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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 6:10-20 – 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 6:10-20
  3. Given the context of Ephesians 6:10-20, why do you think it was appropriate for Paul to conclude his admonition with a call to prayer?
  4. Francis Foulkes, reflecting on Ephesians 6 (and the heart of man) said, “Man very easily takes his difficulties to his fellows instead of to God.” Do you find this to be true in your life?  Has Ephesians 6:10-20 inspired you to “pray always” as Paul mentions in 6:18?  Why or why not?
  5. We are to pray “in the Spirit.”  The Spirit’s ministry in prayer is extensive, helping “fill in the gaps” of our communication with God.  Where we have deep feelings and no words, the Spirit helps translate those feelings to God so that we can experience complete fellowship with Him.  Have you ever had a time when you were so full of emotion, you could not even find the words to articulate how you felt?  God fully understood you in that moment through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  How does knowing we are fully known and understood encourage you in prayer?
  6. It is important that we remain “alert” in prayer.  There are certain times and seasons when most Christians are eager to pray, however, there are also times when we drift into prayerlessness.  Paul wants us to be alert to always pray, not just sometimes, but even when we don’t feel like it (6:18).  What are times in your life when you are reminded often to pray?  When do you find it difficult to remember to pray? 
  7. God wants Christians to pray, not only for their own needs and struggles, but also for the needs of “all the saints” (6:18).  Specifically, Paul wants them to pray for his ministry in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Far more than just praying for each other’s temporal struggles, here we are called to pray for each other’s ministry.  Do you have brothers or sisters in Christ who are regularly praying for your ministry and your opportunities to share Christ with those around you?  Are you regularly praying for the ministry of another?  If not, how can you make progress to pray more for “all the saints” this week?
  8. Specifically, Paul asks for prayer that he would be bold in his proclamation of the Gospel.  What would a “bold” testimony for Jesus Christ look like for you in your current context?  In your family?  In your neighborhood?  In your workplace?
  9. Reflect back on the past 12 weeks of this study.  What are one or two of the big things God has taught you through your study of the book of Ephesians?  What are one or two takeaways you have from this “Packed” study?

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

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2 thoughts on “Ephesians 6:10-20 (Study Prompts #3)”

  1. Pingback: Packed #12 Sermon Discussion Questions | wildwoodmark.com
  2. Pingback: Packed #12 Sermon Audio/Video | wildwoodmark.com

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