bryon

Q4. (Ephesians 3:21) What might be different in your own congregation if bringing glory to God were considered the very most important function of the church? What would be different in your life if bringing God glory was your most important job, bar none? For the church, it might focus more on actions in the community that point towards God. Now we are more focused (as a church) on expository preaching/ teaching and our evangelistic efforts seems weak. The way I act and speak would be more focused on Christ and His effects on / in my life.

Q3. (Ephesians 3:16, 19) What does it mean to be "filled with the Spirit" (verse 16)? Is this a one-time experience or a continual reality? What can we do to be filled with the Spirit? Is it different or the same as being "filled with all the fullness of God" (verse 19)? To be totally controlled and influenced by the Holy Spirit. From the way we think, to the way we act and speak. We are filled with the Spirit at the point of salvation (conversion) but it is a life long process to understand and know what it really means. Surrendering ourselves to the Holy Spirit

Q2. (3:18-19) What kinds of things prevent us from comprehending the far reaches of Christ's love? What happens in the way we live when we do comprehend, know, and experience this love? What would be different about your life if you could grasp this? Our limited mind and logic get in the way of understanding the seemingly illogical, Christ dying for those that hate Him. When we do understand and experience this love (Christ

Q1. (Ephesians 3:16-17) Do the concepts of (a) strengthened by the Spirit in the inner person, and ( Christ dwelling in our hearts say the same thing, or are they separate and distinct ideas? What do you think? Strengthened by the Spirit seems to imply that over time, we get discouraged or weakened and we need to be

Q4. What does Ephesians 3:12 teach us about the manner of approaching God? What happens if we try to pray without these qualities? That without being IN CHRIST, we cannot approach the throne. We are sinful and

Q3. (Ephesians 3:7-9) Why is Paul so careful to be humble about his call and apostleship? How can his example help us remain as humble servants? Paul never forgot where he came from and the awful things he had done against the church and Jesus Christ. We too were once DEAD IN OUR SINS also.

Q2. (Ephesians 3:6) Just what is the "mystery" that Paul is talking about? The mystery (not revealed or understood at the time) is that salvation is open to both Jew and Gentile. Gentile believers are HEIRS, MEMBERS, and SHARERS together with Jewish believers. Why was it important to the Gentile Christians in Paul's day? Because they were clearly not God

Q1. (Ephesians 3:2-5) Why is God's revelation to "his holy apostles and prophets" our authority for faith and practice? Because it came from God and was not

Q4. What exactly is faith? Can we take credit for having it? Can we be condemned for lacking it? Define "faith" in terms a 10-year-old could understand. Trust in something unseen. No, not for lacking it, but for not believing in the redemptive power of the blood of Christ. Faith is believing or trusting that something is true even when you can

Q3. According to Ephesians 2:10, what were we created to do? Why? (Matthew 5:16) What is the difference between these works and the works Paul discredits in verse 9? We were created to do good works. We are God

Q2. "Saved" has become Christian jargon. How can you "translate" this word into modern speech so people can understand what it really means and why they need it? Our debt has been PAID IN FULL. The debt we owe for getting us out of jail or paying the penalties on our defaulted loan. We could never have enough to pay back God for paying the penalty for our disobedience.

Q1. Why is it so hard for us to understand grace? What commonly held life principle does it demolish? Translate the word "grace" into language a 10-year-old child would understand. We learn that there is

Q4. (Ephesians 1:20-22) Why do we so often take a "pass" when it comes to spiritual warfare? Lack of understanding of the seriousness of spiritual warfare. Why is Christ's exaltation, demonstration of complete victory, and superior rank over all spiritual powers important enough for Paul to mention it to his readers? I think Paul is reminding the believers of their victory in Christ. As part of the family, heirs with Christ, we can claim that victory and access to that power to stand in the midst of this spiritual warfare. However, we tend to feel powerless in the face of spiritual enemies sometimes we think our power comes from our knowledge, or our faith, or our

Q3. (Ephesians 1:18d) Why are we powerless sometimes? Because we don

Q1. (Ephesians 1:18b) What do we Christians have to look forward to? In a word, Heaven. Salvation, redemption, forgiveness, and perfection to God

Q4. (1:13-14) These verses contain two analogies: (1) seal and (2) down payment, with the balance to be paid in a lump sum at the end of the term. When does the "end of the term" occur? How do these analogies help explain how the Holy Spirit functions in our lives? The end of the term is when Christ returns and calls us to Himself and takes us to be with Him in eternity. We have been marked, to be identified with Christ. This mark should be evident in our lives, through the work of the Holy Spirit.

According to verses 11 and 12, what is God's purpose for our lives? What do we need to do to fulfill this purpose? How does this purpose relate to Matthew 5:13-16? The purpose of our lives is to bring praise and glory to God; To reflect Him and His character; obey His Word. Our purpose is to be salt and light. The warning is that once you loose your saltiness and your light grows dim (or goes out)

Why is adoption a particularly apt illustration of God's relationship with us? It is reinforceing the fact that He chose us (before the foundation of the world). Just as in adoption, the adoptee does nothing to warrent favor or choosing from the one (or One) doing the adopting. this is also why it is encouraging (and exciting as an orphan being adopted). We deserve nothing short of the fires of hell, but God loved us and chose us and adopted us. It just don't get no better then that!

I think we are to be separate/set aside. Out of the same material two cups are made, one is used every day and the other is used in the temple. What makes them different? One is set aside to be holy and used in the temple and the other is not. We are made blameless by standing covered in the blood of Jesus. Although we are still sinful, we are made blameless positionally by being in Christ.

Hello all, I live in Leavenworth, Kansas (not in the prison), am the father of 3, teach Sr High Sunday School and am looking forward to this study. This is my first on-line study.