Made New: From Death to Life
Week Two • September 15, 2024 • Ephesians 1:15-2:10
Read this Prayer & Discuss
I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God. 18 My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and you will understand the hope given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all God's people. 19 I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. (Eph 1:17-19, CEV)
Which phrases stand out to you from this prayer. What are some reasons that phrase was particularly meaningful to you?
Pray Together
Choose one phrase from Paul’s prayer (above) and pray that over your group (feel free to rephrase it and elaborate). Pray that it would come to pass in the depths of their hearts and minds and become visible in the daily rhythms of their lives.
Read Ephesians 2:1-10
Made Alive with Christ
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Discuss Together
What are some “passions of the flesh” and “desires of the body and mind” that bind up our society as it corrupts God’s good design? If you are willing to share, what are some ways you have personally been bound up by such passions & desires? (v. 1-3)
In what ways does God’s being “rich in mercy” and having “great love for us” shape our understanding of what he’s done on our behalf? How does it shape your view of self? (v. 4-7)
What stands out to you from v. 8-10? What connections can you make between God’s grace and his view of us as his “handiwork”?
Consider your week ahead. What might it look like this week for you to press into the renewing power of the gospel that brings us from death and decay to life and vitality? What are some scenarios you might find yourself in this week where you can experience this reality and extend it to others?
