

• Notice the first word in verse one. What does that tell us? Reflect on this.

There are two parallels here of those who are subordinate and those who have authority: children/parents; slaves/masters.

• What do you observe about both? Note ways in which they are alike and ways they are different (compare and contrast).
• What qualities are to be exemplified?
• How are you to live like His person in your family relationships and in your job or situation in which you are under someone’s authority?

Children are His people, too. Pray for the Riverside children as they live like His people in such a mine-filled culture as the one we are in.

Read Ephesians 5:21-33

I have to tell you, after volunteering and first receiving this particular Scripture passage “assignment,” I mentally backed away, jokingly thinking, Whoa…thanks a lot! I am to write on these topics?! Sticky subjects in our current culture, even among Christian households! However, we can trust God’s Word! Our Father loves us and wants His best for us.

In these Scriptures, Paul outlines roles God designed for wives and husbands within marriage for a satisfying and joyful union. Apparently, two traits are needed most: submission and selflessness.

God begins His marital instruction with husbands and wives submitting to one another (Eph. 5:21). Why did our Father begin with submission between spouses? The answer lies in God’s intention for marriage.

Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology provides an exciting explanation:

The purpose of marriage is to reflect the relationship of the Godhead and to serve Him. Although the fall has marred the divine purpose and function of marriage, this definition reflects the God-ordained ideal for marriage from the beginning.

Isn’t that beautiful? God intends marriage to reflect the Trinity’s relationships! Baker goes on:

In the Trinity the Father leads, the Son submits to the Father, and the Holy Spirit submits to both the Father and the Son. However, all three are fully and equally deity. Likewise, male and female in the marriage relationship are of the same nature and essence, equal as persons (Gal 3:28), intimate in relationship, common in purpose, but distinct personalities with different roles.

Ephesians 5:22-24 (NIV) reveals wives’ submission to husbands reflects Christ and the Church. A wife’s submission to her husband is a beautiful reflection of us as Believers surrendering to Jesus. I humbly submit (no pun intended) to wives some probing questions:

• Do I resist submitting? If so, what is the root cause?
• When I soften my heart to my husband in Jesus’ name, what are the results in our marriage and in my heart?

Moving on to husbands, why does God directly tell husbands to love their wives? Isn’t it natural for a husband to love his wife? But we all need role models, and what better role model for men to follow than Jesus Christ in His love for His bride? (see verses 25-27).

Please reread Eph. 5:28-29

Some direct questions for husbands:

• Am I loving my wife in a way she feels loved? (the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman could be a huge help)
• How am I following Christ’s example in loving her?

It’s not easy being vulnerable; submission and selflessness go against our human nature. However, when we operate according to God’s design, the rewards are rich and endless! Dear brothers and sisters, in our weakness He becomes strong! 2 Corinthians 12:9 encourages us in our aim to glorify God through reflecting the Trinity in our marriages:

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Long live God’s perfect design for the marriage relationship!

(Diedra Barrett, North by Northwest home group)

Greetings! My name is Cathy Shreve, and along with my husband Dale we lead the North by Northwest home group. Our sons are grown with families of their own. This year is bringing changes for me as I’ve recently retired from my full-time work position to a part-time focus on some projects. Dale and I have been part of Riverside from the start, and we remain excited about what God has in store for us as we continue to follow Him.

Continuing today in Ephesians we will read and reflect on Ephesians 5:1-20

Paul calls us to be imitators of God, walking in the way of sacrificial love. Verse 1 makes me think of 1 John 4:9, reminding me that love is an action.

• How is God calling you to move deeper into sacrificial love?
• Reflect on what it means to live as children of the light. Is there an area that you need to shine the light of God on in your life, your family, or your school/workplace?

Spend a few minutes thanking God for his love, and for those who have encouraged you in your journey. Ask God if there is someone who needs you to encourage them today with a call, text or visit.

Read Ephesians 4:17-32

Get a blank piece of paper and draw a line down the middle making two columns (reference model from paper devotional):

Read through the passage slowly, listing characteristics that pop out to you in columns labeled “my new life” and “my former self”.

Prayerfully consider both lists.

• Are there things you need to confess to the Lord, or to someone else, to lament, or ask the Lord to change?
• Are you telling the truth, first about your own story? Sit in the good news that Jesus has given you a new self, is renewing your mind, transforming you to resemble the righteousness and purity of Jesus.
• Second, are you encouraging “your people” by speaking the truth of Jesus into their lives?

Ponder and pray about verse 32.

• Do you speak and spend your time out of a posture of kindness, compassion and forgiveness (for yourself and others) because of your new life in Jesus?

Verse 25 in The Message paraphrase reads” What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.”

1 Peter 2:9-10 gives us words of hope and truth:

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy”

(Cathy Parker, North by Northwest home group)

We will continue on in the book of Ephesians to see how what God is saying is true of us (the first 3 chapters from last week), impacts our daily living (the following 4 chapters!).

Read Ephesians 4:1-16

• KNOW (what does the text say about God?)
• BE (What does the text say about us?)
• DO (what is the text calling me to do?)

Read back through Ephesians 1 and thank the Father for each truth that is shared about who He says that you are once you are adopted into His family.

I’ll start by expressing deep gratitude for His love for me, and for you.

Read Ephesians 3: 14-21

In the first two chapters of Ephesians, Paul has been teaching them about their new identity in Christ. The Ephesians were non-Jewish believers that learned of the saving grace offered to all of us through the death of Jesus. Coming out of a society of idol worship, there was much they needed to learn about the one true God.

Paul reveals his total reliance on God as he “bows his knee in prayer before the Father” as he prays for the Ephesians. He explains his deep desire that all of them will understand the mystery of becoming part of the family of God and the limitless power that is available to them from the Holy Spirit. Paul is encouraging them to fully comprehend the depth of God’s love so they will experience the fullness of God in their lives. Ephesus was a city of great wealth; Paul is imploring them to seek spiritual wealth that is far greater than the physical riches of Ephesus.

Paul’s encouragement is still applicable to our lives today.

How often have you withdrawn because of fear or a feeling of helplessness?

How often do you settle for less than what God would provide?

It is so easy to settle for second best rather than bowing our knee to the Father. All of our lives have been upended to some degree these past couple years. I encourage you to bow your knee to rediscover and embrace the depth of God’s love. Paul’s words in verses 20-21 are for us today as much as it was for the Ephesians centuries ago.

(Wade Stoller, Westside Home Group)