Growth Group Studies

1. Three Marks of God's Church Eph 1:1-2

2. The Christian's Payday Eph 1:3-14

3. School's In! Eph 1:15-23

4. The grace that sparks life Eph 2:1-10

5. The grace that creates one people Eph 2:11-22

6. The grace that shares the Gospel Eph 3:1-13

7. Paul's Prayer for the Church Eph 3:14-22

Ephesians  1-­‐3     Growth  Group  Study  1  

Three  Marks  of  God’s  Church  Ephesians  1:1-­‐2    1.  Draw  a  perfect  church.  Explain  to  the  group  some  of  its  more  impressive  features.                                  2.  Read  Ephesians  1:1-­‐2  How  does  Paul  describe  himself  in  Verse  1?          3.  Read  the  following  passages  and  answer  the  following:     a.  What  was  an  Apostle?            

b.  What  was  the  relationship  between  the  Apostles  and  the  church?            

Passages:  Luke  6:12-­‐16,  Luke  9:1-­‐6,  Acts  9:1-­‐22,  Ephesians  2:19-­‐22,  Ephesians  4:11-­‐13,  Galatians  2:1-­‐10.  

 4.  In  practice,  what  might  it  look  like  for  a  modern  church  to  be  built  on  the  foundation  of  the  apostles?          

Ephesians  1-­‐3     Growth  Group  Study  1  

5.  How  is  the  Church  in  Ephesus  described  in  the  2nd  half  of  Ephesians  1:1?            6.  Read  the  description  of  Ephesus  in  Acts  19:1-­‐41.  What  might  it  have  meant  for  the  Ephesian  church  to  be  “holy”  and  “faithful  in  Christ”  while  living  in  Ephesus?          7.  What  does  it  mean  to  be  “holy”  and  “faithful  in  Christ”  while  living  in  Sydney?          8.  According  to  verse  2,  which  blessings  from  “God  our  father  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ”  does  Paul  desire  for  the  Ephesians?          9.  What  exactly  does  Paul  mean  by  “grace”  and  “peace”?  (Hint,  read  through  chapter  2!)          10.  Revisit  your  diagram  form  the  first  question.  In  light  of  these  opening  verses,  how  might  you  alter  what  you’ve  drawn?            11.In  light  of  what  you’ve  learnt,  what  can  you  do  to  help  strengthen  our  own  church?          12.  EXTENSION  QUESTION.  How  does  the  Nicene  Creed’s  description  of  the  church  reflect  what  we  read  in  Ephesians  1:1-­‐2?  (If  you  don’t  know  the  Nicene  Creed,  Google  it!)    

Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy2

SpiritualblessingsinChristEphesians1:3-141.Whichpersonhasdonethemostforyouinyourlife?Whatkindofthingshavetheydone?Whathasbeenyourresponsetothisgenerosity?2.WhydoesPaulpraiseGodinEphesians1:3?Whatkindofblessingsareinviewhere?3.ReadEphesians1:4-14,andnotedowntheparticularblessingsfoundinthefollowingverses:v4:___________________ v5:____________________ v7:____________________ v9:____________________ v11:___________________ v13:___________________4.Foreachoftheblessingslisted,tryandarticulatewhyitisablessing.Usetheextraversesaddedbelowtohelpyou.v4(Psalm24:3-4):___________________ v5(Rom8:14-17):____________________ v7(Heb10:17-18):____________________ v9(1Peter1:1-12):____________________ v11(Rom8:28-30):____________________ v13(Gal4:6-7):____________________5.Doestheconceptofreceivingspiritualblessingshavemuchofanaffectonyou,ordoyoufeelindifferenttowardstheidea?Wouldyoupreferadifferenttypeofblessing?Whatwouldbethecostofnotreceivingeachoftheseblessings?Gothougheachoneandthinkaboutwhatwouldbelostifitweretakenaway.

Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy2

6.Accordingtovs6-7.WhichaspectofGod’scharacterisunderscoredbytheseblessings?WhatotheraspectsofGod’scharacterdotheblessingsreveal?7.WhatisPaul’sresponsetoGod’sblessings?WhatishedoingasherecountstheseblessingstotheEphesians?8.TowhatextentdoespraiseforGod’sspiritualblessingsmarkyourownprayerlife?9.Howdowegainaccesstotheseblessings,accordingtoverse13?10.SpendsometimeinpraiseoftheGodwhohasblessedyouwitheveryspiritualblessinginChrist.

Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy3

School’sin!Ephesians1:15-231.Whatisthemostimportantthingtolearn: a.whenyou’resix; b.whenyoumoveoutofhome; c.whenyougetyourfirstjob; d.whenyouretire?2.ReadEphesians1:15-17.WhatthingsdoesPaulprayforonbehalfoftheEphesians?3.AccordingtoPaulinv17,whatisthepurposeofreceiving“theSpiritofwisdomandrevelation”?WhatmeansmightGodusetoanswerthisprayer?Hint:haveasneakpeakatEph4:1-13.4.ReadEphesians1:18.WhatinparticulardoesPaulwishtheEphesianstoknow?5.WhatistheChristian’s“hope”and“gloriousinheritance”?SeeTitus2:13,Hebrews9:15,1Peter1:3-5.6.Howdoesknowledgeofourhopeandgloriousinheritanceimpactthedecisionswemaketoday?Tryandthinkof3differencesthisknowledgemakes.Ifyou’restruggling,havealookatRomans13:11-14,2Tim4:7-8and1Thess4:13-18.

Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy3

7.ReadEphesians1:19-23.WhatdoesPaulwishtheEphesianstoknowaccordingtotheseverses?8.Basingyouranswerontheseverses,describetheextentofGod’spower.WhatwasitaboutthenatureofthecityofEphesusthatmakesthisdescriptionofpowersignificant?9.WhatshoulditmeanforourprayerlifeifwetrulybelieveinGod’spower?10.SpendsometimeprayingtoknowmoreofoureternalhopeandofGod’spower.

Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy4

TheGracethatsparkslifeEphesians2:1-101.Howmanywayscanyoufillintheblank?Sinis_______________________2.ReadEphesians2:1-3.Howisourunderstandingofsinshapedbythewordstransgressions(v1)anddisobedient(v2)?3.Accordingtotheseverses,whataresinseffects?Whichforcesareatworkinleadingustosin?4.Howfardoessin’sinfluenceextend?Whoisaffected?5.Whichoftheaboveaspectsofsinresonatewithyourownexperienceoflife?6.ReadsEphesians2:4-6.WhatdoesGoddotocountertheeffectsofsin?WhatisGod’smotivationfordoingso?HowmightknowingabitaboutGod’smotivationhelpusaccepthisgrace?7.Paulsayswehavebeen‘saved’inv5(alsov8).Givenwhathasprecededinverses1-4,whathavewebeensavedfrom?(tryandexpandyouranswerbeyondsimplysaying‘sin’!)

Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy4

8.Readverses6-7.Practicallyspeakingwhatdoesitmeantobe“raisedupwithChristandseatedwithhim”?SeealsoColossians3:1-4,Philippians3:20.9.Whatmightverses8-9saytothepersonwhothinks“I’velivedagoodlife,Godwillbepleasedwithme”?Whatmighttheysaytoapersonofanotherreligion?WhataboutsomeonewhofearstheywillfallshortofGod’sexpectations?10.Consideringeverythingtheseverseshavetoteachus,whatdoesabalancedunderstandingofsinlooklike?Howmightwemisunderstandit?11.“ButifwearesavedbyGod’sgraciousactivity,whybegood?”Useverse10toanswerthisobjection.12.PrayforsomeoneyouknowtodiscoverthegracethatmakesdeadsinnersaliveinChrist.

Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy5

ThegracethatcreatesonepeopleEphesians2:11-221.Whowasthefirstfriendyoumadefromanotherculture?Whatisvaluableaboutmulticulturalism?Whatmightbesomedangers?2.ReadEphesians2:11-22.Howmightyoudividethispassageintosections?Canyouidentifyanylogicalsequencebetweensections?3.Readvs11-12.WhatwasthecostofbeingagentileinOTtimes(seeespeciallyv12)?HowwasthedistinctionbetweenpeoplegroupsexpressedundertheOldCovenant?SeeGenesis12:1-3,17:1-14,Exodus12:48,Deut7:6-11,Isaiah2:1-5.4.Whatdangerdoesracialdivisionposefor(a)ourworld,(b)ourchurch?5.Ifaskedtoofferaquickexplanation,howwouldyouordinarilyexplainthecrossandwhatitachieved?6.Readv13.WhoisPaulreferringtowhenhesays‘youwhowerefaraway’?Whathasbroughtthemnear?7.Readvs14-18.WhatdoesitmeanthatJesus‘himselfisourpeace?’SeealsoColossians1:21-22.

Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy5

8.Accordingtotheseversesandwithregardtodifferentpeoplegroups,whatdidthecrossachieve,andhowdidthecrossachievethis?9.Readvs19-22.HowdoesPauldescribetheeffectofthecrossinv19?10.WhatdoesChristianmulticulturalismlooklikeaccordingtotheseverses?IstherealimittoChristianmulticulturalism?Whatmightyousaytosomeonewhosays“IfallcultureshavetofollowJesus,thenthat’sracist.”11.Whatlessonscouldmodernchurchestakefromthispassage?Makealistofdosanddon’ts.Tryandcomeupwithanswersbeyond“bewelcomingofothercultures”!12.WhatisoneactionyoucancontributetoSundaystopracticewhatyou’veread?PraythatGodwillhelpyouliveoutthetruthsofthispassage.

Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy6

ThegracethatsharestheGospelEphesians3:1-13

1.Haveyoufeltsorryforsomeonethisweek?Whattypesofpeoplemightyouordinarilyfeelsorryfor?

2.ReadEphesians3:1andthen3:13.WhymighttheEphesianshavefeltsorryforPaul?

3.ReadEphesians3:2.WhathasPaulbeengiven?Whywashegivenit?

4.ReadEphesians3:3-6.WhatwasthegracegiventoPaul?Isitagracethathasbeenreceivedbyeveryone?

5.GiventheOldTestamentprovidedhintsthatjewsandgentileswouldcometogether(egIsaiah2:2-4,49:6),howcanpaulsaythemystery“hasnowbeenrevealed?”WhatisnewaboutPaul’smessage?

6.Readvs7-9.WhatwasPaul’scallingoncethismysteryhadbeenrevealedtohim?WhatworddoesPaulagainusetodescribethiscalling?CanyouexplainwhyPauldoesn’twanttheEphesianstobediscouragedoverhisimprisonment?

7.LikePaul,canyoucallyourselfservantofthisgospel?Whatarethedifferentwayswecanserveinthespreadofthismessage?

Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy6

8.Readvs10-11.IsthegoalofPaul’sministrysimplythatindividualscanfindsalvation?Whatpurposedoesthecreationofthechurchfill?SeealsoLuke15:10.

9.Whatextramotivationdoesthisgiveregardingourparticipationinchurch?

10.Readverse12.WhatindividualeffectofChrist’sworkismentionedhere?Howregularlyareyoumakinguseofthisfreedom?Makeuseofitnowandspreadsometimeinprayer

Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy7

Paul’sPrayerfortheChurchEphesians3:14-221.Whatgoalshaveyousetyourselfrecently?Howdoyouchooseyourgoals?

2.ReadEphesians3:16-17.WhatdoesPaulwishfortheEphesianshere?

3.WhatmighttheEphesiansneedstrengthfor?Seev13forjustoneidea.Whatdoweneedinnerstrengthfor?Howisinnerstrengthattained?

4.Whatsubjectatschooldidyouhavemosttroublegrasping?

5.Read17b-18.WhatdotheEphesiansneedpowertograsp?DoyouhavetroublecomprehendingwhoGodisandhislove?IfsowhatcomfortcanwedrawfromPaul’sprayerfortheEphesianshere?

6.Readv19.Wouldyousaythatyouare‘fillingup’withGod?WhataresomethingsyoucandotoensureyourwalkwithGodisbeingenriched?

7.Readvs20-21.HowisGod’scapabilitytoworkinandthroughusdescribedhere?DoyourownaimsinlifereflectGod’sabilitytoworkpowerfully?Ifnot,whynot?

Ephesians1-3 GrowthGroupStudy7

8.Basedonwhatwe’veread,sharewiththegroupsomeappropriategoalsforyourownspiritualdevelopment.PraythatGodwilldoimmeasurablymoreinandthroughyouthanwhatyouaskorimagine.