Discipleship Cliff

Welcome to Week Five of our Ephesians for Families Bible Study – The Love of God!

The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Ephesians while he was under house arrest. Even though life wasn’t easy, he didn’t spend his time complaining or feeling sorry for himself. Instead, he used that season to encourage and strengthen other believers. Ever since Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, his life had been all about sharing the gospel and building up the church. In the end, it was the goodness of the gospel that kept him going and gave him a passion to help believers grow, no matter where God led him.

This week, Paul slows down to pray, asking God to help His people truly grasp just how deep His love for them is—a love that’s revealed so clearly in the gospel.

Note for Parents: I’ve divided this post into two parts to make this Bible study easier to use. First, the opening section provides you, the study leader, with a deeper understanding of the passage before you teach it to your students. Next, the second section focuses on the Family Bible Study, including a prayer, discussion questions, and a simple family activity to put the lesson into practice together.

Let’s Study the Bible Together: For Parents

Bible Passage: Ephesians 3:14–21 “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.“

Big Idea: God’s love is bigger than we can imagine, and His Spirit helps us live in it every day. 

Introduction

In this week’s study, Paul ends the first half of Ephesians with a heartfelt prayer. After writing about the mystery of God’s plan and the unity of His people, Paul pauses to pray that believers would truly grasp the greatness of God’s love. 

The Love of God

In this passage, Paul prays that believers would fully experience the greatness of God’s love.

To begin with, Paul prays that the Holy Spirit would strengthen us in our inner being so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. In addition, he prays that we would understand the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ’s love, which surpasses all knowledge. This prayer looks back at everything Paul wrote about up until this point in Ephesians. For example, Jesus redeemed us through His blood, He chose us, He predestined us, He marked us with His Holy Spirit, and He made us alive in Christ. Jesus didn’t just tell us about His love, but actually demonstrated His great love for us. 

God’s love is greater than anything we can imagine, and the Spirit empowers us to live in that love each day, rooted and grounded in it, so that it overflows in our relationships and actions. The love of God is not only written about for our information, but also for our transformation. His love compels us to love each other. 

Paul wraps up this section by reminding us that God can do far more than we ask or think, inviting us to trust Him fully and experience the fullness of His presence in our lives. 

Family Study Guide: The Love of God

Opening Prayer: Father, thank You for Your amazing love. As we open Your Word together, help us see how wide and deep Your love truly is. Fill our hearts with faith and joy as we learn more about Jesus. And Lord, help us to love one another with the same love that You have shown us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Note for Parents: This week’s family Bible study is designed as a three-day experience, with each day focusing on a different way to engage with Ephesians 3:14–21.

Day One – A Bible study where your family will read the passage together and explore its meaning.

Day Two – Memorize a key verse as a family, with a fun activity to help everyone remember it.

Day Three – A quick refresher that includes a short activity and prayer time, allowing your family to reflect on what you’ve learned and put it into practice.

Day One – Study the Bible Together

Read the Passage Together – Ephesians 3:14–21 “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.“

Family Commentary: Now that we’ve read the passage together, we can see how much God loves us. Paul prays that we would truly understand how big God’s love is. God’s love is so big, so wide, so high, and so deep that we can’t even measure it. Yes, one way we learn about God’s love is by reading the Bible and even memorizing Bible verses. However, God’s love isn’t just something we need to know about in our minds; it’s something we can experience in our everyday lives. He wants to fill our hearts with His love and give us His strength to love others. And the amazing thing is, God can do more than we could ever ask or even imagine because His love and power are bigger than anything we can think of.

Discussion Questions

Paul describes God’s love as having breadth, length, height, and depth. What do you think that means? Can you give an example of God’s love in your life?

Paul prays that Christ may dwell in our hearts. How can we experience God’s love in our hearts every day?

God’s love is bigger than anything we can imagine. How does knowing that make you feel?

Paul says the Spirit strengthens us from the inside. How does God help you love others or do what is right?

How can we show God’s love to our family, friends, or neighbors this week?

Day Two – Memory Verse

Ephesians 3:19 (ESV)
“To know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Fun Family Memory Ideas – Use Motions 

Repeat the verse together while doing the motions.

• Love of Christ → hug yourself or stretch arms wide
• Surpasses knowledge → point to your head, then spread arms out
• Filled with all the fullness of God → stretch arms upward as if being filled

Pray Together: Thank God that he gave us the Bible to teach us all about God’s love and ask Him to help us be more loving to those around us. 

Day Three – Family Activity: Living in God’s Love

Review the Memory Verse 

Ephesians 3:19 (ESV): “To know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Now, recite the verse together as a family, using gestures or actions if you like to make it memorable.

Reflect on the Week

Ask each family member:

• What is one thing you learned about God’s love this week?
• How did God’s love show up in your life this week?

Give everyone a chance to share briefly.

Sticky Note Activity – “God’s Love in Action”

• Give each family member a small slip of paper or sticky note.
• Write or draw one way you can show God’s love this week.
• Collect the slips and place them on a bulletin board, the refrigerator, or in a basket where the whole family can see them.

Closing Prayer

“Thank You, God, for teaching us more about Your love this week. Help us to live in Your love and show it to others. Give us the strength to put into action all the love You have put in our hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Additional Resources: 

Ephesians for Families Bible Study | Week 1

10 Reasons to Read the Bible as a Family 

10 Verses that Help Cultivate Thankful Hearts

Harvesting What We Sow: A Parent-Driven Discussion

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