Ephesians

Ephesians 04 – Ephesians 2:11-22

Joe continues our journey through Ephesians and considers the walls that contrive to separate people.

Verses for Reflection:

1 Peter 4:7-11
John 15:9-13

Discussion Questions:
    • When you’re in church communities, what “walls“ are you aware of that make you feel like you don’t belong? How do they manifest and what effect do they have? What insecurity in you are they illuminating?
    • Where else in your life do you sometimes feel “imposter” syndrome? What insecurity is at the root of this? What does God say about you that should, if you really believed it, make you secure?
    • What judgements do you find yourself making about others. What walls might this put up for community and how can you actively dismantle them, even if they’re just in your head?

Ephesians 03 – Ephesians 2:1-10

Hannah looks at the next section of Ephesians and considers how what God has done for us should result in thankfulness and opportunities to co-work with God for his kingdom.

Verses for Reflection:

Romans 5:1-11

Discussion Questions:
  • Jesus is good news! How are you aware of this good news in your everyday life? Sometimes we can just get used to our lives that perhaps we take what God has done for granted?
  • What about your life, your character, your priorities and your outlook is because of your faith? How are you grateful for these things?
  • What would your life be like if you didn’t follow Jesus? In some things it might actually feel like our life could be easier or better! How can we understand these as ‘good news’?
  • Hannah talked about how being thankful gives us the strength to do things God has for us. How might the specific circumstances of what your thankful for be relevant to people around you? Might they have similar circumstances where you’ve experienced God’s good news? Pray for opportunities to share

Ephesians 02 – Ephesians 1:15-23

Today Lizzy thinks about how God draws us into a new family and what this means for us.
Other Bible Passages to Look at:
Hebrews 10:24-25
Romans 12:10-13
Acts 2:42-47
Discussion Starter Questions:
  • How is church like a family? What qualities have you experienced in church that are like a good family?
  • What aspects of a good family don’t we quite have in church at the moment? How could you personally try to bring some of those aspects into church around you?
  • What practical thing could you do this week to express your love towards God’s people?

Ephesians 01 – Ephesians 1:1-14

Today Dave starts our series looking at the letter to the Ephesian church, using the spiritual practice of Digging for Gems. He talks about the amazing things that happen when we bring our messy lives to God.

Verses for Reflection:

This is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and on earth. Ephesians 1:10

Ephesians 1:1-14

Discussion Questions:
  • Have you tried Digging for Gems? What did you get out of the passage?
  • In relation to Dave’s talk, what makes it difficult to be real about struggles and difficulties? What would help us get around this?
  • Are there things in your life that you feel control you in a way you don’t like? We tend to think of sin as a wrong thing we do, but sin is anything that steals God’s life from us. So passive, non-active things, like fear or self-centredness are also sins, which means Jesus wants to set us free from them.
  • Are there things in your life that you’ve tried to shut the door on, but perhaps they sometimes leak out? Read Romans 7:14-25

Ephesians 00 – Digging For Gems

As we start a new series reading through the book of Ephesians, Dave talks about the Bible and why it’s so important to us. He also introduces the Spiritual Practice we will be learning: Digging for Gems

Verses for Reflection:

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. Hebrews 4:12-13

Discussion Questions:
  • How do you feel about the Bible? Do you enjoy reading it, or is it a challenge?
  • If, one day, you decided to read the Bible… what would you do? How would you approach it?
  • Have you ever experienced “Bible Goggles” or “Bible Fog”?
  • Do you have any questions about the Bible? Where could you find answers?