Walking Worthy of Our Glorious Calling

Ephesians 4:1-3

Sermon Notes:

1) The Master of our Calling | 1

2) The Manner of our Calling | 2

3) The Motivation of our Calling | 3

Reflection Questions:

1) John Stott says, “The life worthy of the calling of God is a life in the fellowship of the people of God.” How are you striving to (or how could you) increase Christian fellowship in your life right now?

2) Why do you think William Hendriksen said that humility (v2) is the “first, second, and third essential of the Christian life?” What can/does lack of humility do to your life, your family’s lives, your church’s fellowship?

3) What’s one way that you can be more patient (“longsuffering towards aggravating people” - Stott) with one person or one group of people in your life? Why does God call us to such patience? See Ephesians 4:32.

A Beautiful Mystery

Ephesians 3

Sermon Notes:

1) The Puzzle Now Solved | 1-6

2) The Proclaimer Now Equipped | 7-13

3) The Prayer: Deeper Knowledge | 14-19

4) The Praise: Greater Glory | 20-21

Reflection questions:

1) What mystery is Paul talking about in vv. 1-13? Is it still a mystery, or has it been revealed?

2) Read the following passages, in order (as best we can tell) of when Paul wrote them: 1 Cor. 15:8-10; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Tim. 1:15. What does this tell you about Paul’s growing self-awareness? Did his growing self-awareness give him more or less assurance of God’s salvation? (See also, 2 Tim. 4:6-8, likely Paul’s final letter.)

3) Read vv. 14-21. How would your life look differently if you were more rooted and grounded in love (v17)?

But God...

Ephesians 2

Sermon Notes:

1) Our Grave Condition without Christ | 1-3, 11-12

2) Our Glorious Change in Christ | 4-10, 13

3) Our Great Privilege in Christ | 11-22

Reflection Questions:

1. Are vv.1-3 negative? Are they trying to make us feel bad about ourselves, or are they trying to show us the greatness of God’s love and grace and mercy (cf v.4ff)? Compare v1 to Ezek 37:1-14. What does want God want Ezekiel to “know”?

2. Is there one sense where mankind is passive when it comes to salvation? (And if so, who or what is active in salvation?) Does God expect mankind to stay passive after salvation? See v.10, especially.

3. While Ephesians 3:11-19 is talking primarily about unity in Christ for Jews and Gentiles, is that same unity amidst diversity true today for Christians with different backgrounds, different nationalities or ethnicities, and/or differences of other kinds?

Before the Foundation of the World

Ephesians 1

Sermon Notes:

1) The Greetings that the Apostle gives us from Christ, 1-2

  • Saints

  • Grace and Peace

2) The Blessings that we have in Christ, 3-14

  • Chosen, 4

  • Children, 4-5

  • Redeemed, 7

  • Rich, 11

  • Secure, 13

3) The Desire to Clearly See the Deep, Deep Love of Christ, 15-23

  • Our Hope

  • Our Inheritance

  • Christ’s Might

  • Christ’s Height

  • Christ’s Headship

Reflection Questions:

1. Why does the New Testament call Christians “saints”? Are we holy/saints if we do enough good things? Or are we holy because of someone else’s work and sacrifice? See 2 Cor 5:21 and Hebrews 10:11-14.

2. Based on Ephesians 1, what does it mean to be “in Christ”? See some other passages where Paul uses similar language: 2 Cor 5:21 (yes, again); Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:1-4

3. Ephesians 1:15-23, is Paul praying for the Ephesians (and other readers, including us) to know something they’ve/we’ve never heard about it, or to know certain truths more deeply and clearly?