May 7, 2023

Ephesians 2:4-7

1. Last Sunday, Pastor Zac talked about Ephesians 2:1-3 & said that humanity is seen as spiritually dead, enslaved, and condemned. So even though hearing that news isn’t pleasant, how necessary is that news in order to truly embrace what’s said in Ephesians 2:4-7?

2. In Ephesians 2:4, we read that God is rich in His mercy and great in His love. What Biblical examples of God’s mercy and love come to mind? How have you experienced the mercy and love of God personally?

3. In Ephesians 2:5, Paul says that Christians are made alive together with Christ…and this is by grace. One of the major applications from Sunday was that we need to be careful not to grow numb to these truths…but persist in embracing them. What helps you not to become numb to the miracle of spiritual deadness to spiritual life in Christ?

4. When talking about taking time to ponder the truth, John Newton, the writer of the hymn Amazing Grace, was brought up and was quoted as saying, “Although my memory’s fading, I remember two things very clearly: I’m a great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior.” What are truths you want to remember and pass along to the next generation?

5. In Ephesians 2:6, Paul highlights the importance of belonging to Christ. It was said that only by belonging to Christ can a person have life, purpose, and a sense of reality. How have you seen this to be true in your life? How has being a Christian changed your sense of true life, purpose, and ultimate reality?

6. In Ephesians 2:7, the purpose of God’s work is seen…to show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. In a very real sense, God’s people are to be in awe of God…so what helps your awe of God increase?

7. Finally, some application was given around the concept of awe of God leading to gladness in God. The areas of life that were mentioned were family, money, work, and church. What does gladness in God look like in these areas of your life? What other areas of life could you see gladness in God shaping?

8. As a community group, with summer quickly approaching, how can you intentionally spur one another along in love toward more awe of God?