Bible Study Questions and Thoughts--Session 1--Week of August 23-30

Passages--Ephesians 1:1-14; 2:1-22

Questions for Study--

Paul wants us to think about not only where we live physically, but also where we live spirituality...

Blessings in Christ--Read Ephesians 1:1-14.

1. Make a list of everything Paul says here this is true of us because we are "in Christ")or "in him," etc).
2. How does a person come to be "in Christ" (1:13)?
3. How is your physical identity influenced by the physical place where you live, or where you come from?
4. What difference does it make to your life that you live in two locales: a physical place and in Christ?
5. What does it mean "to be holy and blameless in his sight" (1:4)?

In Sin or In Christ--Read Ephesians 2:1-10

6. Before we lived in Christ, we lived somewhere very different. What key elements of that environment influenced our identity then (2:1-3)?

7. When we changed realms from being "in sin" to "in Christ," we were included in some important things that had happened to Christ: his resurrection from the dead and his ascension into the heavenly realms (2:4-6). What do you think it means to say that "in Christ" we are seated right now with him in the heavenly realms?

Invited with God's People in Christ--Read Ephesians 2:11-22

8. How easy is it for you to think of yourself as part of Christ, intimately connected to him and to others who are in him (2:19-22)? What helps or hinders you from thinking of yourself that way?

9. How should being in Christ affect the way we relate to believers from different ethnic groups, social classes, educational levels, etc?

10. If Paul is right, why do churches seem to have so much trouble with segregation along ethnic and social lines?

11. What makes you feel that you belong, or don't belong in the church or community of believers?

12. What aspect of being "in Christ" is most significant for the way you see yourself currently?

13. Any other question that you would like to discuss with the group...