Ephesians 2:1-10
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.
“If your life is an uphill slope, set your sails to catch God’s power.” – Woodrow Kroll
https://www.verseoftheday.com/en/02231998/
Prison Epistles
Salvation — The Problem with Man and The Power of the Resurrection
Ephesians 2:1-10
RESULTS OF THE AUTOPSY — The following collection of quotes from actual medical records dictated by physicians.
"Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year."
"On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it had completely disappeared."
"The patient has been depressed ever since she began seeing me in 1983."
"The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed."
"Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year-old male, mentally alert but forgetful."
"The patient has no past history of suicides."
"The patient's past medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days."
"She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate directions in early December."
"The patient left the hospital feeling much better except for her original complaints."
"Discharge status: Alive but without permission. The patient will need disposition, and therefore we will get Dr. Blank to dispose of him."
"The patient refused an autopsy."
I can see why the patient would want to refuse an autopsy! But, spiritually speaking, I dare not refuse. In fact, an autopsy has already been performed on me (by the Great Physician) and the cause of death was found to be sin.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-6
Fortunately, death was not the end (nor will it be!). Those of us who are Christians are alive, not only with God's permission, but by His grace!
Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:
· What gift have you received lately, that really stands out? That you feel you don’t really deserve?
Made Alive in Christ — Ephesians 2:1-10
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
· Paul divides the Christian's life into two periods. What are they? Who owned you in the first period? What was the result? Would you agree we are hopeless and helpless on our own?
Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will
1. For what purpose did God take over your life?
2. Describe the “course or ways of this world?
3. How can someone be spiritually dead?
4. Who is the ruler of the kingdom of the air? v. 2 What air space does the devil control?
5. What did Paul mean by “sinful flesh”? v. 3 What does Paul intend for us to understand about our “nature”?
6. How would you describe the “hope in Christ” that the Christian is given? How would you explain this “made alive” to a person considering becoming a Christian?
7. Why doesn’t God make everyone alive? vv. 5, 8
8. When do we take our seats in heaven? v. 6
9. How would you define or illustrate grace to a non-believer?
10. For the Christian, what is their position that God places them? v. 6
11. Let’s talk about works. Why is salvation not by works? v. 9 What is the source of our good works? v. 10
1. We come now to an important question, namely: “Why has God bestowed upon us the fruits of His mercy, love and grace?”
2. What is the difference between cosmetic surgery (to remove wrinkles) and the surgery God performs?
3. Is a Christian ever completely rid of the cravings of the past — lust, selfishness, pride, etc.?
4. How would you tell others about the “power of the resurrection” working in your life?
5. What change in your life is due only to God’s presence and goodness?
6. One of the good or greatest “works” we can do is to help someone else become a follower of Christ. What attracted you to become a follower of Christ?
7. How does this help you be a disciple and help us “make disciples”?
For that my Lord has done:
But I will work like any slave,
For love of God’s dear Son.
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Living for Jesus in Ephesians 2:1-10
This week we learn how we have gone from being dead in sin to being saved by grace to become the very workmanship of God in Ephesians 2:1-10.
Past-Present-Future of the Church (Ephesians 2)
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5 Amazing Ways God Is Working Through You
Here are five amazing ways you might not even know how God is working through you.
Loving One Another
Jesus defined how we can identify who His disciples are. He tells us in John 13:35 that it is “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” They won’t know you by your ministries, your giving, your perfect Sunday school attendance, but they will only know you by your love for one another.
The word, “By this,” is Jesus saying, “Here’s how people will know your My disciples,” so if we’re not loving one another, how will they ever recognize us as His disciples? The fact is, they may not.
Giving to Others
There are ways that God may be working through you and other believers that you’re not even aware of, like when you
find yourself in a spot where you really need to buy a couple of new tires, but you can’t afford it right now. Then, your friend, who knows you better than most, steps in and offers to help pay for your tires. He knows you
well enough to have seen your tires, because it’s connected to you. That happened to me. I thought about what I should do, so I just prayed and didn’t ask anyone for money. God answered that prayer and God was glorified
in it, but the point is that God will often use you as a means to help others, just like my friend helped me.
Answered Prayer
Most of the Christians I know put themselves last in their prayer requests. They set a good example of putting other’s
interests ahead of their own. That is a very Christ-like attribute, so if you are praying for your friend or co-worker or family member, then God is working in you by means of the throne room of heaven. That’s only possible
because of our Mediator and our Intercessor, Jesus Christ. Don’t think prayers are “not much.” Tell that to Elijah.
A “go to” Friend
What I mean by that “go to” friend is that everyone should have a friend that they can go to when things get rough,
but it’s also important that we be that kind of friend. Don’t have a friend? Find a friend and be a friend. Whoever is a friend can stick closer than a brother (Prov 18:24). Be that brother or sister who sticks closer
than their own natural brothers and sisters. We do have the same Father.
Not Judging Others
I believe we don’t do a very good job when we begin to judge others because we might have something in our own eye.
I have learned, over time, to give people the benefit of the doubt (1st Cor 13:7), and that has often turned out right. The times when I got in trouble are when I assumed the worst, and it was just the opposite. God can work
through you by being a friend of sinners like Jesus was. I’m not saying run with them, but I am saying, be a light for Christ. This is even more important within the church. We have one judge; and we’re not Him.
Conclusion
God can do marvelous things through you, such as loving others; by giving to others; by praying for others; by befriending
others; and by not judging others. Notice the theme here; it’s all about “others” and not about us. I like that.
May God richly bless you,
Pastor Jack Wellman
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