Sermon Discussion Guide: 8/4/24
Sermon Recap
Text: Ephesians 4:1-16
Big Idea: We are strengthened when we draw near to Christ together.
Summary: Paul has spent the first half of his letter to the church of Ephesus outlining the beautiful theology of the nature of our salvation. Beginning in chapter 4, he begins to pivot from explaining our salvation to applying the truths of our salvation. He begins this pivot by describing the unity that we have in the faith.
As Paul progresses in his argument, he begins to emphasize that the church—the collection of believers—has a designed function for an intended goal. The designed function is the utilization of spiritual gifts under the equipping of the leadership of the church to build up the body of Christ. The goal of the building up is "unity of faith," "knowledge of the Son of God," and "maturity." As these things happen, the church is knit together, growing in Christ, and finding fullness in Christ's design.
Discussion Questions
1. What hinders Christians from exuding the virtues listed in Ephesians 4:2-3 (humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another in love, maintaining unity and peace)?
2. How can we pursue the unity that Paul describes in verses 4-6 with so many different churches and different denominations?
3. How can we be of one faith if we don't agree with one another on everything in the Bible? Is it possible? How?
4. What is your spiritual gift(s)? How do you know? What does it look like?
5. What is the "work of ministry" that God is calling you to in this particular season of life?
6. What qualities do you think of when you envision the spiritually mature believer?
7. How well do you balance speaking the truth in love? Do you tend to emphasize love at the expense of truth? Do you tend to emphasize truth at the expense of love? How are you learning to grow in your balance of both truth and love?
Text: Ephesians 4:1-16
Big Idea: We are strengthened when we draw near to Christ together.
Summary: Paul has spent the first half of his letter to the church of Ephesus outlining the beautiful theology of the nature of our salvation. Beginning in chapter 4, he begins to pivot from explaining our salvation to applying the truths of our salvation. He begins this pivot by describing the unity that we have in the faith.
As Paul progresses in his argument, he begins to emphasize that the church—the collection of believers—has a designed function for an intended goal. The designed function is the utilization of spiritual gifts under the equipping of the leadership of the church to build up the body of Christ. The goal of the building up is "unity of faith," "knowledge of the Son of God," and "maturity." As these things happen, the church is knit together, growing in Christ, and finding fullness in Christ's design.
Discussion Questions
1. What hinders Christians from exuding the virtues listed in Ephesians 4:2-3 (humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another in love, maintaining unity and peace)?
2. How can we pursue the unity that Paul describes in verses 4-6 with so many different churches and different denominations?
3. How can we be of one faith if we don't agree with one another on everything in the Bible? Is it possible? How?
4. What is your spiritual gift(s)? How do you know? What does it look like?
5. What is the "work of ministry" that God is calling you to in this particular season of life?
6. What qualities do you think of when you envision the spiritually mature believer?
7. How well do you balance speaking the truth in love? Do you tend to emphasize love at the expense of truth? Do you tend to emphasize truth at the expense of love? How are you learning to grow in your balance of both truth and love?
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