growth group studies...blessings to the ephesians? 8. to what extent does praise for god’s...
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Growth Group Studies
1. Three Marks of God's Church Eph 1:1-2
2. The Christian's Payday Eph 1:3-14
3. School's In! Eph 1:15-23
4. The grace that sparks life Eph 2:1-10
5. The grace that creates one people Eph 2:11-22
6. The grace that shares the Gospel Eph 3:1-13
7. Paul's Prayer for the Church Eph 3:14-22
Ephesians 1-‐3 Growth Group Study 1
Three Marks of God’s Church Ephesians 1:1-‐2 1. Draw a perfect church. Explain to the group some of its more impressive features. 2. Read Ephesians 1:1-‐2 How does Paul describe himself in Verse 1? 3. Read the following passages and answer the following: a. What was an Apostle?
b. What was the relationship between the Apostles and the church?
Passages: Luke 6:12-‐16, Luke 9:1-‐6, Acts 9:1-‐22, Ephesians 2:19-‐22, Ephesians 4:11-‐13, Galatians 2:1-‐10.
4. In practice, what might it look like for a modern church to be built on the foundation of the apostles?
Ephesians 1-‐3 Growth Group Study 1
5. How is the Church in Ephesus described in the 2nd half of Ephesians 1:1? 6. Read the description of Ephesus in Acts 19:1-‐41. What might it have meant for the Ephesian church to be “holy” and “faithful in Christ” while living in Ephesus? 7. What does it mean to be “holy” and “faithful in Christ” while living in Sydney? 8. According to verse 2, which blessings from “God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ” does Paul desire for the Ephesians? 9. What exactly does Paul mean by “grace” and “peace”? (Hint, read through chapter 2!) 10. Revisit your diagram form the first question. In light of these opening verses, how might you alter what you’ve drawn? 11.In light of what you’ve learnt, what can you do to help strengthen our own church? 12. EXTENSION QUESTION. How does the Nicene Creed’s description of the church reflect what we read in Ephesians 1:1-‐2? (If you don’t know the Nicene Creed, Google it!)
Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy2
SpiritualblessingsinChristEphesians1:3-141.Whichpersonhasdonethemostforyouinyourlife?Whatkindofthingshavetheydone?Whathasbeenyourresponsetothisgenerosity?2.WhydoesPaulpraiseGodinEphesians1:3?Whatkindofblessingsareinviewhere?3.ReadEphesians1:4-14,andnotedowntheparticularblessingsfoundinthefollowingverses:v4:___________________ v5:____________________ v7:____________________ v9:____________________ v11:___________________ v13:___________________4.Foreachoftheblessingslisted,tryandarticulatewhyitisablessing.Usetheextraversesaddedbelowtohelpyou.v4(Psalm24:3-4):___________________ v5(Rom8:14-17):____________________ v7(Heb10:17-18):____________________ v9(1Peter1:1-12):____________________ v11(Rom8:28-30):____________________ v13(Gal4:6-7):____________________5.Doestheconceptofreceivingspiritualblessingshavemuchofanaffectonyou,ordoyoufeelindifferenttowardstheidea?Wouldyoupreferadifferenttypeofblessing?Whatwouldbethecostofnotreceivingeachoftheseblessings?Gothougheachoneandthinkaboutwhatwouldbelostifitweretakenaway.
Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy2
6.Accordingtovs6-7.WhichaspectofGod’scharacterisunderscoredbytheseblessings?WhatotheraspectsofGod’scharacterdotheblessingsreveal?7.WhatisPaul’sresponsetoGod’sblessings?WhatishedoingasherecountstheseblessingstotheEphesians?8.TowhatextentdoespraiseforGod’sspiritualblessingsmarkyourownprayerlife?9.Howdowegainaccesstotheseblessings,accordingtoverse13?10.SpendsometimeinpraiseoftheGodwhohasblessedyouwitheveryspiritualblessinginChrist.
Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy3
School’sin!Ephesians1:15-231.Whatisthemostimportantthingtolearn: a.whenyou’resix; b.whenyoumoveoutofhome; c.whenyougetyourfirstjob; d.whenyouretire?2.ReadEphesians1:15-17.WhatthingsdoesPaulprayforonbehalfoftheEphesians?3.AccordingtoPaulinv17,whatisthepurposeofreceiving“theSpiritofwisdomandrevelation”?WhatmeansmightGodusetoanswerthisprayer?Hint:haveasneakpeakatEph4:1-13.4.ReadEphesians1:18.WhatinparticulardoesPaulwishtheEphesianstoknow?5.WhatistheChristian’s“hope”and“gloriousinheritance”?SeeTitus2:13,Hebrews9:15,1Peter1:3-5.6.Howdoesknowledgeofourhopeandgloriousinheritanceimpactthedecisionswemaketoday?Tryandthinkof3differencesthisknowledgemakes.Ifyou’restruggling,havealookatRomans13:11-14,2Tim4:7-8and1Thess4:13-18.
Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy3
7.ReadEphesians1:19-23.WhatdoesPaulwishtheEphesianstoknowaccordingtotheseverses?8.Basingyouranswerontheseverses,describetheextentofGod’spower.WhatwasitaboutthenatureofthecityofEphesusthatmakesthisdescriptionofpowersignificant?9.WhatshoulditmeanforourprayerlifeifwetrulybelieveinGod’spower?10.SpendsometimeprayingtoknowmoreofoureternalhopeandofGod’spower.
Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy4
TheGracethatsparkslifeEphesians2:1-101.Howmanywayscanyoufillintheblank?Sinis_______________________2.ReadEphesians2:1-3.Howisourunderstandingofsinshapedbythewordstransgressions(v1)anddisobedient(v2)?3.Accordingtotheseverses,whataresinseffects?Whichforcesareatworkinleadingustosin?4.Howfardoessin’sinfluenceextend?Whoisaffected?5.Whichoftheaboveaspectsofsinresonatewithyourownexperienceoflife?6.ReadsEphesians2:4-6.WhatdoesGoddotocountertheeffectsofsin?WhatisGod’smotivationfordoingso?HowmightknowingabitaboutGod’smotivationhelpusaccepthisgrace?7.Paulsayswehavebeen‘saved’inv5(alsov8).Givenwhathasprecededinverses1-4,whathavewebeensavedfrom?(tryandexpandyouranswerbeyondsimplysaying‘sin’!)
Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy4
8.Readverses6-7.Practicallyspeakingwhatdoesitmeantobe“raisedupwithChristandseatedwithhim”?SeealsoColossians3:1-4,Philippians3:20.9.Whatmightverses8-9saytothepersonwhothinks“I’velivedagoodlife,Godwillbepleasedwithme”?Whatmighttheysaytoapersonofanotherreligion?WhataboutsomeonewhofearstheywillfallshortofGod’sexpectations?10.Consideringeverythingtheseverseshavetoteachus,whatdoesabalancedunderstandingofsinlooklike?Howmightwemisunderstandit?11.“ButifwearesavedbyGod’sgraciousactivity,whybegood?”Useverse10toanswerthisobjection.12.PrayforsomeoneyouknowtodiscoverthegracethatmakesdeadsinnersaliveinChrist.
Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy5
ThegracethatcreatesonepeopleEphesians2:11-221.Whowasthefirstfriendyoumadefromanotherculture?Whatisvaluableaboutmulticulturalism?Whatmightbesomedangers?2.ReadEphesians2:11-22.Howmightyoudividethispassageintosections?Canyouidentifyanylogicalsequencebetweensections?3.Readvs11-12.WhatwasthecostofbeingagentileinOTtimes(seeespeciallyv12)?HowwasthedistinctionbetweenpeoplegroupsexpressedundertheOldCovenant?SeeGenesis12:1-3,17:1-14,Exodus12:48,Deut7:6-11,Isaiah2:1-5.4.Whatdangerdoesracialdivisionposefor(a)ourworld,(b)ourchurch?5.Ifaskedtoofferaquickexplanation,howwouldyouordinarilyexplainthecrossandwhatitachieved?6.Readv13.WhoisPaulreferringtowhenhesays‘youwhowerefaraway’?Whathasbroughtthemnear?7.Readvs14-18.WhatdoesitmeanthatJesus‘himselfisourpeace?’SeealsoColossians1:21-22.
Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy5
8.Accordingtotheseversesandwithregardtodifferentpeoplegroups,whatdidthecrossachieve,andhowdidthecrossachievethis?9.Readvs19-22.HowdoesPauldescribetheeffectofthecrossinv19?10.WhatdoesChristianmulticulturalismlooklikeaccordingtotheseverses?IstherealimittoChristianmulticulturalism?Whatmightyousaytosomeonewhosays“IfallcultureshavetofollowJesus,thenthat’sracist.”11.Whatlessonscouldmodernchurchestakefromthispassage?Makealistofdosanddon’ts.Tryandcomeupwithanswersbeyond“bewelcomingofothercultures”!12.WhatisoneactionyoucancontributetoSundaystopracticewhatyou’veread?PraythatGodwillhelpyouliveoutthetruthsofthispassage.
Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy6
ThegracethatsharestheGospelEphesians3:1-13
1.Haveyoufeltsorryforsomeonethisweek?Whattypesofpeoplemightyouordinarilyfeelsorryfor?
2.ReadEphesians3:1andthen3:13.WhymighttheEphesianshavefeltsorryforPaul?
3.ReadEphesians3:2.WhathasPaulbeengiven?Whywashegivenit?
4.ReadEphesians3:3-6.WhatwasthegracegiventoPaul?Isitagracethathasbeenreceivedbyeveryone?
5.GiventheOldTestamentprovidedhintsthatjewsandgentileswouldcometogether(egIsaiah2:2-4,49:6),howcanpaulsaythemystery“hasnowbeenrevealed?”WhatisnewaboutPaul’smessage?
6.Readvs7-9.WhatwasPaul’scallingoncethismysteryhadbeenrevealedtohim?WhatworddoesPaulagainusetodescribethiscalling?CanyouexplainwhyPauldoesn’twanttheEphesianstobediscouragedoverhisimprisonment?
7.LikePaul,canyoucallyourselfservantofthisgospel?Whatarethedifferentwayswecanserveinthespreadofthismessage?
Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy6
8.Readvs10-11.IsthegoalofPaul’sministrysimplythatindividualscanfindsalvation?Whatpurposedoesthecreationofthechurchfill?SeealsoLuke15:10.
9.Whatextramotivationdoesthisgiveregardingourparticipationinchurch?
10.Readverse12.WhatindividualeffectofChrist’sworkismentionedhere?Howregularlyareyoumakinguseofthisfreedom?Makeuseofitnowandspreadsometimeinprayer
Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy7
Paul’sPrayerfortheChurchEphesians3:14-221.Whatgoalshaveyousetyourselfrecently?Howdoyouchooseyourgoals?
2.ReadEphesians3:16-17.WhatdoesPaulwishfortheEphesianshere?
3.WhatmighttheEphesiansneedstrengthfor?Seev13forjustoneidea.Whatdoweneedinnerstrengthfor?Howisinnerstrengthattained?
4.Whatsubjectatschooldidyouhavemosttroublegrasping?
5.Read17b-18.WhatdotheEphesiansneedpowertograsp?DoyouhavetroublecomprehendingwhoGodisandhislove?IfsowhatcomfortcanwedrawfromPaul’sprayerfortheEphesianshere?
6.Readv19.Wouldyousaythatyouare‘fillingup’withGod?WhataresomethingsyoucandotoensureyourwalkwithGodisbeingenriched?
7.Readvs20-21.HowisGod’scapabilitytoworkinandthroughusdescribedhere?DoyourownaimsinlifereflectGod’sabilitytoworkpowerfully?Ifnot,whynot?
Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy7
8.Basedonwhatwe’veread,sharewiththegroupsomeappropriategoalsforyourownspiritualdevelopment.PraythatGodwilldoimmeasurablymoreinandthroughyouthanwhatyouaskorimagine.
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