Seeing the World (Ephesians 1)

Seeing the world--Part 1
How do we find out more about the world we live in? Books? Newspapers?
Other media sources?
How do we find out more about our immediate surroundings?
We use our senses; we get to know people; we ask questions.
(Play the Ungame 1- Getting to know you)

There is another world which we cannot see if God had not revealed it to us.

1) Blessed: Let us honor and thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has already given us a taste of what heaven is like.  
2) We are given a past: Even before the world was made, God chose us for Himself because of His love. He planned that we should be holy and without blame as He sees us. 
3) We are given a family: God already planned to have us as His own children.
4) We are paid for so that we are debt-free: This was done by Jesus Christ. In His plan God wanted this done. We thank God for His loving-favor to us. He gave this loving-favor to us through His much-loved Son.  Because of the blood of Christ, we are bought and made free from the punishment of sin. And because of His blood, our sins are forgiven. His loving-favor to us is so rich.  He was so willing to give all of this to us. He did this with wisdom and understanding. 
5) We are given a future: God told us the secret of what He wanted to do. It is this: In loving thought He planned long ago to send Christ into the world.  The plan was for Christ to gather us all together at the right time. If we are in heaven or still on earth, He will bring us together and will be head over all.
(Play the Ungame 2--God at work in the world)

Our prayer for our group

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,  and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength  he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,  which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SIT

A famous Chinese preacher Watchman Nee divided up the book of Ephesians into three words: sit, walk and stand. As we read Ephesians 1, we are told (2:6) that we are "seated with and in Jesus at the right hand of the God in the heavenly realm." Ephesians 1 unpacks this for us. 

Start with an ice breaker: Learn some greetings from each other.
Paul starts his letter with two greetings, one from each language.

"Shalom" Peace in Hebrew.

"Charis" Grace in Greek


1) What does Paul convey when he refers to himself as an apostle, one who is sent with a message? How does he refer to his audience? Talk about how we see ourselves and the preconceptions we have of others, how does it affect the way we interact. Listen to the story of an African refugee in America at Christmas. What is your response?
(Did you know that one quarter of the Somali population in New Zealand lived in the Waikato and 12% of the total African population in New Zealand lived in the Waikato? Taken from http://www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/file/fileid/9321)

2) What does small talk in your social circle normally revolve around? Is talking about religion considered rude in your social circle? (Bible study group not included) Why?

Notice how Paul jumps right into talking about God. How do we culturally avoid talking about God when we feel uncomfortable? 

3) In the original Greek these 12 verses are just one sentence. What does this sentence(1:3-14) tell you about God? What does God do? (Tip you might like to colour each role a different colour)

GOD THE FATHER

GOD THE SON

GIOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

4) Do you see God as one person, or as three persons when you talk to him? Describe how you relate to God?

5) How do these verses affect your understanding of God?

(ie If God is one person, how can God be love? (Love implies relationship) If God is three Persons, why do we use the singular to talk about God) How do you feel about this mysterious aspect of God?

6) Summarize the prayer Paul has for the Ephesians?

i)

ii)   Give you the….

iii)  Better vision regarding a)

                                                b)

                                                c)

7) If we are also part of Christ’s body, which has the fullness of Christ (In terms of having Christ’s life, direction, power, strength, and might) working in us, what blessings would we ask in prayer for our group? Perhaps, we should pause to pray our own version of Paul's prayer for our group.

Discussion for a Multicultural Group

Contrast cultures with a time orientation to those with an relationship orientation. Find out where each person sits in your group. If in our bible study group relating is an important part of why members gather, then what does the time orientated person need to do? If you are the only relationship orientated person in your group what could you do? (Hint: schedule the social)

TIME ORIENTATION OR RELATIONSHIP