STRONGER-Part 3-AFTER THE SERMON
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or to be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: Prayer for Spiritual Understanding
Main Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23
Other scripture mentioned: 1 Corinthians 2:9-12; Psalm 110:1 Ephesians 2:6
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Check out this overview of the entire book, especially the first chapters of Ephesians to better understand the depth of Ephesians 1 Ephesians Overview
Summary:
As if verses 3-14 weren’t deep enough, Paul seems to go deeper but for good reason. Paul wants the church to realize, to see, to have a spiritual awakening and experience of the spiritual blessings we have inherited. Paul thanks God for the church because of their strong faith in the Lord and love for one another, but it doesn’t stop him from praying specifically that the church gains spiritual wisdom and experience these spiritual realities. Pastor Ryan shared how we can have these realities but not really be aware of them or experience them in life if we don’t believe them to be inherited now, not just in the future. Pastor Ryan was recalling how through the study of the Word and helping others with these spiritual realities He too began to realize all He has been blessed with by God. Paul prays that God gives us, the church a greater knowledge and experience of these blessings. Paul ends this chapter with a focus once again on Jesus, just as He focused much in the first portion of chapter 1. Paul reassures us of the authority of Christ in both this world and in the heavens. Paul also reconfirms the vital relationship Jesus has with us, but described by Paul as the body of Christ (the church).
Takeaways:
True followers of Christ are characterized by these two things: loyalty to Christ and love towards one another.
Look for the spiritual growth in others, celebrate it and give God the glory for it!
Paul's prayer is that the Spirit of wisdom and revelation may enable and empower believers to know and experience these spiritual blessings for themselves.
We are powerful in Christ!
When we believed in Jesus Christ we were raised from spiritual death and given new life. Surely, through faith in Christ we can handle everything else in our lives!
Jesus is life to the church
Jesus longs to fill us and make us complete. We must long to come and receive more of Him.
We are full and complete when we are in Christ.
We’re stronger when we’re full of Jesus and less of this world.
A church full of Christ can carry Christ in our world.
Discussion:
What was one big takeaway for you from this message?
What scripture verse stuck out to you and why?
What did you sense the Holy Spirit was saying to you during this message?
Why is it important that we don’t just have head knowledge but a living experience of our new life in Christ?
Pastor Ryan said we have authority and power over evil spiritual forces, how is that? (Eph 1:21-22; Eph 2:6)
Why are Christians not living in the authority and power they have inherited over sin and evil?
How is being in and under Jesus a benefit for us personally and the church?
This scriptre was a powerful prayer for people Paul loved…What’s on your prayer list moving forward?
Pray:
Heavenly Father, give us Spiritual wisdom to help us understand and experience more of you! We ask you to help us be more aware of and experience the resurrection power we have inherited in Christ. God fill and complete us as we the church live in and under Christ. Help us to not just know and believe these spiritual blessings, we want to experience them too! In Jesus name, Amen!
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!