Life Groups // Fall 2024 // Week 3

Posted September 20, 2024 — Lincoln Berean

You Are His Masterpiece// Ephesians 2:1-10

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Introduction

In chapter 2 of Ephesians, Paul makes a strong, clear point that the extravagant blessings we read about in chapter 1 come to us solely by the grace of God; we have nothing to boast about. It’s just the kind of reality check we need today as we live out the salvation we profess. 

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 a craft or hobby that you enjoy? Share about something you’ve made or accomplished. 

 

2) A spiritual exercise from last week encouraged you to pray for others. If you regularly pray for others, what impact has that had on your life? 

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) What images or examples from the sermon have you been thinking over since you heard them? 

 

 

 

2) Paul makes a dramatic shift from extolling extravagant blessings in Christ in chapter 1 to dissecting spiritual death in Eph 2: 1-3. Why do you suppose he does this? 

 

 

 

As you look at the traits of a sin-dead life, notice where they come from and what they result in. When others observe you on any given day, would they see evidence of death or life in your actions?  

 

 

 

 

3) We all get to breathe a sigh of relief when Paul begins verse 4, “But God”, because a change happens. According to verses 4-10, what are the riches of God and why does He give them to us? 

 

 

 

How would it look for you to live fully confident that you possess the extravagant gifts listed in Eph 2:4-10 in different areas of your life?  

For example:

    • The way you spend your time
    • The people you allow to influence you 
    • The emotions that drive you
    • The things you support

 

 

4) At the close of the service, Pastor Bryan invited everyone to consider their relationship with Jesus. If anyone is apart from Him and still dead in sin, now is the time to step into salvation as a life. It’s good for all of us to consider the question, “Do you believe that apart from Christ you are dead?”  Whether you answer “Yes” or “No” to that question, how does that show itself in your life? 

 

 

 

What is one truth you hold onto that helps you remember all you have in Christ?

 

 

 

 

*If you have questions about taking a next step in following Jesus, feel free to ask your Life Group Leader. 

 

 

 

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: An important point from this passage is that your entire life, including your salvation, is God’s undeserved gift of grace. A narrative in Luke 7:36-50 gives a vivid example of this. Read it this week and ponder how it relates to what we’re learning in Ephesians.

Prayer Focus: Plan for 10 minutes each day this week to be present to God. Set a timer if you need to, but don’t bring anything else into this quiet space. Your body will want to fidget, and your mind will wander, but each time it does, redirect back to being present to God. Saying a phrase like “my soul is quiet before You, God” or “Christ be all around me” might help to focus on Him. The exercise is not so much about conquering 10 silent minutes as it is about redirecting your focus each time it wanders. 

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?