Ephesians — Identity, Unity, and Life in Christ
A Six-Week Adult Faith Formation Course
Thursdays at Ascension beginning May 21st: 5:30-7:00 PM
Saturdays at St. Charles beginning May 23rd: 10:00-11:30 AM
Course Overview
This six-week Adult Faith Formation course offers a structured and accessible exploration of St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, one of the New Testament’s most theologically rich and pastorally formative texts.
Unlike many of Paul’s letters, Ephesians is not written to address a particular crisis or dispute. Instead, it presents a unified vision of what God has accomplished in Christ and how the Church participates in that work. Its focus is expansive rather than corrective, emphasizing Christian identity, unity, holiness, and perseverance within God’s plan for the whole created order.
This course invites adult learners to encounter Ephesians as a coherent theological vision—not as a collection of isolated passages, but as a letter that reshapes how Christians understand themselves, the Church, and daily life in Christ.
Purpose and Rationale
Adult Catholics often approach Scripture seeking practical guidance for living the Christian life. Ephesians fully supports that goal—but it does so by first establishing perspective.
Paul’s approach in Ephesians follows a deliberate order: identity drives behavior; belonging provides instruction; unity embodies mission.
By beginning with God’s action in Christ and the Church’s place within that action, participants are better prepared to understand later themes such as moral transformation, marriage, spiritual struggle, and perseverance. The course follows the letter’s own logic rather than imposing modern expectations on the text.
