Identity in Ephesians: You are Committed
Ephesians 5:22-30
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 God did in and through you (Phil. 2:13) Celebrate and thank God for those together and pray with those who experienced some “Lows” this week, for God’s encouragement for them.
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. We are “Blessed”, “Rooted”, “Alive”, “Reconciled”, “Called”, “Loved”, “Gifted”, “New” and now Light!
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:
Have a married couple share something that they heard in the message this weekend which was reflected “positively or negatively) in their marriage… “What he said [here] reminded us of this one time___________”
Read Ephesians 5:22-24
o How do both husbands and wives sustain willing obedience to God in their complementary roles? (2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 2:13, Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 12:10b, Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 12:34b-37, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, 1 Corinthians 13:4-5)
o How does it affect the marriage relationship when the wife chooses to constantly disrespect the leadership role God gives to the husband? (Galatians 6:7 and 9, Mark 3:25, Proverbs 14:1, 21:9 and 19, Proverbs 25:24).
o How does Scripture describe a godly wife, and the rewards of such a commitment? (Genesis 2:18, Titus 2:4-5, 1 Timothy 2:9-10, Proverbs 31:10-31, 1 Peter 3:1-2).
Read Ephesians 5:25
o How does the husband love his wife “as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her?” (Mark 10:42-45, John 13:12-17, Philippians 2:3-7, Romans 15:7, Colossians 3:19, 1 Peter 3:7, 1 Timothy 5:7-8, Luke 6:38).
Read Ephesians 5:26-27
o How does the husband “sanctify” his wife? (James 1:22-25, Joshua 1:7-8, 2 Timothy 2:15 and 3:14-17, Colossians 3:16, Philippians 4:4-9, Ephesians 3:14-21).
Read Ephesians 5:28-30
o How does the husband “nourish and cherish” his wife as a member of the Body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 12:12-26, 1 John 3:16-18, Proverbs 20:5).
Respond:
o The basic point that as we grow closer to God, we grow closer to each other is one that applies in all our relationships with believers— people who are “in Christ”, born of His Spirit and growing more like Him! Take some time to pray for that kind of unity in the relationships you have— in your family, your church, your community— where people already know Jesus… then pray for those who do not yet know Him to see the difference Jesus makes!
____________________________________
Get more resources to go deeper through Commentaries and Bible Study helps HERE