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The online groups guide is designed as a teaching series companion to foster discussion, study, and prayer, especially in a group setting.
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Explore a curated online collection of recommended practices and resources to pursue presence, formation, and love in your life.
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Love
Teaching Text: Ephesians 1:15-23
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you,remembering you in my prayers. I 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. I 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,and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far 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. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Themes
Consider these themes and ask your group what else they see in the passage:
Fullness of life in God.
Presence
Watch or listen to the sermon. Then take a moment of silence and think about these questions:
Ask God to open your heart and mind to understand Ephesians anew as we start this season.
Thank him for the blessings he has given you already, even those you might be unaware of.
“I 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.” (Ephesians 1 v 15-17)
Spend some time in prayer - for one another - that God would give you His spirit so that we may know him better.
Formation
Thoughts and notes you can use for discussion:
by the time he writes this letter, he has been arrested…
His message was Jesus’ Gospel
Its implications - how it pulled worlds together - how it changed the basis for living
made Paul and his message a threat to some
He was arrested.
But Paul considers these limitations in light of The Apocalypse that has broken into his life and he won’t be stopped
Apocalypse: a mystery of God revealed and made known
something hidden being shown that changes everything
that something of how God knows the world is made clear in how we know the world
An apocalypse in Biblical language is when the bond between heaven and earth becomes visible to you
Tim Mackie (from the Bible Project)
2 simple realities this letter shows us:
1. You can sometimes give in prayer what you can’t in person
2. Messages of life and encouragement can go beyond your physical presence
This prayer of Paul is one that we believe a prayer we believe God intends to answer
Chiastic structure in his letter:
Ephesians 1-3
Victory song of the Father, Son and Holy Spirt (1 v 1-14)
Prayer for an apocalypse of power (1 v 15-23)
Rescue from death & the ruler of the age (2 v 1-10)
Rescue from hostility & alienation from God’s Family (2 v 11-18)
Monument of Messiah’s Victory: The New Temple (2 v 19-22)
Imprisoned apostle of The Messiah’s Apocalypse (3 v 14-19)
Prayer for power to grasps Messiah’s Love (3 v 14-19)
Worship song of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit (3 v 20-21)
There’s worship, there’s prayer for power, there’s the need and provision of rescue, and there’s the climatic concept of a new humanity as a dwelling place for God / temple.
another need and provision of rescue
another prayer for power - to grasp Jesus love
another worship song
This is a prayer of the apocalypse brought about by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and looking forward to his return
Things prayed for
God would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation - understanding for how to really live in the throws of real life and a sense of the bond between our world and God's world being revealed.
that God would give you Holy Spirit empowered ability to live according to how things really are
sometimes it may appear that giving up your integrity is worth it for an advantage you will get
sometimes it may appear like your immediate sexual appetite is the most essential aspect of your life
sometimes it may appear like building wealth is the way to true significance and abundant life
sometimes it may appear like despair and resignation is the only appropriate response to the pain of life
sometimes it may feel like God is not for you at all and isn't coming through how you would want - Paul is in prison
sometimes it may feel like you just cannot wait for God and must take a shortcut to the longings of your soul
Paul says: I pray that the cover would be ripped off, that there would be an exposure of the true nature of reality. May you see things like God sees them.
And he prays this in order that to know God better
Specific things might we know:
the hope to which he has called you - hope
the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people - abundance / inheritance
incomparably great power
this power is resurrection power
this power is over any rival power (and there is real rival power)
this power is the authority in Jesus
Hope
Abundance
Power
Who needs these in this moment?
Where in your life do you need these?
Confess this to one another and ask for prayer as Paul prays.
All things are coming together in Christ. The fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Love
Read these notes and discuss the questions below:
In this sermon Caleb asks this question: what kind of longings are you holding for other people?
Paul relentlessly prays for the saints to experience the fullness of God and to know him better.
Practice: choose one friend/colleague/family member that you would spend time this week specifically praying that same prayer over.
Pray for one another in the group.
