Week 2

God’s People

Ephesians 1:15-23

Opening: When have you been a part of a team, in sports or with other groups? What was the team’s goal and what role did you play? (If you participated last week, share also with the group how Scripture memorization and practicing community went.)

Examine the Passage: Read Ephesians 1:15-23

• What does Paul, the author, praise them for in vs 15?
• What are some of the specific prayer requests Paul makes for these fellow believers (vs. 17-19)? Grab a pen and highlight or circle some of these key words.
• Which of these things do you most need to pray for at this point in your life and why?
• Paul prayed that you may know God better (vs 17). What is the distinction between knowing about God and knowing God? Practically, what can we do to know God better?
• How does God demonstrate God’s power to us (vs.19-20)? Have you experienced this power in your daily life?
• Are you more tempted to live as though you have lots of power and do not need God’s help, or are you more tempted to live as though you are powerless without drawing on God? Explain.
• We find the Church referred to as Christ’s Body in vs 22-23, with Christ as the leader. What point was the author emphasizing with the repetitive use of the words ‘all’ and ‘every’ (vs. 21-23)?

Explore the Theme: Interdependence. “In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:5)

• Discuss what character traits are necessary for different parts of the Body of Christ to function well together. (Consider again your former team experiences. What helped your team to work together well? Or what hindered it?)
• In what specific ways do you see interdependence, humility, and/or unity displayed in our own church? In what specific ways do we need to grow in our interdependence at LAC?
• How have you personally experienced being a part of the Body of Christ? How have you cared for others, and/or how have you been cared for by others?

Engage Your Life: Practice Praying for and with Others. This next week pursue developing a regular rhythm of turning to God on behalf of others. Notice when people come to mind and make that an opportunity to pray for them. Make it a habit to turn to God in prayer after hearing or reading the news. If someone shares a worry or concern with you, offer to pray for them, and then pray right then and there. If someone asks for prayer in an e-mail or text message, pray and write back to them a written prayer. Consider asking a friend, family member, or co-worker how you can pray for them. As a group you will now take time to share with one another prayer requests. Write those requests down and commit to praying for them another time during the coming week. Consider sending a message mid-week to people letting them know how you prayed for them.

Praying Grace and Peace: Provide time for each person to answer the question ‘How can we be praying for you?’ Together, pray for each of these requests and include in your corporate prayer time a prayer for grace and peace to come to the Body of Christ.