Identity in Ephesians: You are Alive
Ephesians 2:1-10
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:
For those in your Life Group who are “born again” (John 3:16, John 5:24, 2 Cor 5:17, Eph 2:8,9), describe what it felt like to “move from death to life”. What changed? Tell the story while bringing out the difference between “Spiritual life” that Paul is talking about here, and an “emotional high” or a positive attitude.
Read Ephesians 2:1-2
These verses talk about us “following”, the momentum of “the ways of this world” and the spirit of the Devil who is “at work in those who are disobedient”. So our own flesh, the world around us, and the Devil… all converge on “gratifying our desires”. That’s a lot of energy behind what Scripture calls “Sin”! Discuss that:
o Paul says we were “dead”. What did he mean by that?
o What is Satan’s lie to those who are driven by self-gratification? Try to capture it in as few words as possible.
o What is wrong with our nature as people without God?
Read Ephesians 2:3
o Discuss the phrase, “Morality isn’t determined by the majority.” Really? Explain.
o Paul says, “Like the rest [of humanity], we were by nature deserving of wrath.” Why is that?
o What’s wrong with our gratifying desires that come naturally to us? It is an existential truth that our desires for power, pleasure, prestige… all come naturally. If it’s natural, then why is it wrong… and who gets to tell another person it’s wrong as Paul is doing here?
o Discuss the phrase, ““You can’t take on attribute of God (e.g., His love, grace) and turn it into God Himself.”
o Discuss the way no one feels deserving of wrath, and yet the wrath of God should create a sense of urgency about our natural state when we are separated from Him. How does that speak to our cultural moment where we are all asking, “What gives anyone else the right to say I am wrong?”
Read Eph 2:4-7, v10
o Paul is writing to a church of people who have been “born again” (John 3:16) and are now in a situation where that new life and their witness about Jesus is highly offensive to the hedonistic culture around them… so their lives in the moment were really tough! How does this section help them to refocus?
o Discuss the phrase, “God’s love rescues us from God’s wrath”. Explain.
o We are “raised up with Christ and seated in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” That seems to be REALLY important here, so what does that mean to be “in Christ Jesus”?
o Believers are described here as a showcase of God’s rich grace and masterpieces designed to “do good works”. Is this identity something that you will discover when “trying to find yourself”? Why or why not?
Read Eph 2:8-9
o Discuss the phrase, “Your past needs a password: FAITH.” Explain that in the way Scott was using the metaphor.
o Our culture is exquisitely ego-centric, so the question comes up, “Are we doing Jesus a favor by believing in Him?” Talk about that.
o Read Romans 10:9-10. Why is Christ’s Lordship— belief that He is “Lord” — a necessary component of what Scripture describes as saving faith? Why not say, “If you believe that God is love…” or “If you believe that God’s grace is amazing…” you will be saved?
Respond:
o Now read verse 8 again! Thank God for His grace in Christ Jesus, acknowledge His Lordship over ever part of your life, spend time in silent confession and then express your thankfulness to God in prayer for the power of His grace, His love, His forgiveness.
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