1. Read Ephesians 1:1-6.  Imagine you are one of this letter’s first recipients, gathering with others as the church living in Ephesus.  What might you be thinking and feeling and wondering as you begin to hear this letter read to you?

2. What do you see in Paul’s prayer, and how might this shape our praying?

3. Look at how Paul connects the love of God to us with our living as holy and blameless.  How does this understanding of the ethical life that honours our Father operate in your living?  You might compare it with other ways you might seek to live.

4. What do you think Paul is emphasising from the metaphor of adoption (as practiced in his first-century Roman culture) that he wants Christians to understand about God, themselves, and each other?  Compare what Paul says in Galatians 4:4-7.

5. If our adoption is about belonging to a particular family focused on God as Father, to what extent do you feel that you belong, how might it change the way you see yourself and your life, and how should it shape how we relate with one another?

1. Please Read Ephesians 1:3-14.  Focusing on verses 7-12, what impacts you?

2. In your own words, how would you describe God’s ultimate plan? 

3. How might knowing this ‘mystery’ change the way you approach faith and life?

4. What feelings do Paul’s words and metaphors seek to produce, and how do these compare with how you generally feel about yourself and life? 

1. Please read Ephesians 1:3-14, with a focus on verses 13-14.  How would you describe what Paul is seeking to achieve by his statements in these verses as part of this prayer?

2. What things challenge your confidence and peace in walking faithfully with Jesus, and what helps you to persevere?

3. What does the Holy Spirit’s presence as the ‘seal’ and ‘downpayment’ in our lives now look like as individual disciples and as a community of faith?

4. How does the Holy Spirit act within us to give confidence that we belong to God forever? 

5. How would you describe what the faith Paul refers to is in practice?

6. If you had one minute to summarise your experience of ‘knowing God’, what would you say?

Question 1:

In this section Paul asks his Gentile readers to remember what is was like before knowing Christ.

He reminded them they were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship, foreigners to the covenant, without hope and without God.

What has made you feel like an outside in the church (either before you came to Christ, or since)? You may want to also share how this has changed since knowing and/or maturing in Christ?

Ephesians 2:11 - 12

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands) - remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

Question 2:

To be a Gentile in this period was to be viewed as a second class citizen by the Jew. It is only natural to expect antagonism by the Gentile toward the Jew who treated them as if they were unclean and unworthy to come near God.

What does the Church today communicate to those who do not know Christ? In what ways do we create barriers and treat people like 'second class citizens'? If there are any in your group who did not come from a Christian family it might be worth asking their reflections on how they used to view Christians.

Ephesians 2:13 - 14

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups once and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.

Question 3:

On Sunday, we looked at the idea that whether we are close to God or far from Him, we were all estranged from Him and needed to be saved.

Jesus not only saves us, He invites us to be part of a new humanity, a new community, where our primary identity is as a follower of Him.

What does it mean to you to have a primary identity as a follower of Jesus? How has this changed the way you live? (Give a practical example if you can.)

Ephesians 2:15b - 17

His purpose as to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

Question 4:

On Sunday we looked at John Stott's reflection on his passage, where he is overwhelmed at the grandeur of the vision Jesus has for the church, and yet laments the reality that all too often we sabotage his vision.

Brainstorm as a group, and identify two or three things which you (either as a group or individuals) could do to participate with Jesus in living out His vision for the church?

For example, on Sunday we finished with the practical idea of setting aside the first five minutes after the conclusion of the service to find someone we haven't met and get to know them. In this simple act we resist the pull to gravitate toward people who are like us (part of our tribe, whether that be the same background, life stage, education etc.) and live out community where we resist the barriers which so often decide society. By the way, you can steal this one if you want and commit to this as a group.

John Stott

"It would be hard to exaggerate the grandeur of this vision. The new society God has brough into being is nothing short of a new creation, a new human race, whose characteristic is no longer alienation but reconciliation, no longer division and hostility but unity and peace. This new society God rules and loves and lives in.

"That is the vision. But when we turn from the ideal portrayed in Scripture to the concrete realities experienced in the church today, it is a very different and tragic story. For even in the church today there is often alienation, disunity and discord. And Christians erect barriers in place of the old which Christ has demolished, now a colour bar, now racism, nationalism or tribalism, now personal animosities engendered by pride, prejudice, jealousy and the unforgiving spirit, now a divisive system of caste or class, now a clericalism which sunders clergy from laity, as if they were separate breeds of human being, and now a denominationalism which turns churches into sects and contradicts the unity and universality of Christ's church."

1. Read Ephesians 2:19-22 (perhaps start at verse 11).  Summarise in your own words what Paul is saying, why he feels this is important, and what he might want to achieve by saying it.

2. What things today cause people to feel or be treated as if they don’t belong to the church?  What should we do about this? 

3. Consider both individual and structural issues in society which divide or bring hostility on the basis of race, gender, and other identity features.  What examples can you identify in yourself where this creeps into your behaviours?

4. What practical actions can we take in our church community to build inclusion and belonging?  What challenges will we face in doing this? 

5. What have you found in your own life to be the most powerful drivers of changing your attitudes towards others you may once have treated with prejudice or kept at a distance?

6. How is the message of Christ the foundation for all our activity, and Jesus the one who holds us together?

7. How can the church function as the ‘temple of God’s presence’ in renewing ‘one new united humanity’ through its own relationships and peacemaking endeavours?

1. Please read Ephesians 2:19-3;19. focussing on verses 1-6.  What strikes you in this passage?

2. Why would Paul want us to picture the church as one, and only one, ‘body’?

3. Describe what a health body looks like, and from these ideas describe what a healthy church looks like.

4. If church unity is so important to Paul, how can we tell if we share his insight and burden?

5. Paul claimed his insight into the mysteries of God’s eternal plans meant radical change in religious practice and how to read the whole Old Testament because God has taken a new way of forming his people, including no longer following all the commandments in the Hebrew Scriptures as indicators of faith and faithfulness.  What might we learn from this about how we should face challenges and changes to our assumptions about God’s will?  What factors make this so hard for people?  What might guide our approach?

6. What actions will help us maintain the unity of the body, and which might divide us?  What changes does this ask you to make reading your practice of your faith in community?ed.

1. Please read Ephesians 2:19-3:19, focusing on 3:7-13.  What stands out to you here?

2. In verse 10 Paul says the life of the church as a united body shows the wisdom of God to all contrary authorities.  Why do you think Paul believes the church is the manifestation and means of God making known his wisdom?

3. How can we use our words to commend this wisdom?

4. How can our lives be a sign of this wisdom to others?

5. What deeds can we choose to bring about this wisdom in our world?

6. What contrary forces to this wisdom must we be alert to so that they don’t keep misshaping us?

7. How do you think the rulers and authorities might feel about this wisdom; what might they do; and how should we respond in ways consistent with that wisdom?

8. If we take Paul’s insight into the hostile powers (anything which rules or exerts authority over people to subvert God’s intention for life), how might we understand and combat something like racism?  What parallel insight does this definition from the Australian Human Rights Commission offer: ‘Racism is the process by which systems and policies, actions and attitudes create inequitable opportunities and outcomes for people based on race. Racism is more than just prejudice in thought or action. It occurs when this prejudice – whether individual or institutional – is accompanied by the power to discriminate against, oppress or limit the rights of others.’? 

1. Do you find it challenging to think about God as your dad?

2. What is the most comforting aspect of understanding God as your dad for you personally? 

3. In his biographical book My Bright Abyss the poet Christian Wyman says, "Christ abhors an abstraction".  

   What do you think he means?

4. If people in your group were not at Church last Sunday you might want to play the song ONE by U2. The last line in the song is:

   " .... One life but we’re not the same

   We get to carry each other

   Carry each other ….. one .....one" 

   What practical things can we do in the next month to "Carry each other" 

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Discussion starters:

1. If possible, reread all of Ephesians 1-3 before coming to your group.

2. Ephesians 1-3 is structured in a chiasm (symmetrically), with the image of the temple-tree-of-life at its centre:

   • a. 1:1-14 Song of praise to Father, Son, Spirit

     • b. 1:15-23 Prayer for revelation of Jesus’ power

       • c. 2:1-18 Grace of God in Gentile rescue
         d. 2:19-21 Image of Jesus’ triumph = the church (temple-tree)

       • c’. 3:1-13 Grace of God in Paul’s imprisonment

     • b’. 3:14-19 Prayer for revelation of Jesus’ love

   • a’. 3:20-21 Song of praise to Father, Son, Spirit

In one or two sentences, how would you express the main thing Paul is trying to communicate through these chapters?

3. Every time Paul says ‘you’, he uses the plural (which we miss in English). What difference does it make reading this thinking of ‘us’ rather than ‘me’?

4. What significance do you see in Paul’s own revelation of Jesus (see Acts 9, 22, 26), for what he prays and communicates to the Ephesian church?

5. Paul seems to be saying that there are aspects of God’s love (width, height, length, depth) that we cannot know unless we are in community with people who are not like us. How are you / can you be intentionally putting this into practice?

6. In light of Paul’s message in chapters 1-3, how do you understand 3:20 when he says that God is “able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us”?

1. Read Ephesians 4:7-16.  Summarise in your own words what Paul is communicating here, and what he is trying to achieve by writing this.

2. What stands out to you in this passage about Jesus?  (You might compare Psalm 68, and the changes Paul makes in his quotation to emphasise these things). 

3. What changes in how we live when we believe that God’s grace enables every one of us to serve?

4. What helps and what makes it more difficult for you to serve?

5. How have you grown through serving?

6. Why does a church need everyone to do their part in service?

7. From what you read here, describe what you think a ‘grown up’ mature church is like.

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DISCUSSION STARTERS – Ephesians 4:17-5:2

1. Read Ephesians 4:17-5:2

2. Why is it important to understand the process Paul outlines in vv20-24 as indicative of what begins to happen to someone who has a revelation of Jesus, rather than imperatives of what we must do?

3. How does Paul's references to other Scriptures (in vv25-31) bring more depth and clarity to what he is saying?

4. Choose one of the old humanity traits that Paul names - lying, sinning in anger, stealing, or rotten talk, and discuss:

   • a. Why do we do this?

   • b. What might it practically look like to wear the new humanity in place of this old one?

   • c. What impact does this new approach make, which reflects of God’s righteousness and holiness?

   • d. In what ways does the ‘new way’ enable what the 'old way’ seeks, but to the benefit of the whole community rather than its destruction?

Discussion starters:

1. Read Ephesians 4:17-5:7. What questions emerge as you read this passage?

2. How might thanksgiving be understood as an antidote to sexually immoral words and action (5:4)?

3. Why do you think Paul is so strong in this warning about sexual immorality?

4. In 4:19 Paul says that those with futile mindsets "give themselves up" to their desires. Then in 5:2 he says that Jesus "gave himself up" for us. What significance do you see in this?

5. What can we do as a community to help those among us struggling with their deceitful desires?

Discussion starters:

1. Read Ephesians 5:1-14.

2. Why might Paul use allusions to the stories at the beginning of Genesis in this warning and encouragement that he is giving to the Ephesians [e.g. darkness/light, fruit of light/unfruitful works of darkness, pleasing/shameful, secret/exposed]?

3. What is your understanding of what Paul means when he says ‘At one time you were darkness…’ (v8)?

4. What is the significance of being ‘in the Lord’ (v8)?

5. Terry D. Cooper says, "Sin does not automatically occur as a result of our biological make-up. We are not 'hard-wired' to sin. It is not built into our true essence. Sin is not a necessary part of being human, even though it is an inevitable part of our condition."

   Does being essentially good at the core of your being, rather than inherently bad/evil, impact how you respond to the idea of being exposed by the light (v13-14)?

6. How might being “children of light” (v8) impact:

   • a. How we view ourselves?

   • b. How we view other people?

   • c. How we live in the world?

1. Read Ephesians 5:15-33.  What thoughts and feelings come to you?  How have you encountered this type of teaching before, and how has that impacted you?

2. What does it mean in practice for all those filled with the Spirit to be ‘submitting to one another’ (verse 21), mutually arranging themselves ‘under’ one another? 

3. How might wives live consistently with this way of submission (verse 22)?  What might it mean and not mean?

4. Describe what Paul says in this passage about how Christ is head of the church.  How do you feel about him, and how do you relate with him in this way?

5. How does Paul’s metaphorical picture of a good husband drawn from the image of Christ being the head of the church shape what we understand a husband is called to be for his wife?

6. How do you think Paul’s teaching might have been counter-cultural in his day?  How about in ours?

7. If we understand the picture of being ‘one flesh’ as not referring in a limited way to sexual union, but the union of being strongly bound by commitment to companionship for the well-being of their household (see this usage in Gen 2:18-24; Gen 29:13-14; 2 Sam 19:11-12) how does both husband and wife living in these ways strengthen that union?  What behaviours might weaken their bond and so are to be avoided?  What practical actions do you believe strengthens it?

Discussion Starters

If you are running short of time you can skip to Q4 – which is the key application question.

1. In verses 15 and 17 of Ephesians 5 Paul draws stark contrast between wisdom and foolishness – continuing the contrast he drew in verse 8. What was Paul’s definition of Wisdom? (You may want to look at Proverbs 1: 1-7)

2. In Verse 18 of Ephesians 5 Paul continues with this contrast. Just as in Proverbs 1: 20,21 wisdom is personified. Paul also sees a personal source for wisdom. Where does Paul believe wisdom comes from?

3. Verses 19- 20 of Ephesians 5 then outlines what it looks like to be filled with the Spirit. What are the 3 things Paul says we will do if we are filled with the Spirit?

4. Paul says we should “Make the most of every opportunity” (v16).

   • What are some opportunities we could take hold of to do the things listed in verses 19 and 20 that we are not currently taking hold of?

   • What opportunities are we missing?

Bonus – If you have time – "Rabbit hole" questions:

5. In Proverbs 1: 20,21 wisdom is personified as female. Why do you think wisdom is female in the OT…?

6. there was a lot of talk about Meta-narrative last Sunday. Why is an understanding of Meta-narrative important for people in Sydney in 2024?

1. Please read Ephesians 5:17-21; 6:1-4.  What stands out to you?

2. How did/do you feel about obeying your parents?

3. What reasons were/are given to motivate this obedience?  How do they compare with Paul’s reasons?

4. What difficulties do parents face in disciplining and instructing children today?

5. What circumstances might cause parental power to become harmful to their child?

6. What emotions in your parent/child and/or child/parent relationship cause you the most distress?  What happens to how you relate when you feel them?  [For those not in any of these relationships at present, think back to your past]. 

Discussion Starters

1. Read Ephesians 6:10-17.

2. What does it mean to ‘stand our ground’ against the devil?

3. In what ways do ‘messianic’ warriors differ from our common understanding of warriors?

4. How might we share the gospel, i.e., good news, simply and effectively?

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Discussion starters:

1. Read Ephesians 6:10-20.

2. If the devil (lit. ‘the slanderer’) uses and manipulates the powers at work in cosmic and social systems to disrupt the interpersonal and internal systems that enable the church to remain unified and effective in God’s power, how might prayer for one another help in this ‘wrestle’?

3. What keeps you from praying for other people

   • a) when you are with them, or

   • b) when you apart from them?

4. What can you take from this message that can help you pray for other people?

1. Read Ephesians 6:21-24.  Given all we have read so far, what stands out to you in these concluding verses? 

2. Look back at Ephesians 3:1; 3:13; 4:1; and 6:19-20.  Describe how Paul might have been thinking and feeling about himself and the Ephesians, and how the Ephesians might have been thinking and feeling about themselves and Paul.  Can you share any similar experiences from your life?

3. Can you identify anything ‘imprisoning’ you now?  What keeps you there?

4. Paul’s understanding of life for all human beings and his approach to Christian spiritual growth towards maturity (as exemplified in these verses) was expressed as: ‘The personal is formational because life is relational.’  Can you share a key example from your life?  Can you think of one way you might apply this insight in how you approach following Jesus?

5. Why is it hard to share our struggles and pains with others?  What makes it easier?

6. Reflect on the last two verses of this letter (6:23-24) and then use them to pray for others dear to you.