Day 35: Immersed in Ephesians - Paul's Profound Letter to the GentilesIn this episode of 'Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience,' we delve into Day 35, focusing on the Book of Ephesians. While working in Ephesus, Paul facilitated the spread of Christianity across Asia through his coworkers. However, his mission was interrupted by his arrest in Jerusalem and subsequent imprisonment in Rome. During his time in prison, Paul wrote letters to various churches offering advice, encouragement, and corrections—most notably to the believers in Ephesus. The letter we now know as 'Ephesians' emphasizes the unity of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, the formation of a new human family under God, and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. Paul details God's long-term plan fulfilled through Christ, urges believers to live renewed lives, and highlights the importance of spiritual gifts in building up the community. The episode concludes with Paul's prayer for the believers' understanding and strength in God's love and power.00:00 Introduction to Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience00:08 Paul's Mission in Ephesus and Beyond00:59 The Letter to the Ephesians02:25 Paul's Message of Unity and New Life03:23 God's Plan and the Role of the Church03:39 Living Out the Vision in Community04:06 Paul's Prayer and Final Encouragement04:27 Paul's Greeting and Praise to God05:00 God's Grace and Our New Identity in Christ08:02 Unity in Christ: Jews and Gentiles Together11:42 Paul's Mission to Reveal God's Plan13:29 Paul's Prayer for Strength and Understanding14:39 Conclusion and Final BlessingImmerse contains the full text of the New Living Translation with brief introductions to each book. Nothing has been added or removed from the Bible text. Click here to look inside.Welcome to Immerse: Messiah!Messiah is the first of six volumes in Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience. Messiah takes the reader on a unique journey through every book of the New Testament. Each section of Messiah begins with one of the Gospels, and together they combine to provide a life-changing reading experience centered on Jesus.This fresh arrangement of the books highlights the depth of the New Testament’s fourfold witness to Jesus the Messiah. The Son of God, who fulfills all the longings and promises of the collected Scriptures, can be experienced in Messiah through the rich variety of lenses provided by the books of the new covenant.QUICK START GUIDE - Download from the One Million More Bibles initiative at https://onemillionmore.bible/one-million-more-resources/3 ways to get the most out of your experienceUse Immerse: Messiah instead of your regular chapter-and-verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together for 8 weeks—more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open, honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Poets, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”4 Questions to get your conversations started:What stood out to you this week?Was there anything confusing or troubling?Did anything make you think differently about God?How might this change the way we live?The Immerse Bible Series is the proud winner of the prestigious Bible of the Year award from the ECPA Christian Book Awards. Immerse: The Reading Bible is specially crafted for a distraction-free listening and reading experience, helping you dive in and get immersed in Scripture. You’ll have a great experience using Immerse by yourself. But for an even richer experience, try reading with friends.Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience is an invitation to a different kind of community interaction with the Bible. Less like a Bible study, more like a book club.– 8 or 16-week Bible listening plans take you through a large section of the Bible like the New Testament or the Torah– Meet once a week for a free-flowing discussion about the text– Wrestle with questions and celebrate ‘aha!’ moments togetherNothing impacts spiritual growth more than spending time in Scripture. Immerse removes many of the barriers that make Bible reading difficult and invites communities to become transformed together through the power of God...
