Scripture
Intro Questions
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Prison Epistles
The Church — Gratitude, Power, & Prayer
Ephesians 1:15-23
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GOD IS LEFT-HANDED? — Little Bobby was spending the weekend with his grandmother. His grandmother decided to take him to the park on Saturday morning. It had been snowing all night and everything was beautiful.
His grandmother remarked, "Doesn't it look like an artist painted this scenery? Did you know God painted this just for you?"
Bobby said, "Yes, God did it and he did it left-handed."
This confused his grandmother a bit, and she asked him, "What makes you say God did this with his left hand?"
"Well," said Bobby, "we learned at Sunday School last week that Jesus sits on God's right hand!"
Indeed he does! "[God] worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come." (Ephesians 1:20-21).
The Hebrew writer tells us that such is an indication that Christ is far greater than any of the angels (1:3-4).
Paul tells us in Romans 8:34 that Christ makes intercession for us while he is there at the right hand of God.
Jesus sits on God's right hand. That doesn't mean God is left-handed, but it does tell us just how magnificent Christ is!
Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:
· What do you think of when you hear Thanksgiving Day?
· How do you pray for Christians around the world and those right here in our area?
Thanksgiving and Prayer — Ephesians 1:15-23
15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will
1. If the Christians in Ephesus were “spiritual millionaires” in Christ, what was wrong with them? How are they living?
2. In your own words, what does Paul pray for the Ephesians? How does he pray?
3. Should the Spirit be capitalized in verse 17?
4. What does knowing Christ involve? V. 17
5. What is the heart and how is it used? V. 18 What is hope?
6. In 19-20, what illustrates the mighty power of God? When a Christian plugs into God’s energy source, what kind of power can be expected?
7. How does Jesus give hope and power? Can you conceive of this power?
8. What does it mean for Jesus’ name to be “far above” all other powers?
9. What has been put under the feet of Christ? V. 22 What does it include?
Reflective Questions — Live it today.
1. Do we enjoy hearing about the faith and love of others? Do we rejoice in other’s spiritual accomplishments? Do we praise God when this is happening where we are not involved? Other churches? Other ministries?
2. In what ways does our congregation show (or not show) faith, hope, & love?
3. How would you/we change if everyone in our class prayed verses 17-19 every week for each other?
4. Do you see the power? How much of God’s energy are you using at the moment? God puts a charger on your battery with all His resources, what is keeping you from using it?
5. The heart of the message is to know Christ and realize the power of God. How do you feel when you hear God wants you to know and experience it?
6. How does this help me be a disciple and help us “make disciples”?
Anyone can love the ideal church. The challenge is to love the real church. -- Joseph McKinney,
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Living for Jesus in Ephesians 1:15-2:2
After telling us all the blessings that belong to us because we are in Christ (Ephesians 1:1-14), Paul now thanks God for all the blessings we have in Christ (Ephesians 1:15-2:2).
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