Connect Is there any area of waiting that you can take to the Lord this week with a patient confidence?

Warm-Up

1. Have you ever thought that you needed something only to discover you had what you needed all along?
2. What are some of the incredible riches of God that those in Christ have received?

Read Ephesians 1:11-14

3. Do you remember when you first heard about the Holy Spirit? Who is the Holy Spirit?
4. How does Paul make it clear that the gift of the Holy Spirit is received when we believe?
5. Why is it important to know that the gift of the Holy Spirit is not ‘received later’ or just for the ‘spiritually elite’? Do you know a Christian who has been made to feel like a spiritual ‘second class citizen’? 

Read Ephesians 1:15-17

6. What is the cause for Paul’s praise and prayer? How persistent was his praise and prayer?
7. Do you have a pattern of praying for God’s church? What does that look like?
8. How could you more-and-more thank God and ask God to be at work through his church?
9. What does Paul first pray for the Ephesians? What does he mean by “know God better”?
10. If believers have already received the Spirit, how does he help us to know God better? 
11. Do you think over the last five years you have grown in your relationship with God? What might be a helpful next step to help you keep growing in your relationship over the next five years?

Read Ephesians 1:18-23

12. What power—according to Paul—resides in believers? How extensive is this power?
13. In what ways was Ephesus a centre for power? How does this compare to God’s power?
14. How does knowing God’s power give you confidence for all of your frontlines? How could you be more mindful of this from day-to-day? What is the purpose of God’s power in you?
15. How does knowing the source of true power produce a humble dependence and genuine accountability?
16. In what way are we God’s presence in the world? Where do you think you can have the greatest impact as God’s presence in the places where God has put you? What should you pray for?
17. Do you ever have a ‘fear of missing out’ or that you’re lacking in some way? If you’re a follower of Jesus, why can we have confidence that we have already received extraordinary treasure from God?

Apply Try praying daily that the Spirit would be at work opening the eyes of your heart to see what God has already given you. You might like to even use a form of the prayer below (for yourself and for our church).

On Your Front Line this Week

How can you pause to pray (even for just 1 minute), amidst the busyness of your day?

For Families

• Download: some of the family resources to use at home: stbartskids.org

Listen, Watch, and Read

• Listen: “Hope, Riches, and Power” by Tim Keller:
  https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/hope-riches-and-power-part-1/ 
• Listen: “Ultimate Power” by William Taylor:
  https://www.st-helens.org.uk/resources/talk/5704/ 
• Listen: “Praying People” by Vaughn Roberts:
  https://stebbes.org/sermons/praying-people/
• Listen: “Pentecost” by Tim Keller:
  https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/the-descent-of-the-spirit/  

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