Earl Grey with Ephesians (Coffee Cup Bible Studies)

Still studying in this book but so far it’s a good informative book.

I remember picking up my first Bible study book when I was probably sixteen years old. I turned it over, looked at it like an anomaly. Why? Because I was an unchurched girl, recently converted, and I had zero idea about the Christian culture, Bible studies, or even what Habakkuk was.I devoured the study.But I also felt a little cheated.The questions asked were basic. The who-what-where-when-why-how of questions--very little about history, the original languages or the context of the writing. I felt like I had ice skated the surface, but so much more lurked beneath the ice that I longed to understand.For years, this was my conundrum, especially as I began leading women's Bible studies in the 90s. Nothing really seemed to deepen my knowledge beyond what I had already discerned.That changed when I encountered the Coffee Cup Bible Study series over a decade later. Written by Dr. Sandra Glahn, these were different. Those studies not only revealed far more about the Scripture, but they helped me become a better Bible student myself. Whenever a new study released, I was eager to dive in.Her latest study is no different. Earl Grey with Ephesians unpacks this beautiful Pauline letter with a scholarly background, yet delivered in plain English. The text (New English Translation NET) is included in the purse-sized book, so you can take it wherever you go and still be able to study it in the margins of your life. Glahn empowers you to uncover the nuances of who you are in Christ (something so beautiful to grasp) in the context of a pagan culture (which, of course, has implications to our daily lives here).

The whole series is a treat, with its combination of insightful questions about whichever book you're studying and the author's engaging devotionals that apply to each chapter. Ephesians is a popular book of the Bible for a reason... it's hopeful and practical for those who follow Jesus. Glahn makes the student study the Bible itself. We have to think and process about what it says and how it applies to our own lives. She doesn't tell us what to believe or think. Yet her periodic devotional-style essays or stories add color and commentary at just the right intervals, giving the student a breather from daily study. 'Earl Grey' is one of the best in the series, I think! My only complaint is the absence of the binder rings that allowed all the others to lie flat. This one is a little harder to handle, but still... it doesn't take away from how wonderful the book is. Add it to your personal or group study to enrich your time in God's word.

Our small group recently finished this study and really enjoyed it! Dr Glahn does an excellent job of weaving the cultural context of life in Ephesus during Paul's time with modern take-aways that move you to action. In my experience, the make or break part of any Bible study is the questions. The questions in this book are thoughtful, faithful to point back to Scripture and lead to fantastic discussions week after week! There wasn't a woman in our group of 10 that didn't enjoy it. The format is great for women on the go as all the Scripture is included in the book and it's divided into deep but doable daily chunks. The book of Ephesians is so timely for all that is happening in 2020. I'm so thankful for the encouragement to press on in the power of the Holy Spirit and I feel like this book really helped our group gain a greater comprehension of the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ as we navigate this tumultuous season.