CONNECT: Pray for strength and power to grasp God’s love even more everyday this week.

WARM-UP

1. What do you think it means to live a life that is captive to the Gospel? Can you think of anyone in your life who seems to live like this?

READ Ephesians 4:1-2

1. Can you recall some of the ‘riches of Christ’ that Paul has been unpacking so far in Ephesians?
2. What does it mean to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received”? What is that calling? Do we need to prove ourselves worthy before God?
3. How important is the word ‘completely’ in verse 2? Do you find this confronting?
4. What does Paul mean by being completely humble and gentle? Can you describe what this might look like in a particular situation or frontline in your life?
5. What does Paul mean by being patient and bearing with one another in love? Do you find this challenging? What helps you to be more patient and forbearing with others?

READ Ephesians 4:3-6

1. What is the basis of our unity/oneness? What does it mean that we have one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all?
2. How much of a priority do you view unity? How much of a priority do you view it to keep the unity?
3. Does ‘making every effort’ to keep the unity mean that we should compromise truth? How do we discern between difference on issues that really matter versus differences that don’t matter?
4. What are the ways that you practically express unity in the life of our church? How do you think you could have an even more unifying presence?

READ Ephesians 4:7-16

1. What are some of the diverse gifts that you see demonstrated and expressed in the life of our church?
2. What are both the source and purpose of our gifts? What do you think are the ways (e.g., skills, time, passions, resources, experience) that God has entrusted to you for the building up of God’s church?

APPLY: What is the frontline or situation this week in which you plan to demonstrate humility and gentleness, patience and forbearance?

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On Your Frontline This Week: What has changed on your frontlines this year? How has that given you new opportunities to grow as a disciple?

Listen, Watch, and Read:          

• AUDIO: Ephesians 4:1-16 by Dick Lucas:
  Part 1 // Part 2
• AUDIO: “Unity and Diversity” by John Stott
• AUDIO: “Building Up the Body” by Tim Keller (Paid)

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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