Ephesians 4

I was gone this week so we had the privilege of having Steve share with us during the teaching time. He did a great job, but due to some technical difficulties we were unable to record the teaching for the podcast. Bummer. Here are the questions that jump started our discussion time:

1. Ephesians centers on God: the Father, Christ the Lord, and the Holy Spirit. How does (or should) this emphasis on God—especially what God has done for humanity’s well being (salvation)—serve to renew/correct our thinking and our living?

2. The focus on the Church permeates all of chapter 4, perhaps as much as any other place in the New Testament. While many Christians reading the letter and this chapter tend to think and apply its message in individualistic terms, the author clearly places the emphasis on corporate, communal understanding and practices. So while not eliminating the diversity of individuals and their gifts to the body, the emphasis is unquestionably the unity of the whole body of Christ, and the reality of our oneness that needs to be lived out. How does (or should) this more community-oriented understanding of the text affect your own thinking and living?

3. There is a major emphasis on Christian’s/the Church’s behavior here in chapter 4, yet always with the underlying point that it’s because of God’s love, Christ’s sacrifice, and the Spirit’s uniting presence that we can live out these commands. What difference does it make (or has it made) when the Church behaves in accordance with these good attitudes and behaviors? What difference does it make (or has it made) when it does not?

What do you think? Please share your thoughts on these questions or on any other part of chapter 4 that comes to mind.

Ephesians 3

We continued our walk through the book of Ephesians with chapter 3. Here's the podcast and here are the points we discussed:

The mystery was that Gentiles and Jews were to brought together in unity as one church under Christ. Are we working for unity in the church? Are we creating space where all people can be drawn together in Jesus?

Paul prays that we would be rooted in love, in order to grasp the love of Christ, so that we would know His love. Is love evident in your life in this way? If not, where and how does it start?

Vs. 18-20 talk about the far-reaching love and power of God. Does your view of God match this? In what way does your behavior reflect your view of God?

What other questions does this text raise?

Any thoughts to share? Join the conversation here...

Ephesians 2

Here are our discussion points that we used as a "jumping off" point. We didn't fully talk about these so much tonight b/c the conversation went a slightly different directions, but here they are for further discussion...

God offers salvation to us out of His love for us rather than anything we could do. Have you accepted that gift from Him? Has that changed your life and are you expressing your thanks through your life?

Unfortunately, the behavior of Christians can still create walls between God’s people. If we are truly Jesus’ followers, we should strive to make God’s temple—which is our very selves—open to everyone. We need to develop attitudes and actions that show God’s love to others each and every day. Do your actions make it easy or hard for people to experience God? Are you building walls around yourself or tearing them down?

Feel free to continue the conversation here. Also, if you've got more to talk about beyond these two points, by all means go for it...

Ephesians 1

Tonight we started a 6-week walk through the book of Ephesians. Give the podcast a listen if you'd like. It has some background on the book itself and some great explanation on our identity as children of God. Here are the discussion points we talked about:

As adopted children of God we have a birthright of redemption and forgiveness along with citizenship in heaven. As followers of Jesus we are called to be holy and blameless, and we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. How does this affect your view of your own identity and how your are called to live your life?

Paul’s wishes for us are that: 1) we would know God better, and 2) we would know the hope to which God has called us, His glorious inheritance, and His power for us who believe. How can we move forward in this this year?

Jesus brings reconciliation between God and people. He also calls us to reconciliation with others. Why is it that we often embrace the former without giving thought to the latter? What do we do about it?

Any other thoughts to share? Please chime in...