For Sunday, October 24, 2010

Lesson prep for Sunday, October 24, 2010.

1) Ephesians 4:17-19
How did Paul describe the lifestyles of the Gentiles that don’t have relationship with God? What made them lose all sensitivity to questions of right and wrong? What features of your lifestyle might others point to as evidence that you are a Christian, no longer following the way Paul described?

2) Ephesians 4:20-24
How did you come to know Christ? In what way has God made a new attitude in your mind since you’ve been following Him? What does it mean that you were created to be like God in true righteousness? In holiness?

3) Ephesians 4:25-28
What “do not” instructions does Paul give in these 4 verses? Which is hardest for you? What reasoning does he give as to why you should get rid of these things in your life?

4) Ephesians 4:29-32
What is unwholesome talk? What standard measurement of effects did Paul give for deciding if talk is unwholesome? What does it mean to grieve the Holy Spirit? In verse 31, what does this list of behaviors have in common? Which is hardest for you to get rid of? Who does verse 32 point us to as a guide for how to treat each other?

For Sunday, October 17, 2010

Reading selections and questions for Sunday, October 17, 2010

1)Ephesians 4:1-6
What does it mean to live a life worthy of your calling? Which of the characteristics in verse 2 is hardest for you? How does knowledge of the issues mentioned in verses 4-5 help us follow through with the instruction in verse 3? When is this hard? When is it easiest?

2) Ephesians 4:7-10
Who is Paul talking about? What is the main point of these verses? Draw a picture of his explanation in these verses to get a clearer idea of what he meant.
Ephesians 4:11-13
What is the goal of the spiritual gifts God has distributed to Christians? What is the difference between unity in faith and unity in knowledge? How should we measure Christian maturity, according to Paul? What builds up God’s people? What tears us down?

3) Ephesians 4:14-16
When do you feel like an infant in your spiritual life? What issues or people feel like the winds that toss you around? How does speaking the truth in love help us grow up in Christ? What holds the Body of Christ (the Church – Christians) together?

4)Psalm 133:1; Acts 4:32; Philippians 2:2-4
What is Christian unity? Why is it so important? What does our witness say about the character of God and Jesus when the church is full of disunity? How is unity accomplished? See the following verses for more ideas about participating in Christian unity.
Colossians 3:15; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 12:3-6

For Sunday, October 10, 2010

Reading selections and questions for Sunday, October 10, 2010

1) Ephesians 3:14-21
What did Paul pray for them? What does this passage say about each of the following: strength? Power? Faith? Love?

2) Ephesians 3:14-21
According to Paul, how does God strengthen Christians? IN what areas of your life do you need spiritual strengthening most right now? IN verse 14, Paul says “for this reason.” For what reason? Read over Ephesians 3:10-13 and identify the reason Paul choose to pray this passage for the Ephesian Christians.

3) Ephesians 3:14-21
How does God’s love surpass knowledge? What measurements describe God’s love? Can you think of other Bible passages that describe God’s love? What does it mean to be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God?

4) Ephesians 3:20-21
Meditate on these verses, thinking of the meaning of one phrase at a time:

God is able.

God is able to do.

God is able to do immeasurably (above and beyond).

God is able to do immeasurably (above and beyond) all that we ask.

God is able to do immeasurably (above and beyond) all that we ask or imagine.

What are the implications of this on our prayer lives? Do you pray like you believe this is true? (See Ephesians 3:12)

For Sunday, October 3, 2010

Reading selections and questions for Sunday, October 3, 2010

1) Ephesians 2:11-22
What potential church problem was Paul addressing in this passage? What was his main point? What stands out to you most in this passage? Even though our church isn’t divided by Jews and Gentiles, what other things could divide us?

2) Ephesians 2:11-13
In what way were Gentiles “far away” before Jesus came? In what situation did that leave them? Have you ever felt without hope and without God in the world? How does the blood of Christ make those who were far away, now near?

3) Ephesians 2:14-18
Where does your peace come from? How was Jesus Himself the Source of peace between Jews and Gentiles in the church? How did Jesus accomplish this? How would this knowledge change the relationship of those who were divided by heritage? What does verse 18 teach about the work of the Holy Spirit?

4) Ephesians 2:19-22
How did Paul describe their relationship after Jesus’ work on earth was accomplished? What was to be the foundation of their faith and church? How did Paul describe the purpose of the church in this passage? What activities or action help us become “built together” in Christ?

For Sunday, September 26, 2010

I am not posting a "normal" blog study guide this week, because we will be having a guest speaker in our class on Sunday. The topic will be missions and how to better support our missionaries. So, don't forget to pray for Randy, and come to hear the guest speaker!

While we skip one week's study, we don't want to get distracted from our lessons in Ephesians. So, I will post a few readings below with questions, for those of you who use these readings as part of your daily Bible study materials.

Ephesians 1:15-23
What are you doing this week to know God better? How is His mighty resurrection power been evident in your life this week? Spend a few minutes focused on the hope we have in Christ.

Ephesians 2:1-10
How are you approaching God lately -- by faith or trying to earn your way there by works? How has God shown His rich mercy to you lately? What are the good works God has planned for you today?

Ephesians 2:11-22
If we were dividing people up into two categories, what would they be? Is Jesus Himself your peace today? What does it mean to you to be a fellow citizen in God's kingdom? How does it make your life different?

Ephesians 3:1-13
What is the mystery of God? What is the mystery about Christ? Look at verse 12. Do you approach God's throne with confidence and freedom? Why or why not?

For Sunday, September 19, 2010

Reading selections and questions for Sunday, September 19, 2010

1) Ephesians 2:1-10
When you read this passage, what stands out to you? What does this passage say about the past? What does it say about the future? Make a timeline of salvation, detailing God’s plan for each step.

2) Ephesians 2:1-3
How did Paul describe a person’s life before they became a follower of Christ? Who is the ruler of the kingdom of the air? What are the main characteristics of this lifestyle, according to Paul? Why is it good for your Christian witness to remember your life before/without Christ?

3) Ephesians 2:4-7
Name the aspects of God’s character detailed in this passage. What was the God’s purpose in this plan (see verse7)? How have you experienced the incomparable riches of God’s grace in your life?

4) Ephesians 2:8-10
How are people saved, according to Paul? Have you ever tried to reach God a different way? What makes us tempted to boast, or why do we boast? Why did God created us? When were the preparations made for God’s plan for you?

For Sunday, September 12, 2010

Reading selections and questions for Sunday, September 12, 2010

1) Ephesians 1:15-23
What was Paul’s main theme in this passage? What was his main point? What was the reputation of the Ephesians’ church, according to verse 15? What is your reputation about your faith?

2) Ephesians 1:15-23
How did Paul describe his prayers for them? What was Paul hoping for them? Why were these things so important? Do you need to know God better? Do you know the hope to which He has called you? Are you experiencing the great power of God in your life? Pray this same prayer for yourself and someone else.

3) Ephesians 1:15-23
What did Paul have to say about God’s power in this passage? What was/is the ultimate expression of that power? If you could experience God’s immeasurable power before the end of this day, in what area of your life would you most desire the impact? How will everything be organized according to God’s plan?

4) Ephesians 1:22-23
How is the church like Christ’s body? How does that display the fullness of God? What does that mean? What does it mean for Christ to be the head of the church?
Ephesians 2:17-19
Return to this prayer. Pray it again, thinking about each word, for yourself and for someone else.