Identity in Ephesians: You are Rooted
Ephesians 1:15-23
Connect:
Share how you have seen God in the Highs and Lows of your week.
Discuss how resolutions made last week in “growing more like Jesus” worked themselves out— what did God do in and through you (Phil 2:13)? Celebrate those together!
Prayer:
Pray that God would lead your discussion time and bring fresh insight, conviction, and hope through your time together.
Review:
We are launching into a new series on our identity in Christ as presented in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. There are 14 things that God says we are. Last week we looked at how we are “blessed” and this week the focus is on being “rooted”.
The Grand Tour of the message: Thinking back on what you heard this Sunday…
o What did you learn about God?
o What did you learn about people?
o What did you learn about yourself?
o What do you want to commit to putting into practice?
Reflect:
Paul, writing from a dungeon, was praying for their church! Describe the character (spiritual, psychological, emotional…) of a person who prays for others while locked in a dungeon. Who does that?
Read Ephesians 1:15-16
Explain and discuss the statement, “Faith in Jesus doesn’t exist apart from loving people” as Scott used it this week. Would you say we are working hard at making that a characteristic of our church? Explain.
Read Eph 1:17
o Paul talks about a “spirit of wisdom and revelation” here. Discuss how God’s Spirit and our spirit must be rightly related for that to happen.
o Wisdom, knowledge, discernment, revelation… all are facets of this “epiginosis” (knowing God intimately in the context of our daily lives. Describe a time where God gave you “a spirit of wisdom and revelation” — How did personal acknowledgement of God’s presence make a difference in the situation you were facing at the time.
o A W Tozer said, ““Some knowledge of what kind of God it is that operates the universe is indispensable to a sound philosophy of life and a sane outlook on the world scene. We can never know who or what we are till we know at least something of what God is.” Do you agree? Explain.
o “If we don’t know God, we won’t trust Him; if we don’t trust Him, we won’t follow Him.” How might that affect the way that we construct our “identity” as a person— without Him, how else would you KNOW who you are?
Read Eph 1:18
o Paul is essentially saying we are rooted in the “hope” that we have. Articulate that— what exactly is the “hope that we have” that a guy chained down in palace dungeon is talking about to the free people walking around outside?
o How would hope for the next world make us engage more deeply in this one?
o This verse talks about us as God’s inheritance— how would that affect the way we process life (feel, think, do, relate) if we lived as if that were the case?
Read Eph 1:19-21
o Would you say we live our every day lives as if God’s power towards us as believers is that great? Explain.
o If our calling as believers is to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34), “Be holy as I AM holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16), “Heal the sick” (Matt 10:8), disciple the nations (Matt 28:18-20)…. would we need His power? Explain.
o Compare “our every day lives” and “our calling” from what we just discussed. Is there anything that needs to change?
Read Eph 1:22-23
o Scott said, “We have the potential of being the fullness of Jesus Christ on earth”. Unpack that comment— what does that mean in light of this scripture?
o What difference does it make NOW that something better is COMING?
Respond:
o Our knowledge of God is the core aspect of the Christian life being celebrated here— His presence, by the ministry of the Holy Spirit! Scott asked the question, “What NEW thing have you learned about God recently? Express that in prayer as you pray together this evening.
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