Unlocking the Mystery of Christ: Exploring Ephesians for Spiritual Growth

1 6 3 2 week 4 5 7 Ephesians H HOME OME Q QUESTIONS SIT WALK STAND UESTIONS Our Identity in Christ FOR FOR W WEEK EEK 4 4 Living Our Identity Defending Our Identity 1. Why do you think Paul describes the Gospel in Jesus as the Mystery of Christ? Eph 3:1-3 KINGDOM ADVANCERS What are some of the things that may keep you from stepping out to do the work of God s Kingdom? 2. Read 3:10. Who are the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms? How is it possible to make God s manifold wisdom known to them? 3. Give a response to this phrase: We are called to be the gents of God s will so that God s purpose may be seen in an evil world. God couldn t use me that way I don t hear God like those more serious Christ- ians. ,,, I haven t kept up with my devo- tions. 4. Read 3:14-19.. Describe how these words make you feel? What is Paul talking about concerning our inner being? Do you know any other passages that talk about our inner being? In your own words, write a sentence about the magnificence of Christ s love. I don t have the authority to do God s work. My sin is too great. Paul was dealing with people in Ephesus that struggled in the same ways we struggle as we are challenged to step out. They had to get over their own sin and be confident in their relationship with God. Paul meets these two barriers head on: 5. Read 3:20. Make a list of all the things that are greater than God s power. Dave Huizenga

Notes: 1. We are taken from the death to life [2:1-10] CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PERSON WITHOUT CHRIST Paul lays out for us a painful reality of what it means to live without Jesus. Think of all the people, the friends, the co- workers, the people in the marketplace, the people in the synagogue who did not have Christ. The people in Ephesus who were caught up in the Occult of Diana. - - - - HE IS DEAD [2:1] HE IS DISOBEDIENT [2:2] HE IS DEPRAVED [2:3a] HE IS AN OBJECT OF GOD S WRATH [2:3b] GOD S WORK FOR US IN CHRIST Now look at the contrast of a person who has Jesus Christ. No wonder the Lord came upon the church in Ephesus so that the whole Province of Asia heard the word of the Lord! The church in Ephesus wanted the world to have what they were given. - - - - HE LOVED US [2:4] HE MADE US ALIVE [2:5] HE SEATED US IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS IN CHRIST JESUS [2:6] HE GAVE US ETERNITY WITH HIM [2:7-9] BELIEVER IN JESUS, DO YOU KNOW HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS IS? You are so loved by God that he wanted to give you everything. He sent his Son into the world because of His love for you, and then His Son laid down His live because of this love. Then, He fills you, you who don t deserve it, He fills you with the Spirit of Life! And because your sins are paid for, He invites you to a place of authority in Christ. You are seated in the heavenly realms! You are a life bearing, life giving child of God who now has the authority over the devil through Christ Jesus. And what s more is that by God s grace, because of your faith, you will live in eternity with Him.

BREAK AWAY GROUP BREAK AWAY GROUP INTERACTION WEEK 3 INTERACTION WEEK 3 GOD S WORK IN AND THROUGH US This is the beauty of what God has done in Christ Jesus: 1. What are some of the barriers that might keep you from stepping out as a Kingdom Advancer into your Spheres of Influence? 1. We are God s workmanship = God is writing a poem of his work in us. [word for workmanship is poiema of which we get the word poem. ] 2. Christ continues his good work in us - He died, rose again and gives us all we need to carry on His good work. [1:3; 4:7-10] - Through the Holy Spirit in and through us, Christ s work continues 2. Name the wonderful things the Lord has done for us in shaping our Christian identity as seen in 2:4-10. Discuss each of these items and how you may take these into your hearts. Don t be afraid to mention any lies of the enemy that keep us from accepting these truths. He __________ us _____________ with Christ [2:5] 2. We are moved from being Separated from God to Oneness with Him in Christ [2:11 22] (most of the new Christians in the Ephesian Church were Gentiles) It is by ____________ that we have been ___________ [2:5] God ___________ us up with Christ and _____________ us with him in Jesus [2:6] the _______________ ________________ in Christ A good word to describe the gentile separation in relationship to God is without [as seen in 2:12]. God shows us the __________________ _______________ of his grace Without Christ The Ephesians had Diana and you can t have both Diana and Christ Without citizenship The Ephesians were excluded from citizenship in Israel Without covenants The Ephesians were foreigners to the covenants of the promise. Without hope Diana offered no hope. She didn t give back to anyone without strings attached and only she could gain. Without God The Ephesians had a god, but they didn t have the true living Jesus Christ. expressed in his _______________ to us in Christ Jesus [2:7] Being saved is a ____________ of ________, not by works. [2:8] We are God s ________________ created in Christ Jesus to do __________ _________. [2:10] Perhaps pray for each other celebrating what Christ has done in each of us.

By Christs work, By Christ s work, God has brought oneness to Sinners [2:16-18] God has brought oneness to the Gentiles: Oneness between Jews and Gentiles [2:13-15] God s purpose in separating Jews and Gentiles was finished with the work of Christ. Christ brings peace to both believing Jews and Gentiles. The reasons for enmity are gone. The barrier has been destroyed. - The dividing power of the Law is fulfilled in Christ - Jew and Gentile are now one in God s plan in the cross - Both Jews and Gentiles need to be reconciled to God through the cross of Jesus [2:16] - Christ preached peace to Jew and Gentile far and near [2:17] - Both have access to the Father by one Spirit[2:18] The Gentiles are given a New Position in Christ 3. Because of this Transforming work of God in us, there is no reason why we can t go out as Kingdom Advancers into our Spheres of Influence! [2:19-22] Old Position Without Christ New Position In Christ [2:13] Aliens A Holy Nation [1 Peter 2:9] - We are no longer foreigners and aliens but are citizens of heaven and members of his household. [2:19] This household is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the cornerstone. [2:20] You individually are a dwelling (a temple) for God to live in by His Spirit. [2:22] Strangers No More Strangers [2:19] - No hope Called in one hope [4:4] Without God The God and Father of Christ [1:3] - This is transformation! God is taking Gentiles and through Jesus Christ is making them His people! Once they were outside of a relationship with the Lord, now as they accept Jesus, they are actually in Christ! They are seated in the heavenly realms in Christ. They are part of Christ s Holy Nation, they are Christ s body, they have full citizenship in heaven! This is a miracle of transformation and it is given to all who give their lives to Jesus. So, all the barriers have been removed. This is our time to advance god s kingdom. We are chosen, empowered, equipped and now we are sent. It is time. And as it happened in the province of asia, it will happen with us: everyone in our spheres of influence will hear the word of the lord.