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Ephesians 1:1-14

 

[Grace and Peace] EPHESIANS_

 

[Activity] Spend some time exploring the ‘logical flow’ of Ephesians 1:1-14…

 

 

[Read Ephesians 1:1-10]

 


This opening prayer of Paul’s letter is a celebration of the bigger story that every Christian’s story is a part of. Only by understanding and celebrating the bigger story can we understand what’s going on in our smaller individual stories.


In verses 1-2, why might Paul start by stating his credentials?

 

Before Paul writes about any specific prayers, he starts (in verses 2-3) with worship and adoration of the God who loves us.
Why is God to be worshiped and adored in this way?

What has God done for us in and through Jesus?

 

 

In verses 4-6, what does it mean to be chosen by grace?


Just like Abraham, we are all blessed to be a blessing.
In what ways might God want to bless (or is already blessing) others through you and your Christian community?

 

 

In verses 7-8, what blessings does Paul talk about us receiving in Jesus?

 

Paul describes God giving us these blessings “lavishly”.
What do you understand by this word?

 

 

What is God’s big plan in verses 9-10?
How do you see this plan unfolding today?

 

Paul tells the story of the cross of Jesus in a way that links it to the Jewish story of Passover.
What connections can you make between the Passover story and the story of Jesus?

 

 

[Read Ephesians 1:11-14]

 

 

In verse 11, what is our promised inheritance?

 

How does Paul tell us we’ll know that we will receive this inheritance in verses 12-14?

 

 

The word Paul uses for “guarantee” here is a legal word from the way that business was understood in that day/culture.
Say I wanted to purchase a plot of land from you that was valued at 10’000 pounds. We might agree that I would pay you the first 1’000 pounds as a “deposit” or “down payment” guaranteeing that the full payment will be made in the future.
Paul is saying that the Spirit is the “down payment”: part of the promised future coming forward to meet us in the present.

What difference does knowing that you’re going to receive God’s inheritance in full make in your life?

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