What do you think?
Rate this book
God's Word for You
Ephesians For You
In a world where Christianity seems increasingly sidelined and even irrelevant, we need to grasp the truths of this faith-affirming, life-changing letter. Ephesians For You helps readers see how being "in Christ" changes everything—our view of ourselves, our world, our future, our church, homes and workplaces. Richard Coekin brings his trademark clear teaching and challenging application to every page.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 22, 2015
153 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Richard Coekin
18 books6 followersRichard Coekin is Director of the CoMission church network and Senior Pastor of Dundonald Church, sw London. A renowned Bible teacher and the author of several books including Our Father and Ephesians For You, Richard is also Chairman of the London Men's Convention. He is married to Sian and they have five children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 27, 2016
This series, God's Word for You, are by far my favorite lay person commentaries for bible study! Well written, straightforward, and yet rich with gospel truth in bit size chunks. Highly recommend! Ephesians for You was fabulous.
May 16, 2018
I love these “For You” books and Ephesians was a great addition to the series. Coekin provides helpful insights and prompts to think through while you’re reading through Ephesians. I used this more as a supplemental devotional reading along with reading through the book but I think it would be a great resource for a small group study.
Read
June 14, 2025Thorough Review of Ephesians For You by Richard Coekin
How It Helps Us Read, Lead, and Share the Gospel through Ephesians
As the Discipleship Pastor of our church, I’m always on the lookout for resources that do more than just inform—they need to transform. Ephesians For You by Richard Coekin is one of those rare commentaries that hits the sweet spot between theological depth, pastoral warmth, and practical usability. Over the past year, we’ve had two different men’s discipleship groups walk through the book of Ephesians using this resource, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Read: Personal Study and Spiritual Nourishment
One of the most immediate gifts of Ephesians For You is that it reads like a book, not a textbook. Coekin has a unique ability to take deep theological truths—like union with Christ, grace over works, the mystery of the church, and spiritual warfare—and present them in a way that feels accessible without being watered down. Each chapter of Ephesians is unpacked with clarity and conviction, helping readers not just understand Paul’s words, but savor them. Men in our groups have told me that they looked forward to their time in the Word again—not just checking a box, but meeting Jesus on the page.
Lead: Equipping Group Leaders with Confidence
What’s also made Ephesians For You such a powerful tool is how it equips leaders to guide others. One of our newer group leaders told me, “I don’t feel like I’m just surviving the group—I feel like I can lead it now.” That’s because the structure of the book gives just enough commentary to give clarity, while also offering space to breathe, reflect, and apply. Whether someone is seasoned or new to leading, this commentary gives confidence to teach Scripture faithfully and lead discussions fruitfully.
Share: Fuel for Gospel Conversations
Each section ends with thoughtfully crafted questions that open the door for real, gospel-centered conversations. These aren’t just “What did you learn?” kind of questions—they press into the heart, calling men to wrestle with how grace shapes identity, how unity must be protected in the church, and how the armor of God is more than metaphor. Our men weren’t just absorbing information—they were sharing stories, confessing struggles, and encouraging one another with Scripture.
Conclusion
Ephesians For You is more than a commentary—it’s a discipleship companion. In a time when many small group resources can feel either overly academic or overly shallow, this book strikes a needed balance. It helps us read the Word clearly, lead others boldly, and share the gospel deeply. I highly recommend it for any church leader or disciple-maker looking to walk through Ephesians with others. Whether you’re reading it devotionally, teaching from it, or using it to stir rich discussion, this commentary truly lives up to its name—it’s Ephesians, for you.
How It Helps Us Read, Lead, and Share the Gospel through Ephesians
As the Discipleship Pastor of our church, I’m always on the lookout for resources that do more than just inform—they need to transform. Ephesians For You by Richard Coekin is one of those rare commentaries that hits the sweet spot between theological depth, pastoral warmth, and practical usability. Over the past year, we’ve had two different men’s discipleship groups walk through the book of Ephesians using this resource, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Read: Personal Study and Spiritual Nourishment
One of the most immediate gifts of Ephesians For You is that it reads like a book, not a textbook. Coekin has a unique ability to take deep theological truths—like union with Christ, grace over works, the mystery of the church, and spiritual warfare—and present them in a way that feels accessible without being watered down. Each chapter of Ephesians is unpacked with clarity and conviction, helping readers not just understand Paul’s words, but savor them. Men in our groups have told me that they looked forward to their time in the Word again—not just checking a box, but meeting Jesus on the page.
Lead: Equipping Group Leaders with Confidence
What’s also made Ephesians For You such a powerful tool is how it equips leaders to guide others. One of our newer group leaders told me, “I don’t feel like I’m just surviving the group—I feel like I can lead it now.” That’s because the structure of the book gives just enough commentary to give clarity, while also offering space to breathe, reflect, and apply. Whether someone is seasoned or new to leading, this commentary gives confidence to teach Scripture faithfully and lead discussions fruitfully.
Share: Fuel for Gospel Conversations
Each section ends with thoughtfully crafted questions that open the door for real, gospel-centered conversations. These aren’t just “What did you learn?” kind of questions—they press into the heart, calling men to wrestle with how grace shapes identity, how unity must be protected in the church, and how the armor of God is more than metaphor. Our men weren’t just absorbing information—they were sharing stories, confessing struggles, and encouraging one another with Scripture.
Conclusion
Ephesians For You is more than a commentary—it’s a discipleship companion. In a time when many small group resources can feel either overly academic or overly shallow, this book strikes a needed balance. It helps us read the Word clearly, lead others boldly, and share the gospel deeply. I highly recommend it for any church leader or disciple-maker looking to walk through Ephesians with others. Whether you’re reading it devotionally, teaching from it, or using it to stir rich discussion, this commentary truly lives up to its name—it’s Ephesians, for you.
February 5, 2018
Wonderfully unique commentary on a great book of the Bible
Coekin has done something quite interesting here. He's with a Bible commentary that reads very much like a typical non-fiction book. It could easily be seen as just a general Christian living book with lots of great, practical advice for everyday living. Yet, is a commentary, which means the entire thing follows almost sentence by sentence with the Word of God. It really is widely unique.
Coekin has done something quite interesting here. He's with a Bible commentary that reads very much like a typical non-fiction book. It could easily be seen as just a general Christian living book with lots of great, practical advice for everyday living. Yet, is a commentary, which means the entire thing follows almost sentence by sentence with the Word of God. It really is widely unique.
April 3, 2019
I used Coekin's book as a study help while preaching through Ephesians, and it was great. The book breaks down chapters by passages and offers helpful insight, stories, and of course, exposition. There are study questions for reflection at the end of each passage that encourage small group discussion. Overall, it was a beneficial study based on a seasoned pastor's preaching ministry that could help pastors, preachers, small group leaders, and laypeople alike.
July 15, 2020
Ephesians is such a great epistle. The exhortation that Coekin gives from this book is gentle but firm, pushing you to want a deeper relationship with God. At the time of writing I am just under 2 years into my marriage and so found the chapter on marriage relationships very helpful. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone seeking to get to know ephesians specifically or God more broadly better!
November 25, 2025
not sure why I had such a hard time with this book. writing style? idk. ephesians is a banger but this book didn't convey the reality/depth of ephesians. wish there was a little more detail and circumstantial/cultural background especially with topics like the armor of God. and especially more detail with election/predestination in the first chapter of ephesians. I think there was one sentence about that.
Read
March 31, 2022Read this one for work as we are teaching through Ephesians in youth group. This book was an easy commentary to help understand and navigate this epistle. Not fully comprehensive, and not super deep nor complex. But it was an “everyday man” aide to understanding the Bible. Was grateful to have this resource to help me through lesson plans and teaching students, and for my own growth!
April 27, 2022
Really hits home on the unity of the Church, which is awesome. God’s grace is abundant and ought to change how we live. Peace is the fruit. Loved hitting those big themes of the book, but it lacked and underdeveloped key sections like 3:20-1, the armor of God, and downplayed application to singles and those divorced.
May 23, 2023
I haven’t finished this book, I was using it as an aid in memorising Ephesians but I only got to half way through chapter 3. This is no reflection on this book and I will use it again when I am able to concentrate enough to start memorising again. As always with the For You series, the books are easy to understand and biblical.
January 31, 2025
I first started this book in middle school with a small group at school. We never got around to finishing it, so I decided to circle back to it. This was such a great book that helped guide my understanding of Ephesians. It definitely helped clarify some aspects of scripture as well as give questions for practical application.
November 8, 2025
Great book. Well explained. Enjoyable. Reflection questions. I’ll definitely buy more in the series. I can imagine they’d be an excellent resource for group and individual Bible studies, and sermon preparation.
This brought Ephesians to life more than dry commentaries.
100% recommend
This brought Ephesians to life more than dry commentaries.
100% recommend
July 27, 2020
Coekin is a great writer and isn’t stuffy at all. His pastoral voice is evident and the illustrations are vivid. He’s written a great commentary on Ephesians.
January 18, 2021
Really enjoying this series...written primarily for the casual student, they also offer enough insight nd depth for those who want to dig a little deeper.
June 15, 2021
I love this series and this one was just as good as the others. Easy to read yet challenged my thinking.
December 6, 2017
Read it!
Coekin does a great job of showing us the gospel truths in Ephesians 1-3 and how they play out in our love for others in chapters 4-6.
Coekin does a great job of showing us the gospel truths in Ephesians 1-3 and how they play out in our love for others in chapters 4-6.
January 2, 2020
This is a great book to accompany the study of the book of Ephesians. The author is not afraid to tackle the many counter-cultural issues that emerge from the letter to the Ephesians. As Christians we need to be filling our minds with these truths from Scripture instead of being swayed by the tide of our modern day culture.
March 24, 2016
Another excellent entry into the "Bible for You" commentary series. These are a great resource for Christians looking to dig a little deeper in their Bible studies. At the same time, it is not technical, or boring.
Coekin especially writes with his church members in mind, and so is encouraging and challenging on every day issues. He writes clearly, and is not afraid to tackle difficult topics head on.
I found this book helpful in preparing for a sermon series I was preaching on Ephesians - especially when it came to illustrations. In this sense it is extremely helpful in making sense of tricky concepts, or in clarifying those things that we might gloss over in our reading of Ephesians.
If you haven't yet - buy this book, or any other "Bible for you" books, and use them in your morning devotions. In the case of Ephesians for you, it will help you to be excited about Jesus has done for you, excited about the church, and confident in God's provision for your spiritual needs.
Coekin especially writes with his church members in mind, and so is encouraging and challenging on every day issues. He writes clearly, and is not afraid to tackle difficult topics head on.
I found this book helpful in preparing for a sermon series I was preaching on Ephesians - especially when it came to illustrations. In this sense it is extremely helpful in making sense of tricky concepts, or in clarifying those things that we might gloss over in our reading of Ephesians.
If you haven't yet - buy this book, or any other "Bible for you" books, and use them in your morning devotions. In the case of Ephesians for you, it will help you to be excited about Jesus has done for you, excited about the church, and confident in God's provision for your spiritual needs.
November 19, 2016
Although littered with self-contradictory arguments, occasional puritanical sentimentalism, and, worst of all, Calvinism, there are plenty of good things to be gleaned from Ephesians For You. To borrow the colloquialism, eat the meat and spit out the bones.
December 16, 2016
Used when preaching through Ephesians earlier this year. Some helpful insights and illustrations.
October 17, 2015
A great lay-man's commentary on Ephesians. Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews