Blessings - Part 4

The Forge - Ephesians 3

1. "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms." (v. 10) One of the mysteries of God's plan is His desire to use the church to communicate His love, grace, invitation, and forgiveness. What mysteries has God revealed to you? How are you walking in the truth of those mysteries in your daily life? How can we, as a church, walk in the revealed mysteries of God? 2. "In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." (v. 12) What hinders you from approaching God with freedom and confidence? What person or situation in your life do you need to carry to God with freedom and confidence? 3. Read verses 14-21. Our capacity to be filled with all the fullness of whom God comes from being rooted in love. What does it look like for you to be rooted in love? What does it look like to be filled with all the fullness of God? You can walk through this quick list to check where your roots lie. In the places you find something other than Christ's love and perhaps sin blooming, do not respond in shame or judgment; receive it as an invitation for pruning and another opportunity to remember His vast love. Mentally - What thoughts blossom from receiving Christ's love for you, and which thoughts shrivel from being rooted in something else (control, fear, pride, etc.) Emotionally - What emotions do you most often experience in an ordinary day? Which of those do you intentionally lead toward Christ's love, and which do you let lead you? Physically - If you have felt a physical response to Christ's love, what was it, and what was it like for you? If you have not, how does this idea of physically feeling Christ's love sound to you? What about Christ's love physically energizes you? 4. Paul blesses the Ephesians with a prayer. He prays they fully understand God's love (v. 17-19). What a beautiful thing to pray over someone! Being able to pray that blessing for someone else is most powerful when you have experienced the height, width, and depth of His love yourself. How have you experienced an overwhelming love of God? How is that reflected in your testimony? Share that love story with someone to encourage them to seek that love for themselves. Use it as a blessing for someone!

The Forge - Ephesians 2

1. Ephesians 2:1-5 says that we who were once dead in our transgressions have been made alive with Christ. Our only requirement is to believe. It is in God's mercy and by His grace that we are saved. Mercy: Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone who is within one's power to punish or harm. Grace: The free and unmerited favor of God. What does it mean for your life that you are saved instead of punished? What does that mean for how you treat others? Is it easy for you to accept the gracious gift of salvation from God? Or do you find yourself trying to earn your salvation? If so, how do you try to earn it? 2. Testimony is a powerful tool God uses to do some of his best work. "God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us." (v. 7) What is a piece of your testimony? What part of your life or story can you contribute ONLY to the grace and kindness of God? Write it down and share it with someone. Even if it is something seemingly small, God can still use that story as an example for others. 3. "For Christ himself has brought peace to us.” (v. 14) Jesus himself is our peace. Paul is reminding the Ephesians that Jesus came to bring peace. Peace in our relationships. Peace in our souls and with God through salvation. The Greek word used here is 'eirene.' The definition of 'eirene' is harmony, concord, security, safety, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ What area of your life do you need peace right now? Do you need to experience it in your relationship with God? Are you struggling with internal peace? What are you trusting to fulfill that need for peace other than God? Do you need peace in any of your relationships? 4. In Ephesians, there is much talk of unity within the house of God, in God's family. Only together are we the "holy temple for the Lord." (v. 21 How do we find ways to keep the Body of Christ working together as a unit in a world that seems to love Us vs. Them? How do we stay unified in the face of division? How do all followers of Jesus put aside differences for a common goal?

The Forge - Ephesians 1

1."Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 1) Paul starts most of his letters with a this or a similar greeting. Paul prioritized the gift of grace and the importance of peace, acknowledging that those only come from and through our Father God and our Savior Jesus! How do you greet your day? How do you greet others? How do you greet your family? Do you do the heart work of acknowledging God, expressing gratitude for the gift Jesus gave you on the cross, and do you declare the grace and peace of God over your day and your people? What might it look like to make that internal shift on a daily basis? 2. Through Ephesians, the phrase 'In Him' indicates when someone becomes a believer, they take on the identity of Jesus and the promises attached to that new identity. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." (v. 3) What spiritual blessings are listed in verses 4-14 as the truth of being “In Him”? What other “In Hims” do you see throughout Ephesians? 3. Paul is writing Ephesians to Gentiles, who were historically not God's "chosen people." It took an effort to change the mindset that, because of Jesus, ALL people can join the body of Christ, not just Jews. He adopted anyone and everyone into His family. And we are all part of His master plan (v. 11-14). Have you ever felt like an outsider in a space you really wanted to be in? What would it mean for you to be invited in, valued, and loved in that space? Could you extend that invitation to someone on the outskirts of your current space? 4. Pray this prayer over someone whose faith you admire, just as Paul prayed for the Ephesians (v. 16-19). "God, give _________________ intelligence and discernment in knowing you personally. Make their eyes focused and clear, so they can see what you are calling them to do. God, let ______________ see the immensity of the glorious way of life you have for your followers and how those who trust you get your utter extravagance, endless energy, and boundless strength.”

Blessings - Part 4

"God is always trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them"         - St. Augustine God, empty my hands in order to show up in big and impactful ways. Deuteronomy 8:18 Luke 6:38 2 Corinthians 8:7 Luke 6:30 2 Corinthians 9: 6-7 Matthew 6:19-21 Questions: 1) Where is your current heart toward tithing? How do we get to the point of being a "cheerful giver"? 2) Have you seen God show up in your life and answer the promise from Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it will be given to you"? 3) In what areas of your life are your hands too full to receive blessings from God?

Blessings - Part 3

Serving God:  When you serve others you are also serving God.  “God has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do” Eph 2:10. These ‘good deeds’ regularly show up when serving others.  Call to Serve: Joshua 24:14 – 15, You have a choice to make.   Deuteronomy 10:12 -   …. What does the Lord your God ask of you? 1. To fear the Lord your God 2. To walk in obedience to God 3. To love God 4. To serve the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul. 5. ____________________________________________________ Equip to Serve: Ephesians 4:11-13, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers Blessings from Serving: Galatians 5:13,  1 Peter 4:11,  Romans 12:11 Questions: Think back over the past week or month. How much time did you spend serving the Kingdom? (you have 168 hours in a week to work with). Who was the first person who invited you to serve the Kingdom?   Serving the Lord or serving the Lord with all your heart and soul.  Do you feel there is a difference?  What is one of your strengths that you serve with? What is one of your weaknesses that you serve with? “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can.”  John Wesley