Ephesians: God's Master Plan
Gospel truth leads to gospel living
Walking in Wisdom - Ephesians 5:15-21
October 17, 2021 • Pastor John D Talley III • Ephesians 5:15–21
Continuing in the letter to the church in Ephesus, today we will consider Paul's admonitions about walking carefully with wisdom and living a Spirit-filled life. // Small Group Questions What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind? What are some things that could cloud our minds from seeing things God’s way? What helps you walk in the Spirit, day by day, moment by moment? Which of the four results of being filled with the Spirit in this passage are strengths or weaknesses?
Walking in Light - Ephesians 5:3-14
October 10, 2021 • Pastor Chris Casoni • Ephesians 5:3–14
Today we study what it means to walk in the light: combat selfish desires, live no lies, and examine our own heart, mind, and soul. // Small Group Questions 1. What did God teach you through this passage and message? Share the work of God in your heart with the group. 2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind? 3. What does it look like for you to combat selfish desires with thanksgiving? 4. What dark lies of the world have infiltrated our minds, home, and church? What should we do about it? 5. How can we create a community where we empower one another to walk in the light and encourage those in darkness to experience freedom?
Walking the New Life - Ephesians 4:17-32
September 26, 2021 • Pastor John D Talley III • Ephesians 4:17–32
Today we study what it means to walk the new life in Christ by putting off the old self and renewing our minds. // Small Group Questions 1. What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group. 2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind? 3. How do we lay aside the old self and put on the new? 4. What are some ways that we can battle the "old self" habits that inflict us? 5. How do we build grace giving relationships?
The Building of Unity - Ephesians 4:12-16
September 19, 2021 • Pastor John D Talley III • Ephesians 4:12–16
Picking up where we left off in Ephesians 4:12-16, we continue God's pattern for growth and unity, His purpose for it, and the power behind His pattern. // Small Group Questions 1. What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group. 2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind? 3. In light of what we have studied the last few weeks, how would you describe a unified Church versus a divided one? 4. How might someone know that they were using their gifts for personal enjoyment instead of serving the body of Christ? 5. To what extent are you participating in the growth and unity of the body, and in what ways can you improve?
The Gifts of Unity - Ephesians 4:7-11
September 12, 2021 • Pastor John D Talley III • Ephesians 4:7–11
As we continue in Ephesians 4, we take a look at the gifts of unity, focusing on the grace that only Christ provides. // Small Group Questions 1. What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group. 2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind? 3. If every believer is empowered by grace to fulfill their responsibility in the growth and unity of the Church, why do you think there is often low participation? 4. Why do you think that positions and roles of responsibility in the Church can become more about power and control than growth and unity? 5. How can we maintain the biblical standard of grace empowered leadership and respect for those who are in those positions?
The Walk of Unity - Ephesians 4:1-6
September 5, 2021 • Pastor John D Talley III • Ephesians 4:1–6
In Ephesians 4:1-6, we study how true unity of the Church is not the result of external structure but rather internal attitudes of the heart that must be pursued daily. // Small Group Questions 1. What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group. 2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind? 3. Which of the four inner attitudes of unity do you struggle with the most, and how are you addressing it? 4. What risks are there in engaging in the unity of the body, and how can we overcome them? 5. Spend some time praying that our body would reflect the Godhead.
Paul's Prayer for the Strength of the Church - Ephesians 3:14-21
August 29, 2021 • Pastor John D Talley III • Ephesians 3:14–21
As we close out Ephesians 3, we study Paul's approach to prayer, his petitions within, and his praise to God for the work of the Holy Spirit in His church. // Small Group Questions 1. What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group. 2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind? 3. What can we learn from the two prayers of Paul in the first three chapters of Ephesians that we should incorporate into our prayer life? 4. What are some spiritual benefits from Christ feeling at home in our hearts? 5. What hinders or limits you from living a life of obedience and praise to God?
The Mystery of the Church - Ephesians 3:1-13
August 22, 2021 • Pastor John D Talley III • Ephesians 3:1–13
In Ephesians 3:1-13, we study the mystery of the Church (revealed by God to the Apostle Paul), how God instituted His church with His followers as stewards of His message, and how the mission of the church demands sacrifice and commitment. // Small Group Questions 1. What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group. 2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind? 3. How does the unity and equality of Jew and Gentile display God's plan for the world, and how can we speak this truth into our day? 4. How can our agendas and biases impact our presentation of the Gospel? 5. Do you think your opinion of and commitment to the Church match Paul's? Why or why not?
The Inhabited Church - Ephesians 2:19-22
August 15, 2021 • Pastor John D Talley III • Ephesians 2:19–22
Today we focus our study on what the Church is: the reality of the relationships within, a key component, and the ultimate purpose. // Small Group Questions 1. What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group. 2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind? 3. How has being made a citizen of Christ's Kingdom and members of His family changed your life? 4. How connected would you say you are to Christ and His mission for the Church? What are some ways you could increase your connection to both? 5. What are some personal steps you can take to ensure that God's presence permeates the Church gathered?
The Connected Church - Ephesians 2:11-18
August 8, 2021 • Pastor John D Talley III • Ephesians 2:11–18
Continuing through the book of Ephesians, we study the unity of believers in Christ Jesus. // Small Group Questions 1. What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group. 2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind? 3. After the last few weeks of studying the Gospel, how would you explain the Gospel to your unsaved neighbor or family member? 4. How does our identity in Christ address so many of the divisions that plague our world today? What are some ways we can share this hope amid the pain? 5. Church is messy, but if what Paul is saying is true, we can walk confidently into the mess. Share with one another what you are doing to be faithful to this calling or how God may be leading you to do so?
The Living Church - Ephesians 2:1-10
August 1, 2021 • Pastor John D Talley III • Ephesians 2:1–10
As we come to Ephesians 2:1-10, we study this famous passage that details how, while we were dead in our sins, God made us alive, and that we are saved by grace through faith. Our salvation is not about what we have done, but what God has done for us! // Small Group Questions 1. What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group. 2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind? 3. Why is it so important to understand that we need Christ's salvation for our *condition* of sinfulness rather than just *the quantity and gravity* of our sin? How does this help us shape the way we share our faith with others? 4. Why do you think Paul goes to great lengths to emphasize that our salvation is not about what we have done but what has been done for us? 5. How does knowing that you are God's workmanship or masterpiece provide direction and add value to your life?