Ephesians 3:1-6 “Solving the Mystery”
Have you ever been part of a good team? Maybe a team that won a lot, or where everyone worked together well? I.e. sports, clubs, work.
Read Ephesians 3:1-6.
1. Paul was entrusted as a “steward” with the Gospel for the Gentiles. Tell us about a time someone has entrusted you with something valuable.
2. Have you ever been able to be the bearer of good news for someone? Perhaps the Good News of the Gospel, or another bit of good news? How did it feel?
3. Paul considered it an honor to suffer for Jesus. Is there a time you experienced suffering for doing what was right? Have you ever suffered directly because of your relationship with Jesus? (Note that there is a difference between suffering because of our bad choices or because of the broken world we live in, and suffering for Jesus.)
4. What truth(s) would you be willing to go to jail for? To die for?
5. The mystery Paul refers to is that the Gentiles, previously considered outsiders, were now included into the family of God. What prejudices do you have about different types of people that would make it hard for you to accept them into your family?
6. What kind of person seems so different from you that you would struggle to be excited to share Christ’s inheritance with them? Who would make you wrinkle your nose and question, “Do I really have to share this with them?” (Perhaps someone different than you, or someone who has hurt you?)
7. What preferences and differences do you have from others at TBC that you are willing to lay aside for the sake of harmony?
8. Christianity is unique in that we receive God’s grace as a gift, not something earned. Pastor Perry mentioned that we can’t earn an inheritance. Why, in your opinion, is it so common for people to want to earn right standing with God?
9. What are some of God’s promises that you are particularly grateful for? List off as many as you can think of. (Need help? Try Ps. 145.8; Ac. 2.38; Isa. 40.28-31; Phil. 4.12-13; Heb. 13.5; James 1.5; 2 Pet. 3.9; Ps. 46.1; Lk. 6.38; Jn. 15.5; Prov. 16.9)
Prayer: be sure to ask for God’s help in accepting Christians who are different from us, and to thank him for his promises.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
3/20/2011 sermon discussion questions
What’s the Point? - Pastor Perry Kallis
Text: Eph. 2:19-22
1. Now that we are on God’s team, what is our purpose or goal? (see Eph. 1:12-14)
2. How would you define Christian unity?
3. What distracts you from your purpose in Christ?
4. In what role in the body of Christ are you serving? How do you feel you fit into the body?
5. What is the difference between being a citizen and being part of a family?
6. Perry mentioned that some ways to become more of a family include: tenacious (or persisting) love, time spent together, being true (or authentic), and serving others in the family. Which of these do you need to grow in most? Which comes the most easily for you?
7. How has your small group helped the church become more of a family?
8. How does God build us into a “Temple”? What is our part in becoming a “Temple”?
9. Can you share a time when you were part of a team, body, or family to accomplish something for God’s glory? How did it feel to be on that team?
Are you part of a team now?
10. As a “stone” in the building of the “temple,” have you ever felt chipped, broken, misshaped, forgotten, or overlooked? How did you overcome that feeling, or have you?
11. How can we help those that feel this way?
12. What can you do this week to bring greater unity to our church family?
Text: Eph. 2:19-22
1. Now that we are on God’s team, what is our purpose or goal? (see Eph. 1:12-14)
2. How would you define Christian unity?
3. What distracts you from your purpose in Christ?
4. In what role in the body of Christ are you serving? How do you feel you fit into the body?
5. What is the difference between being a citizen and being part of a family?
6. Perry mentioned that some ways to become more of a family include: tenacious (or persisting) love, time spent together, being true (or authentic), and serving others in the family. Which of these do you need to grow in most? Which comes the most easily for you?
7. How has your small group helped the church become more of a family?
8. How does God build us into a “Temple”? What is our part in becoming a “Temple”?
9. Can you share a time when you were part of a team, body, or family to accomplish something for God’s glory? How did it feel to be on that team?
Are you part of a team now?
10. As a “stone” in the building of the “temple,” have you ever felt chipped, broken, misshaped, forgotten, or overlooked? How did you overcome that feeling, or have you?
11. How can we help those that feel this way?
12. What can you do this week to bring greater unity to our church family?
3/13/2011 Sermon Questions
Going from Far to Near (Part 2) - Pastor Perry Kallis
Text: Eph. 2:13-18
1. Why do you think there was such a divide between Jews and Gentiles?
2. What are some possible divisive issues in the Body of Christ? Why do you think these things are divisive?
3. Is the unity of the Body of Christ more important that the individual? Why or why not?
4. Divisive issues tend to be along individual likes or dislikes, how does this fit into our identity in Christ? (see 2 Cor. 5:14-15, Gal. 2:20)
5. How many times is the word “peace” used in this passage?
What does this say about its importance in Jesus ministry and for us?
6. How do we sow peace as Christians in the World and with other Christians?
7. Have you ever been in a gathering where there were different cultures and languages but could feel the unity of the Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ? Where and when?
8. Why is our human tendency to divide?
9. What makes Christianity “a new creation or a different thing” compared with other religions?
10. What are some ways for us to foster unity in the Body of Christ?
11. How can our diversity in the Body of Christ be a strength?
12. How does Pastor Perry’s statement “God values our holiness more than our happiness” strike you?
13. If everyone in the Body of Christ was the same, would that be a good thing or a bad thing?
Check out The Practical Steps to Unity from Pastor Perry’s Sermon:
Some practical “what if” barrier breakers for us:
What if...you went up to someone not in your age group and asked them ... their name and how you could pray for them this next week?
What if... some Sunday you sat in a whole new place just so you could worship with someone else in this “new” Kainos – kind of God given family?
What if... instead of just sitting and waiting for church to start... you briefly bowed your head and prayed for the person beside you that God would speak to both of you at this family time together?
What if... we had a paper out in the Information center with all the words of the songs we sang that day? If and you younger believers heard a hymn you didn’t know, and read some of those words as part of your quiet time... and if some of you who feel challenged with some of the newer songs did the same thing in your personal quiet time?
What if... those of us who are part of this family began to “on purpose” look around at people to greet, to talk to, and to get to know; people who, look new to us- both before and after church?
What if... the most important “offering” we brought to every worship time was a heart asking: "What sacrifice am I making for the “Bride” this morning?" Rather than "What am I entitled to in this service?"
Text: Eph. 2:13-18
1. Why do you think there was such a divide between Jews and Gentiles?
2. What are some possible divisive issues in the Body of Christ? Why do you think these things are divisive?
3. Is the unity of the Body of Christ more important that the individual? Why or why not?
4. Divisive issues tend to be along individual likes or dislikes, how does this fit into our identity in Christ? (see 2 Cor. 5:14-15, Gal. 2:20)
5. How many times is the word “peace” used in this passage?
What does this say about its importance in Jesus ministry and for us?
6. How do we sow peace as Christians in the World and with other Christians?
7. Have you ever been in a gathering where there were different cultures and languages but could feel the unity of the Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ? Where and when?
8. Why is our human tendency to divide?
9. What makes Christianity “a new creation or a different thing” compared with other religions?
10. What are some ways for us to foster unity in the Body of Christ?
11. How can our diversity in the Body of Christ be a strength?
12. How does Pastor Perry’s statement “God values our holiness more than our happiness” strike you?
13. If everyone in the Body of Christ was the same, would that be a good thing or a bad thing?
Check out The Practical Steps to Unity from Pastor Perry’s Sermon:
Some practical “what if” barrier breakers for us:
What if...you went up to someone not in your age group and asked them ... their name and how you could pray for them this next week?
What if... some Sunday you sat in a whole new place just so you could worship with someone else in this “new” Kainos – kind of God given family?
What if... instead of just sitting and waiting for church to start... you briefly bowed your head and prayed for the person beside you that God would speak to both of you at this family time together?
What if... we had a paper out in the Information center with all the words of the songs we sang that day? If and you younger believers heard a hymn you didn’t know, and read some of those words as part of your quiet time... and if some of you who feel challenged with some of the newer songs did the same thing in your personal quiet time?
What if... those of us who are part of this family began to “on purpose” look around at people to greet, to talk to, and to get to know; people who, look new to us- both before and after church?
What if... the most important “offering” we brought to every worship time was a heart asking: "What sacrifice am I making for the “Bride” this morning?" Rather than "What am I entitled to in this service?"
Monday, March 07, 2011
"Going from Far to Near" sermon questions
On March 6 Pastor Perry preached from Ephesians 2:11-13. Here are some questions for personal application.
1. Read Ephesians 2:12. Why do we find it so easy to isolate ourselves? Why do we find it easy to exclude others?
2. Read 1 Cor. 9:19-23 – How does this translate into today’s world? How can we break down the walls in our neighborhoods, work, families?
3. What are some tall barriers to reaching our friends and neighbors for Christ?
4. Israel was to be a light to the world sharing God’s love and pointing the way to Him. What happened? What is the warning from Romans 11:17-20?
5.Pastor Perry mentioned that we ought to be “funnels” for God’s blessing and not “buckets” that hoard blessing for ourselves. When is it tempting to behave like a “bucket?” What are some ways in which we can become more like funnels?
6. Pastor Perry cited two ways that we can become ineffective for Christ: an attitude of legalism and an attitude of license. He defined “legalism” as thinking that “my choices, preferences and life actions make me a better Christian than others.” In what ways have you struggled with legalism? What would you say to a legalist? (Read Eph. 1.7-8, 2.6-9, and Rom. 2.1-4)
7. “License” could be defined as living too “feely” since you know that you’ve been forgiven. In what ways have you struggled with license in your life? What would you say to someone who struggles with this? (Read 1 Cor. 6.20; Rm. 6.1-7)
1. Read Ephesians 2:12. Why do we find it so easy to isolate ourselves? Why do we find it easy to exclude others?
2. Read 1 Cor. 9:19-23 – How does this translate into today’s world? How can we break down the walls in our neighborhoods, work, families?
3. What are some tall barriers to reaching our friends and neighbors for Christ?
4. Israel was to be a light to the world sharing God’s love and pointing the way to Him. What happened? What is the warning from Romans 11:17-20?
5.Pastor Perry mentioned that we ought to be “funnels” for God’s blessing and not “buckets” that hoard blessing for ourselves. When is it tempting to behave like a “bucket?” What are some ways in which we can become more like funnels?
6. Pastor Perry cited two ways that we can become ineffective for Christ: an attitude of legalism and an attitude of license. He defined “legalism” as thinking that “my choices, preferences and life actions make me a better Christian than others.” In what ways have you struggled with legalism? What would you say to a legalist? (Read Eph. 1.7-8, 2.6-9, and Rom. 2.1-4)
7. “License” could be defined as living too “feely” since you know that you’ve been forgiven. In what ways have you struggled with license in your life? What would you say to someone who struggles with this? (Read 1 Cor. 6.20; Rm. 6.1-7)
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