People of Purpose
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class began by introducing the metaphor of a Stradivarius violin, pristine yet silent behind glass, to illustrate how God’s creation—people—are intended to produce beautiful works like the instrument’s music. The teacher read Ephesians 2:1‑10, emphasizing that believers were once dead in sin but have been made alive by God’s rich mercy, saved by grace through faith, and crafted as His workmanship for good works that He prepared in advance. The discussion connected this truth to the concept of ministry, clarifying that ministry is service rather than merely holding a pulpit, and referenced Ephesians 4:11‑12 to show that various gifts are given for equipping the saints. Students reflected on the difference between a private relationship with Jesus and the broader calling to be a blessing to others, recognizing that God’s grace empowers believers to display His love to the world. The lesson concluded with an encouraging reminder that our salvation is not for personal gain but to serve, build up the body of Christ, and demonstrate the incomparable riches of God’s grace through everyday service.
Key Scriptures
As for you, you are dead in your transgressions and sins. In which you used to live. When you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work and those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our spiritual nature and the following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of this great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in transgressions. It is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms. In Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages, he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith and not this from yourselves. It is a gift of God, not by works, so that no man can boast. For we are all God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ.