Developing Your Spiritual Eyesight. Chapter One Small Group/Class Discussion Guide

Transcription

1 Developing Your Spiritual Eyesight Chapter One Small Group/Class Discussion Guide Personal preparation before the group/class begins: Read chapter one of Ephesians and (Hereafter in this To begin the group/class time: After a time of greeting and regular group interaction open the discussion time with prayer. Have a group member read aloud Ephesians chapter one as the rest of the group listens or follows along with their Bibles. After the reading is finished begin by asking the following questions: 1. Who is Paul writing this letter to? (Look for references in Eph. 1:1&15) (Refer to paragraph one of DYSE page 5) verses aloud. 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2; Hebrews 13:24 2. According to the verses mentioned above, what type of group were saints and how are they identified? 3. Are there any saints in existence today, and if so, how are they identified today? 4. Why did Paul write this letter? (for a hint at the answer see Ephesians 1:15-17) 5. How is it applicable to us and why should we study it? 6. Why was Paul praying for the church at Ephesus and how is it relevant to us today? 7. What are the three main focal points of that prayer? (Ephesians 1:15-19)

2 Ask for various volunteers in your group to share their thoughts on the following questions: Paul identifies hope of his prayer in Ephesians 1: How or why is hope in Jesus Christ different than the type of hope that is offered through other religions, other religious leaders or political leaders of today? 9. What are some of the things that are included in this hope we have in Jesus? (Look again at Ephesians 1:2-14) n Ephesians 1:2- inheritance for believers in Jesus Christ. 10. How is this similar to an earthly inheritance we might receive; and how is it different? (Earthly inheritances involve a written will as evidence what evidence does God give as a guarantee of the inheritance He is giving to us?) (See Eph. 1:13-14) 11. What are some of the blessings included in the inheritance God offers us through Christ? (See pages 6- examples) Discuss other aspects of our inheritance in Christ that are not mentioned in the book. Give scriptural references for your answers. 12. How do we obtain the inheritance God offers us? power in Ephesians 1: Look at the five different Greek words which Paul used in verses to refer to this power. Have volunteers in your group read aloud the definition of each one of those five Greek words in the -16. After each definition is read, discuss where and how evidence of that type of power is recorded in other parts of the Bible, especially in the New Testament. As the definition of each aspect of this power is identified, ask if anyone in your group or class has seen evidence of any of these types of power at work personally in their life or the life of someone else. Discuss how the story of Henrietta Green may apply to your own personal life when it comes to using the spiritual resources available to you. Discuss practical ways we can avoid being like Hetty Green in relation to how we use and share spiritual resources. included in class discussion if someone would like to share their thoughts on those questions.

3 Developing Your Spiritual Eyesight Chapter Two Small Group/Class Discussion Guide Personal preparation before the group/class begins: Read chapter two of Ephesians and chapter two To begin the group/class time: After a time of greeting and regular group interaction open the discussion time with prayer. Have willing group members take turns reading aloud Ephesians chapter two as the rest of the group listens or follows along with their Bibles. After the reading is finished begin by asking the following questions: 1. n Ephesians 2:1-3, how does Paul describe the spiritual condition of people who are unsaved 2. List some of the characteristics that evidence and unsaved life which are mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and Galatians 5: n verses 4-7 what characteristics of God are described that would cause Him to bring rebellious sinners into relationship with Himself? 4. According to verses 8-10, that salvation in our lives? (See also Galatians 5:22-25) 5. According to verses 8- to salvation, both before and after?

4 6. n E Ephesians 2:11-12 to what specific group of saints is Paul directing his letter and how does this apply to us today? (What groups of people are being described by Paul when he uses the 7. What are some of the words Paul uses to describe the relationship between Jews and Gentiles before the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross? (refer to verses 12-19) 8. Describe how the atoning work of Christ changed this relationship. (refer to verses 13-19) What are some key words used in these verses that describe this new relationship? 9. n verses 19-22, how does Paul describe our relationship with each other and with God in Christ Jesus? 10. How does knowing this help you relate to God and to others in the church? Based on what we learn from Ephesians chapter 2, list descriptive words appropriate for each column below. Who you are without Christ in your life: Who you are with Christ in your life:

5 Developing Your Spiritual Eyesight Chapter Three Small Group/Class Discussion Guide Personal preparation before the group/class begins: Read chapter three of Ephesians and chapter three To begin the group/class time: After a time of greeting and regular group interaction open the discussion time with prayer. Have willing group members take turns reading aloud Ephesians chapter three as the rest of the group listens or follows along with their Bibles. After the reading is finished begin by asking the following questions: 1. According to Ephesians 3:1-7, what is the mystery that Paul is referring to? 2. n these same verses, how does Paul say that this mystery has been revealed to Him and to others? 3. n verses 8-13 what reasons does Paul identify as to why this mystery has been revealed to us now? 4. According to verses 1 and 13, what had happened to Paul as he was proclaiming the message of this mystery in Christ? compare with his prayer recorded in Ephesians 1:18-22?

6 What are some similarities? What are some differences? 6. Ephesians 2:11-12 to what specific group of saints is Paul directing his letter and how does this apply to us today? (What groups of people are being described by Paul when he uses the 7. What are some of the words Paul uses to describe the relationship between Jews and Gentiles before the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross? (refer to verses 12-19) 8. Describe how the atoning work of Christ changed this relationship. (refer to verses 13-19) What are some key words used in these verses that describe this new relationship? 9. n verses 19-22, how does Paul describe our relationship with each other and with God in Christ Jesus? 10. How does knowing this help you relate to God and to others in the church?

7 Developing Your Spiritual Eyesight Chapter Four Small Group/Class Discussion Guide Personal preparation before the group/class begins: Read Ephesians chapter 4 and 5:1-21 and chapter four To begin the group/class time: After a time of greeting and regular group interaction open the discussion time with prayer. Before discussing questions 1-5 on this sheet, have willing group members take turns reading aloud Eph. 4:1-16. Before discussing questions 6-10 on the back of this sheet, have willing group members read aloud Eph. 4:17-5:21 After the reading is finished begin by asking the following questions: 1. How do chapters four and five of Ephesians relate to what Paul has written in the first half of this letter to the Ephesians? 2. Why do you think Paul use the word therefore or wherefore so much in chapters 4 and 5 of his letter? 3. n Ephesians 4:1-6, what is the attitude that Paul says we should have toward one another in the church and list some of the characteristics he mentions that would demonstrate that attitude: 4. n Ephesians 4:7-11 Paul mentions some of the gifts or abilities that Christ has given to individuals in the church. List what those gifts are and discuss how you see each one being used by Christ in the world today.

8 5. According to verses what are the purposes of those gifts, and how does this relate to you personally? 6. As you read verses what does Paul warn us against? List some of the sensual lures that exist in our culture today that can cause believers to have their hearts hardened, or lose sensitivity to Christ s Holy Spirit leading: 7. n verses Paul uses a metaphor of changing our clothes in accordance with the way our behavior should change as members of Christ s body and His close followers. Compare some of the old characteristics Paul mentions with the new characteristics we should have. Old Clothes New Clothes 8. Ephesians 4:24 and Ephesians 5:1 tell us we should imitate or model our lives after who? 9. n Eph. 5:5-7 Paul again uses the word inheritance. What warning does he give? 10. n Ephesians 5:1-21 Paul again contrasts more behaviors of those who are patterning their lives after Christ versus those who are not. He uses the metaphor of light versus darkness. List those characteristics below and compare them to the ones he mentioned in Eph. 4: *Discuss how these characteristics are active in our culture today and influence people. Characteristics of children of light Characteristics of children of darkness

9 Developing Your Spiritual Eyesight Chapter Five Small Group/Class Discussion Guide Personal preparation before the group/class begins: Read Ephesians chapter 5:21-33 and chapter 6:1-9 and chapter five To begin the group/class time: After a time of greeting and regular group interaction open the discussion time with prayer. After the reading is finished begin by asking the following questions: 1. The Greek w means cooperating, assuming responsi that in the church we should submit to one another. Give some examples of how you see this at work in church relationships. 2. n verse 22 Paul suddenly seems to switch to talking about marriage and family relationships. Why do you think he does this? 3. What does it mean for wives to submit to their husbands, and why does Paul teach that this should happen? 4. What are the responsibilities Paul gives for a Christian husband in the treatment of his wife? (Give specific examples of how a husband might do this and give reasons why this might strengthen a marriage.)

10 5. n Ephesians 5:30-32 Paul says the marriage relationship is symbolic of what? List examples of how this is comparison can be made. 6. n Ephesians 6:1-3 why do you think Paul gives these instructions to children? 7. n Ephesians 6:4 Paul gives a warning and an encouragement to fathers. What are some ways fathers provoke their children to wrath? What are some ways fathers can raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? 8. n verses 5-7 Paul describes the attitude slaves should have toward masters. Why do you think he makes this point, and how can we relate this to a Christian employee relationship with an employer today? 9. n verses 8-9 Paul describes the attitude masters should have toward slaves. Why does he make this point, and how can we relate this to a Christian employer relationship with their employees? 10. From what we have read in Ephesians 5:21-6:9, what are some overall principles followers of Jesus Christ should exemplify in various kinds of relationships with other believers.

11 Developing Your Spiritual Eyesight Chapter Six and Seven Small Group/Class Discussion Guide Personal preparation before the group/class begins: Read Ephesians chapter 6:10-24 and chapter six and seven (Hereafter in this To begin the group/class time: After a time of greeting and regular group interaction open the discussion time with prayer. After the reading is finished begin by asking the following questions: 1. According to Ephesians 6:10, how are followers of Christ strengthened? 2. The two Greek words that Paul uses in the original text at the end of Ephesians 6:10 are kra How does that power relate to his prayer for believers in Eph. 1:15-19? (Refer also to pages 13- YSE - especially page 16.) 3. n Ephesians 6:12 who does Paul identify as the real enemy against whom we struggle? 4. How can understanding this help us when we get into quarrels with people? 5. According to verses 10-13, what resources do we have to stand and fight with in this struggle?

12 and describe how each piece can be used to help us in our fight against the evil one, the Devil n verse 18 Paul mentions another important resource we have in this spiritual battle. What is it, and how can we use it effectively in this fight? (See page 106 in the DYSE book.) 8. We often pray for people who are sick and need healing, but in verses what does Paul say that we should also pray for in regards to those who are spreading the gospel message in the world? 9. n verses we get a glimpse of how God was using people to help Paul in his ministry. Think about and explain how there are similar dynamics to this in the church today. 10. Paul concludes his letter with some wonderful remarks in verse 23. How does this relate to his opening remarks and greetings in this letter and what can we learn about the attitude we should have toward other believers in the church today? (Refer to chapter 7 of YSE 11. List below at least one main insight that you have gained through this study that has been helpful to you, and that you are implementing in your life: