The Only Thing That Matters Is Heaven: A Participatory Study Guide

By Robert D. Cornwall

Following the outlines of the Participatory Study Method, Dr. Robert Cornwall presents a study guide to the book of Ephesians that is both usable and challenging while not skirting the difficult issues.

These eight lessons take you through the letter leading from the history and background to modern application and sharing in corporate study and worship. Whether you are approaching this book as an individual, as a small group, or in a larger classroom setting, this study guide will provide you with direction, exercises, and questions for discussion and further investigation.

This study guide will be useful for individual study, as a guide to key topics in Ephesians, or for small groups.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Energion Publications
• Release date: Oct 19, 2010
• ISBN: 9781631991554

Robert D. Cornwall

Robert D. Cornwall is a Minister-at-Large for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), theologian, ecumenical and interfaith leader, police chaplain, and author. He has written numerous books and articles, including Called to Bless: Finding Hope by Reclaiming Our Spiritual Roots. He serves as the editor of Sharing the Practice (the journal of the Academy of Parish Clergy).

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FROM OUR ADVANCE REVIEWERS:

When I’m selecting curriculum and study materials for the people in my congregation, there are several things I must consider carefully: Is the material user friendly? (e.g. Will the group leaders feel confident as they delve into each lesson, finding the sessions easy to follow and supplying enough data for each class/meeting?) Are the lessons challenging enough for the scholars in our midst, yet inviting and accessible for Biblical beginners? Is the information given theologically sound?

Bob has beautifully met each of these needs in Ephesians: A Participatory Study Guide. His careful explanation of the Lectio Divina is the best I’ve seen, gently drawing the reader forward into its application to the scriptures. From his pragmatic examination of Biblical authorship in Lesson One to his intentional reminder that God’s grace is with the author of this letter to the Ephesians in Lesson Four, to the helpful look, for the modern mind, at God’s Armor in Lesson Eight, Bob seems to remind the reader that we, too, are embraced by that gift of grace and called to become actively engaged in their faith. The Discussion Questions are thought provoking, the Exercises are intriguing (some are quite creative and fun), and the prayers are well chosen.

I’m not sure if deep in his heart of hearts Bob is more of an historian or a pastor, but it is a delight that he has included the Historical Reflections at the end of each Lesson. What a gift to the reader, to help us put things even further into perspective.

Rev. Tamalyn L. Kralman

M.A.R.E. Minister of Educational Programs

Saint James Presbyterian Church, Bellingham, WA

Bob Cornwall combines the mind of a scholar and the heart of a pastor in this participatory study guide on Ephesians. Demonstrating remarkable skill as a communicator, Bob brings this ancient epistle to our contemporary setting in a way that both illuminates the old letter writer’s concerns and enlightens our Christian faith.

This book is filled with insights from a variety of theologians, pastors, mystics, and scholars. I thoroughly enjoyed engaging the text with these deep thinkers. I felt like I was in a conversation with Bob and his collection of brilliant friends. The comments, prayers and insights of these intellectuals are worth the price of the book alone.

Bob hopes that readers and users of this study will move toward a more mature faith in God. This is an extremely important task and Bob has met that goal with this insightful collections of studies. In a culture that is, as the now clichéd saying goes,a mile wide and an inch deep, it is imperative for preachers and teachers of the gospel to find engaging ways to invite the people in the pews to dive deeply into the ancient texts we call the Bible.

The opening lesson on the authorship of the letter is a marvelous example of Bob’s ability to take on a technically difficult discussion in such a way that even first time students of this letter will be wonderfully enriched. The seven lessons that follow demonstrate a marvelous blend of pastoral concern and scholarly integrity.

I heartily recommend this book for pastors needing a remarkably helpful refresher on Ephesians and for small groups or Sunday School classes that are looking for high quality materials to guide them in their Christian faith.

Dr. Glen Miles

Senior Minister Country Club Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Kansas City, MO

I commend Robert Cornwall for producing a thoughtful study guide that does not spoon feed information to readers and supply them with trite solutions to make it through life.

John Byron, PhD

Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek,

Ashland Theological Seminary

This book is a great addition to the Participatory Study Series. Bob Cornwall has created a fabulous tool that provides excellent and accessible theological reflection on Ephesians for small groups and individuals looking for an in-depth and short term study,

Rev. Geoffrey Lentz


First United Methodist Church, Pensacola, Florida

I heartily recommend this book for pastors needing a remarkably helpful refresher on Ephesians and for small groups or Sunday School classes that are looking for high quality materials to guide them in their Christian faith.

Dr. Glen Miles
Senior

Minister
Country Club Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Kansas City, MO

The Letter to the Ephesians

A Participatory Study Guide

By Robert D. Cornwall

Energion Publications

Gonazlez, Florida

2010

Copyright © 2010, Robert D. Cornwall

Energion Publications

P. O. Box 841 Gonzalez, FL 32560

Unless otherwise marked, scripture quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U. S. A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scriptures marked CEB are taken from the Common English Bible, Copyright © 2010, Common English Bible.

ISBN10: 1-893729-88-5

ISBN13: 978-1893729-88-9

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010943444

eISBN: 978-1-63199-155-4

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface

Using this Book

Introduction and Background

A Call to Worship

Before and After

Mysteries Revealed

Growing Up into the One Body of Christ

Living the New Life

Mutual Submission in Christ

Standing Firm

Bibliography

Participatory Study Method

Tools for Bible Study

Preface

There was a song that came out during my college years sung by Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon, and James Taylor (the song actually goes back to 1960 and Sam Cook), that seems to celebrate love over knowledge.

Don’t know much about history Don’t know much biology

Don’t know much about the science book Don’t know much about the French I took But I do know that I love you

And I know that if you love me too

What a wonderful, wonderful world this would be.

Religion, theology, and the Bible don’t make it into the song, but from the reports that emerge from recent polls and surveys, American Christians don’t know much about religion either. In fact, it may be that this isn’t a recent phenomenon either. We seem to be quite happy with a faith that is focused on love and not understanding and knowledge.

Of course, one need not choose between love and understanding. The Shema, that confession of faith that defines the Jewish faith, calls for adherents of the faith to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. It then goes on to suggest that the people of God should keep the commandments, recite them to one’s children, talk about them, bind them on your hands, fix them on the foreheads, and write them on the doorposts and gates (Deut. 6:4-9). In other words, our faith should involve both love and understanding.

This book offers a study of the Letter to the Ephesians that seeks to combine mind and heart. It is part of the Participatory Bible Study series that was developed by Henry Neufeld, which seeks to build upon the devotional principles of the lectio divina model of reading scripture. It is an invitation to inhabit the text of Scripture, so that one might experience oneness with God. Although this has a strong devotional foundation to it, the method also invites critical investigation of the text.

The Ephesian letter offers an interesting opportunity to bring these two elements of biblical study together. There is much here that stirs the soul and draws one into the life of faith. It is both theological and practical. It is in many ways a pastoral letter that has been written to a number of churches, offering encouragement and advice. At the same time there are important critical questions to be answered. These include the identity of the author – is it Paul or a disciple of Paul? There are conversations about slavery and gender roles, the wrath of God and the grace of God, and even spiritual battles that will attract some and repel others. The hope is that at the end of the study, one will not only have a better understanding of the text, but they will also be moving toward a more mature faith in God. We have been invited by the author of this letter to see ourselves as part of a body, with Christ as its head. Our calling is to work together, having been equipped by the Holy Spirit, to build up the body so that it might fulfill its purpose (Eph. 4:11-16).

Faith and understanding are not mutually exclusive categories, and this study seeks to draw them together. It is a study that can be undertaken by individuals in the quiet of their own homes, but it is also designed for use by groups. So, whether in groups or alone, my prayer is that you will experience the blessings of God’s continuing grace.

Before the journey is undertaken, I must give thanks to Henry Neufeld, my publisher and editor for inviting me to participate in this series of studies. Henry laid the format of the study, which I have followed closely, but he also gave me the freedom to set my own tone and texture in writing this study. I’d like to also thank the members of my Wednesday Bible Study groups at Central Woodward Christian Church, who have been attentive to the study of scripture and have pushed themselves and me into new understandings of the faith. Finally, I wish to thank my wife Cheryl who has given me room to write works such as this, but most of all has been a constant companion in life.

Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 6:23-24).

Using this Book

This study guide consists of three sections:

Introductory information

Studysheets

Appendices

It is recommended that you first read Appendix A: Participatory Bible Study, to learn the approach to Bible study used in this series. This guide