God's Power for Us--Read Ephesians 1:15-23
1. Explain why it is important for us to know that "Whatever powers exist--real or imaginary, human or nonhuman--that they are all subject to Christ."
2. Paul's prayer points to God's power to bring life from death. Why do we need to be confident that this power is at work here and now?
The Power to Know Love--Read Ephesians 3:1-21.
3. Make a list of everything Paul says about strength or power in 3:14-21. Strength from where? Strength to do what?
4. Why is it so important for us to know the vastness of Christ's love for us?
5. Why do you suppose Paul focuses on praying for waht happens inside us rather than around us?
6. Are you more interested in power to change things around you, ot ro change you? Talk about why.
7. Paul prayes for you not just to know about Christ's love, but to know his love. To know it by experiece. You talked in session 4 about what helps or hinders you from knowint that love. Where are you now on that?
The Power to Stand Firm--Read Ephesians 6:10-20
8. What are some of "the devil's schemes" that Paul might be talking about here?
9. Christ has already triumphed over the spiritual forces of evil (1:20-22). Why then does Paul tell us here that we're engaged in a struggle in which we have to stand firm against them?
10. The armor strengthens you to stand against evil schemes and do what God wants done. Which aspect of the armor is hardest for you to wear consistently? What would wearing it involve for you?
11. What will you take away from this study on Ephesians?
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Friday, November 20, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Session 5--November 8-15
In, To, And For The Lord--Ephesians 4:1-16; 5:15-6:9
LIVING FOR THE LORD
1. Paul says we Christan have "one Lord" and one God and Parent of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (4:5-6). He says Christ is the head of the body we belong to, and that everything is under his feet (1:22-23: 4:15-16). How do you respond to this kind of hierarchical language? To what extend do you embrace it, and to what extent does it seem foreign or uncomfortable?
SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER--Read Ephesians 5:15-21
2. What attitides toward other Christians will we have if we are submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ (5:21)?
3. What are some things we might do--or do differently--if we are submitting to each other?
4. What if we subordinate our own interests to another Christian's interests, but that person isn't interested in mutual submission? What if that person takes advantage of our commitment to mutual submission? How should we respond?
5. How will reverence for Christ affect the way we treat other people?
SUBMISSION IN THE HOUSEHOLD Read Ephesians 5:21-6:9
6. Imagine a man in Paul's day who has been brought up to believe women are inferior, less intelligent, and more prome to immorality than men. What in 5:25-32 do you think would surprise him and why?
7. Paul says slaves should work "as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart" (6:6). He also says that masters need to remember that they and their workers have the same Master, who values the worker as much as the boss (6:9). What would mutual submission look like for employers and workers?
8. Is is possible to live in mutual submission and still lead with confidence? Explain.
9. What do you think God wants you to do--or do differently--in, to, or for the Lord in your family or workplace?
Note from Rev. Carol--We may think that talk about submission is no longer applicable--let's enlarge the discussion and think about submitting to one another in relationships of all kinds. What would that look like? If you heard my sermon on "uncommon compassion"--can you think of some ways this passage relates?
LIVING FOR THE LORD
1. Paul says we Christan have "one Lord" and one God and Parent of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (4:5-6). He says Christ is the head of the body we belong to, and that everything is under his feet (1:22-23: 4:15-16). How do you respond to this kind of hierarchical language? To what extend do you embrace it, and to what extent does it seem foreign or uncomfortable?
SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER--Read Ephesians 5:15-21
2. What attitides toward other Christians will we have if we are submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ (5:21)?
3. What are some things we might do--or do differently--if we are submitting to each other?
4. What if we subordinate our own interests to another Christian's interests, but that person isn't interested in mutual submission? What if that person takes advantage of our commitment to mutual submission? How should we respond?
5. How will reverence for Christ affect the way we treat other people?
SUBMISSION IN THE HOUSEHOLD Read Ephesians 5:21-6:9
6. Imagine a man in Paul's day who has been brought up to believe women are inferior, less intelligent, and more prome to immorality than men. What in 5:25-32 do you think would surprise him and why?
7. Paul says slaves should work "as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart" (6:6). He also says that masters need to remember that they and their workers have the same Master, who values the worker as much as the boss (6:9). What would mutual submission look like for employers and workers?
8. Is is possible to live in mutual submission and still lead with confidence? Explain.
9. What do you think God wants you to do--or do differently--in, to, or for the Lord in your family or workplace?
Note from Rev. Carol--We may think that talk about submission is no longer applicable--let's enlarge the discussion and think about submitting to one another in relationships of all kinds. What would that look like? If you heard my sermon on "uncommon compassion"--can you think of some ways this passage relates?
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