CONNECT: Who could you share the good news of being part of God’s people with?

WARM-UP

1. How does the world react to mysteries and stories?
2. How is the Gospel the greatest ‘mystery’ ever? Why is it not a mystery anymore?

READ Ephesians 3:1-6

1. Why was Paul put into prison? Who did Paul consider himself to be a prisoner of?
2. What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘mystery’? How did Paul come to know the mystery which he writes about in these verses?
3. What is Paul’s ultimate purpose in writing this letter?
4. What is the mystery that Paul writes about? How has is been ultimately revealed? How does this news impact us today?
5. What is the thing that brings Christians together? Is this different to what brings social groups or clubs together? Why/why not?

READ Ephesians 3:7-13

1. What convicts Paul to proclaim the Gospel even to the point of imprisonment?
2. Why does Paul describe himself as the least of all God’s people?
3. What qualifications do we need to be able to tell others about Jesus? In what different ways could you share about Jesus this week or in the coming months?
4. How is the Gospel knowable and made plain to everyone?
5. What does it mean that we, the church, make known the mystery of God’s grace to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms?
6. How can the Christian come to God? How is this different to common worldly views about the church and Christianity? What could we do shape these stories or views differently?
7. Why are Paul’s sufferings for the church’s glory? How should we react when we hear stories of suffering for the Gospel? What should our response be if or when we suffer for being a Christian?

APPLY:   How could the way you live on your frontlines be a demonstration of the greatness of the Jesus this week?

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On Your Frontline This Week: If your frontlines didn’t exist, what would be the impact? Give thanks to God for how he uses all types of ordinary frontlines in his extraordinary kingdom.

Listen, Watch, and Read:          

• AUDIO: “Revelation, Proclamation, Demonstration” by Simon Manchester
• AUDIO: “Ephesians 3” by Thabiti Anyabwile
• AUDIO: “Ephesians 3:1-21” by Mickey Mantle
• AUDIO: “Grace and Peace” A 10 week series in Ephesians 3 by Alistair Begg

Series Resources:

Some helpful resources for our Ephesians Series:

• St Bart’s Ephesians Guide and Weekly Overview
• VIDEO: The Bible Project Ephesians Overview
• COMMENTARY: “Paul for Everyone, the Prison Letters” by Tom Wright
• COMMENTARY: “The Story of God Bible Commentary, Ephesians” by Mark Roberts
• RESOURCES: Gospel Coalition Ephesian Courses
• COURSE (PAID): “Paul and his Letter to the Ephesians” by Tom Wright

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