Ephesians 2:1-10

Key Passage: Ephesians 2:1-10
Key Points
1.  Mankind is inherently evil and deserves death
2.  God chooses to display His glory by saving mankind through Jesus Christ, His agent of grace
3.  Man glorifies God by placing his faith in Jesus and walking in good works

Key Themes:
o  All have sinned(1)
o All who have sinned were dead when they lived to satisfy their fleshly desires(1-2)
o Satan has been given authority to influence the disobedient (2)
o The disobedient live to satisfy themselves (3)
o Mankind is inherently evil and corrupt(3)
o God chose to show mercy to man in spite of his corrupted nature(4)
o God chose to show mercy to man because He loves man(4-5)
o God gave life to man through Jesus (4-7)
-w/out Christ there is no life
o Mankind is saved by the grace of God shown in Christ Jesus (6-7)
o Through Christ man is given salvation and glorification (6-7)
o Christ is glorified in the lives of all who accept God's grace (7)
o Man's faith in the grace of God, trust in God saves (8)
o Man can't do anything to earn salvation(8-9)
o The only work that saves is Christ's death on the cross so that only He could be glorified(9)
o The redeemed are a work of God created in Jesus to glorify Jesus(10)

Reflective Discussion Questions:
1.  What does vs 1-3 tell us about human nature?
a.  Why do people have  problem admitting they are inherently evil?
b.  How does man's inability to confess he is evil related to his relationship w/God?
c.  How do we overcome the problem of sin and enter into relationship w/God?
2.  What are some markers that help us understand when we aren't in fellowship w/God?(3)
a.  What does v2 tell us about who has influence over the "disobedient?"
b.  What does the "spirit" in v2 lead people to do?
3.  Why does God choose to show mankind mercy? (4)
a. How does God demonstrate His love for man?(5-6)
b.  How are we saved?(5, 8)
c.  What does it mean to be saved by grace?(8)
4.  How does knowing we are saved by grace affect the way we view God?
a.  How does the knowledge of being saved by grace affect the way you treat God?
b.  What obstacles keep people from living under grace?
c.  Why do people try to earn God's gift of grace?  How do they try?
5.  Why does God raise us up and seat us with Christ?(6-7)
a.  How is God's glory displayed in our glorification?(4-7)
6.  What does vs 10 tell us about God's plan for our salvation?
a.  Why do people depart from walking in the "good works" God's created the saved to do?
b.  What does it mean to walk in the "good works" God created?  What are they?
c.  How does a person continue to walk in the works God created for us?
d.  Why would anyone want to live this way?

Individual Challenge
How would your relationship with God change if you thanked God for His grace daily?  How would reflecting on God's love for you change the way you did "church?"  How would knowing God's purpose for your life affect your priorities?

Community Challenge
What would the impact on this fellowship be if everyone here grew in their appreciation of God's grace? How would reshaped personal priorities affect our church?  How would it affect the way our church views our place in the community?

Ephesians 1:20-23

Key Passage: Ephesians 1:20-23
Key Points:
1.  God glorifies Himself and demonstrates His power by giving His Son preeminence over all things by resurrecting the Messiah from the dead.
2.  Christ's authority over the Church is absolute.
3.  The Church is made full in Christ by submitting to His authority.

Key Themes:
o God demonstrates His power and strength through His Son(v20)
o God's power is demonstrated in the resurrection of His Son(20)
o God glorifies His Son by giving Him authority and power over everyone(20-21)
o Jesus is boss of the church(22)
o The Church does what Jesus wants and commands(22-23)
-individual believers do what Jesus wants and commands
o The fullness of Christ's God's glory is displayed in Christ's authority over the Church and the Church's submission to His headship(20-23)

Reflective Questions:
1.  How is God's power demonstrated in the resurrection of His Son?
2.  How does the resurrection of Jesus place Him above every other ruler and authority?
3.  Why is it necessary for Jesus to die and be raised from the death to have primacy over the Church?
4.  What is the relationship between Jesus and His body?
a.  How does Jesus headship affect the way you think about how the church approaches ministry?
b.  How does Christ's headship affect the way you see how you fit in the body of Christ?
c.  How is the fullness of God demonstrated in the relationship the Church has with Christ?(22-23)
d.  Why do people rebel against Christ's absolute headship over the Church?
di.  How do people rebel against Christ's absolute headship over the Church?
5. How is God's glory displayed in making the body full through the One?(v23)
6.  What do we learn about ourselves in Paul praying that we be made full through the power and authority of the Messiah?(17-23)
7.  What are the individual implications and application to v22-23?
a.  What makes up the body of Christ?
b.  Why is there an individual application to v22-23?
c.  Is it wrong to bring out a individual application from v22-23? why?

Individual Challenge:
How would your life change if you discovered how you fit in the body of Christ?  How would the way you view satisfaction and joy in your church change? What type of attitude would you have when anticipating how you can be involved in your church?

Community Challenge:
What would the impact be on the Church's effectiveness if every individual played their part in the body? Would this change the way ministries we're run and the priorities of the church?  How would this affect the way the Church defines worship?