Ephesians Study (1:15-23 Study Prompts #3)

I am currently preaching a sermon series on Sunday mornings at Wildwood Community Church called “Packed” – based out of Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians.  During this series, I am using my blog to post study prompts, devotionals, sermon audio/video, and discussion questions to help facilitate personal or group study of this book.  NOTE: At the bottom of this post, I have a set of links to previous resources in this series.

Ephesians 1:15-23 – Study Prompts #3

1. Take a moment to pray.  Praise God for His Word and ask Him to teach you its truth, just as the psalmist prayed in Psalm 119:12-16, “Praise be to You, O Lord; teach me Your decrees.  With my lips I recount all the laws that come from Your mouth.  I rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.  I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways.  I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your Word.”
2. Read Ephesians 1:15-23
3. In Ephesians 1:19, Paul prays for a third thing for the Ephesian Christians.  What is it?
4. From 1:19-20a, the “power of God” is described with various modifiers.  What do we learn about the power of God according to 1:19-20a?
5. Why do Christians today need God’s power in their life?  What are some examples can you think of that demonstrate our need for God to work in our lives today?
6. In the context of all of Ephesians 1, we see that all spiritual blessings are already given to those in Christ.  This implies that the power prayed for in 1:19-20 is a gift that has already been provided by God to Christians.  Paul’s prayer, therefore, seems to be pointing Christians to utilize and depend upon the power of God already present in their lives.  Can you ever think of a time in your life where you have experienced God’s power at work in you?
7.  In 20b-23, the power of God (that is at work in the lives of Christians today) is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, exalted Him above all, and made Him the Head of the Church.  This power is truly “immeasureable” and “great” (vs. 19)!  This implies that there is nothing that God cannot overcome.  What are you dealing with in your life right now that feels heavy and too difficult to move/deal with?  Take a moment and go before God in prayer, asking Him to work His power through you to bring hope and life to areas that feel dark and dead.
8. Of 1:22-23, Francis Foulkes says this of Jesus, “There is given to the Church, and for the Church’s benefit, a Head who is also Head over all things.  The church has authority and power to overcome all opposition because her Leader and Head is Lord of all.”  The Church has a leader who is greater than any human pastor or group of leaders.  The leader of the Church is Jesus Himself!  This makes it possible for the church to be filled with all the blessings, purpose, and hope that only Jesus can provide.  What do you think it means that Jesus is the “Head of the Church” who “fills all in all”?

For more resources related to this study of Ephesians click on the following links:

• Packed – Series Introduction
• Eph. 1:3-14 (Study Prompts #1)
• Eph. 1:3-14 (Study Prompts #2)
• Eph. 1:3-14 (Study Prompts #3)
• The “In Crowd” (Devotional/Sermon Preview)
• Packed Sermon Discussion Questions
• Packed #1 Sermon Audio/Video
• Eph. 1:15-23 (Study Prompts #1)
• Eph. 1:15-23 (Study Prompts #2)