Life Groups // Fall 2024 // Week 4
Posted September 27, 2024 — Lincoln Berean
Remember // Ephesians 2:11-22
Introduction
In the second half of Ephesians 2, Paul tells us more about what is true about us in Christ and how that lays the foundation for how we are to relate to one another as fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household.
To think through the main ideas in the sermon and prepare for your discussion together, we invite you to look over all the questions on the following pages and write your thoughts down before you meet with your group. Due to preferences over a wide range of groups, we do not expect you will cover every question each week.
Warm Up (Suggested time: 30 min)
1) What’s your favorite ice cream brand and flavor?
2) Have you ever been part of a team or group that really clicked? What was that like?
Getting Started
Transition into group discussion.
1. Open group discussion with prayer. Here are a few potential prayer items:
a. For the Spirit of God to lead you in truth
b. For the fruit of the Spirit to be cultivated in your lives
c. For grace to hear and apply what the Spirit says to you
2. Choose someone to read the passage aloud for the group.
Study Questions (Suggested time: 40 min)
1) Our passage starts with a “therefore”. What is that “therefore” referring to?
In verses 11-13, the word “remember” is the only command in the first 3 chapters of Ephesians. What is it that Paul wants the Ephesians to remember?
Why is it so important for them to remember these things?
2) Have you ever been involved with a group where you just didn’t fit – you didn’t feel like you belonged? Describe the experience. How did you feel?
In verses 14-18 Paul talks about Jesus breaking down the wall that divided Jews and Gentiles. As believers today, what “dividing walls” do we put up, both with fellow believers and those outside the church?
3) In Ephesians 2:1-22, Paul uses the idea of being “in Christ” at least 11 times. What does it mean to be “in Christ”?
Who is someone in your life that clearly lives out what it means to be “in Christ”? How does that show up in their life?
From the first 2 chapters of Ephesians what is one thing you want to remember is true of you “in Christ”?
4) This text reminds us that “you were” but now “you are” which leads to 2:19 “so then”. What is the “so then” in verses 19-22?
How is Jesus the corner stone of this new building?
What does it look like to put aside lesser things and come together as a flourishing community?
Personal Spiritual Exercises
Just like physical exercises help strengthen and stretch our bodies for healthy living, these spiritual exercises are meant to move us spiritually in ways that may be new so we might experience inner growth. Since God longs for us to experience Him with our whole selves—mind, body, spirit—we invite you along each week to strengthen your souls with suggestions and prompts. Next week in Life Group, take a few moments to share how the Lord may have used this exercise in your life.
Scripture Focus: In question 3 you identified one thing that you want to remember is true of you in Christ. Find the verses in the first 2 chapters of Ephesians that remind you of that truth and take time to learn these verses by heart.
Prayer Focus: As you spend time in prayer each day, take a few moments to include the following:
Lord, thank you that I was far off and have been brought near.
Thank you that I am a fellow citizen and of God’s household with others who have been brought near.
Holy Spirit, lead us as we grow together into your dwelling place.
May we be about each other’s flourishing and the flourishing of your kingdom in the world around us.
Transform us into a place where people encounter you.
Prayer (Suggested time: 20 min)
A significant part of “coming together” is being open and honest with our lives. Sitting in a group of people for prayer may be new or it may be familiar to you. If you would rather not pray aloud when it is your turn, feel free to pray silently and then say “Amen” aloud signaling the next person in the group to pray. Whether or not you choose to verbalize your prayer, everyone is a participant in sharing this time before God together.
Take a few moments to prepare a prayer request. What did the message, working through the above questions or the discussion cause you to notice about your own relationship with Jesus? Would you be willing to share your prayer request with the group?