Category: Ephesians Series

Our Struggle

24/8/2022

Sentence:

“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness”. Ephesians 6:12

Collect:

God our most Holy Friend, through your Son Jesus you call us together and send us out as a new family, formed around you. Give us revelation and courage to live out the mystery of our faith and so make known the wisdom of God in the heavenly places, In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Readings:

Ephesians 6:10–20
Luke 10:17-20

Questions:

Read Ephesians 6:10-20.
What does it mean to be 'in the Lord'?
Where do the various parts of armour come from and how do we 'put them on'?
Discuss each 'piece of the armour - describe what they involve, examples of how this is a character of God
Discuss which part of the armour you might need to work on and what you might do to develop in that area

Be subject to one another

21/8/2022

Sentence

“Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:21

Collect

God our most Holy Friend, through your Son Jesus, you call us together and send us out as a new family, formed around you. Give us revelation and courage to live out the mystery of our faith and so make known the wisdom of God in the heavenly places, In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Readings

Questions

Read Ephesians 5:21-33. What comes to mind for you when you first read this text?
How does the fact that the text begins with the command to, 'be subject to one another' change the way you view the text?
Discuss how the washing of the disciples feet and Jesus' interaction with Pilate before his death (John 19:8-11) could affect the way we relate to those under our power and to those in power over us.
What is one way you could follow the way of Christ in one of your relationships today?

Be imitators of God as dearly loved children

14/8/2022

Sentence

"Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15–16

Collect

God our most Holy Friend, through your Son Jesus you call us together and send us out as a new family, formed around you. Give us revelation and courage to live out the mystery of our faith and so make known the wisdom of God in the heavenly places, In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Readings

Apologies there is no live recording of this service but you can listen to the sermon via the audio link below:

Questions

1. Recall some of the encounters Jesus had with people (on slide 4 I had Jesus meeting Zacchaeus, Jesus Washing feet and Jesus with the woman caught in adultery….there are others of course ) and discuss under what ‘ministry’ each of the encounters would come.

2. The Bishop’s response to Jean Valjean is based around Luke 6:30b. Apart from the Lord’s injunction to be merciful, which the bishop would be endeavouring to imitate, what in his encounter with Valjean would have helped him to make the decision he did? What does this say to us in our encounters with people?
3. Discuss ‘Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect’. Matthew 5:48. We know that this is impossible so what is God asking of us?.

Putting Away

3/8/2022

Sentence:

“So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbours, for we are members of one another.” Ephesians 4:25

Collect:

God our most Holy Friend, through your Son Jesus you call us together and send us out as a new family, formed around you. Give us revelation and courage to live out the mystery of our faith and so make known the wisdom of God in the heavenly places, In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Readings:

Ephesians 4:17-24
Ephesians 4:25-32
John 6:35, 41–5

Questions:

Therefore, Lead a Life Worthy - Call, Unity, Gifts

1/8/2022

Sentence:

“I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called”. Ephesians 4:1

Collect:

God our most Holy Friend, through your Son Jesus, you call us together and send us out as a new family, formed around you. Give us revelation and courage to live out the mystery of our faith and so make known the wisdom of God in the heavenly places, In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Readings:

Questions:

What is the grace God has given to you?
What are the giftings that God has given you?
How would God have you use these gifts for the common good/building up of the church?
Where has God called you?
Where is God leading you?

For this reason I pray

19/7/2022

Sentence:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

Collect:

God our most Holy Friend, through your Son Jesus you call us together and send us out as a new family, formed around you. Give us revelation and courage to live out the mystery of our faith and so make known the wisdom of God in the heavenly places, In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Readings:

Deuteronomy 32:45-47
2 Timothy 3:14-17
John 1:1-5

Please note that this recording finishes at the end of communion for this service.

Questions:

The Christian life has been called a paradoxical existence. For example, Paul the Apostle was a prisoner but talks about being seated with Christ. Discuss ways in which you agree or disagree with that statement.
Discuss ways in which you experience paradox in your faith
What is the reason Paul bows his knee in prayer for the Ephesus church?
Paul prays that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith. We described this on Sunday as an empowering relationship - in what ways might we experience that in our lives?
Just before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” In his prayer, Jesus held together reality, the promises of the scriptures and God's unfolding story - in what ways might we do the same in our prayer life?

Inerrancy

13/7/2022

Sentence:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

Collect:

God our most Holy Friend, through your Son Jesus
you call us together and send us out as a new family,
formed around you. Give us revelation and courage to live out the mystery of our faith and so make known the wisdom of God in the heavenly places, In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Readings:

Deuteronomy 32:45-47
2 Timothy 3:14-17
John 1:1-5

Questions:

Discuss any problems you have with the bible - it could be the content of particular passages, the way it has come together, etc. Note any common ones for further study. In the same way, discuss the things you appreciate about the bible.
In what ways does scripture itself claim to be God's word? Think both Old and New Testament
Discuss this quote, 'Denying biblical infallibility thus exchanges manageable problems in the text for unmanageable perplexities in theology and spiritual life.' What issues are we finding difficult to navigate at the moment in terms of our understanding of God and our current cultural context?
What is an area of biblical study that you would like to engage in further? What will you do to engage in that?

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Through the Church

10/7/2022

Sentence:

…through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Ephesians 3:10

Collect:

God our most Holy Friend, through your Son Jesus, you call us together and send us out as a new family, formed around you. Give us revelation and courage to live out the mystery of our faith and so make known the wisdom of God in the heavenly places, In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Readings:

Ephesians 3:5-13 & Matthew 2:1-12

Questions:

1. What exactly was the mystery Paul is talking about?
2. How would you compare Paul’s passion to share this mystery to your own passion?
3. Where does the unifying Gospel challenge you? E.g. Issues of racism, sexism, missions, concern for the poor and elderly.
4. Where is God calling you to be an ambassador for him?

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One New Humanity

29/6/2022

Sentence:

He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace. Ephesians 2:15

Collect:

God our most Holy Friend, through your Son Jesus you call us together and send us out as a new family, formed around you. Give us revelation and courage to live out the mystery of our faith and so make known the wisdom of God in the heavenly places, In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Readings:

Ephesians 2:1-10 & 2:11-22
Mark 6:30–34 & 53–56

Questions:

Read Eph 2:11-22
What were some of things that caused division between Jews and Gentiles? And what was the result of those?
What are some of the barriers to deeper fellowship for us today?
The church today builds on what has been laid in the past - the foundations of the Apostles and prophets and Christ as the cornerstone (Eph 2:19–20). How is that shaping our involvement in church life today? How should it?
Paul uses the metaphor of a building for the church, one that is, 'joined together and grows into a holy temple for the Lord'.
Discuss how we can contribute to that growth

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Every Spiritual Blessing

28/6/2022

Sentence:

‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places." Ephesians 1:3

Collect:

Sovereign God, we have no good apart from you; gladden our hearts in following your radical call so that in your presence we may find the fullness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Liberator, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings:

Ephesians 1:3-14
Ephesians 1:15-23
Mark 6:14–29

Questions:

Read Ephesians 1:3-14
From our use of the word 'Eulogy', what does it look like to 'bless' God?
What comes to mind for you with the phrase, 'blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places'?
Paul talks about Christians being adopted, 'as his children through Jesus Christ' (v.5) - what are some of the implications of that for you?
Paul lists four things given to those, 'in Christ' - forgiveness, knowledge of his will, an inheritance, and the Holy Spirit - discuss how each of these can be practical expressed in the life of the church
As you close in prayer, include Paul's prayer that finishes this section - Ephesians 1:17-19

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We have a variety of tools that we are working on to help small groups 'connect'. These include activities that you can choose to do together as a small group worship service.
Remember that these are simply a starting point for your small group - you may discover other tools or activities that suit you better. If you do discover something fabulous, please share it so others may also be encouraged.

We thank the Diocese of Wellington for their work in forming the framework for the house church liturgy.

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