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Love

Teaching Text: Ephesians 3: 1-13

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles —

Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of Godshould be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

Themes

Consider these themes and ask your group what else they see in the passage:

Presence

Watch or listen to the sermon. Then take a moment of silence and think about these questions:

Ask God to open your heart and mind to understand Ephesians anew as we start this season.
Thank Him for the blessings He has given you already, even those you might be unaware of.
Quote by a Pastor from Chicago:
“There is nothing like the local church when it's working right. Its beauty is indescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. It comforts the grieving and heals the broken in the context of community. It builds bridges to seekers and offers truth to the confused. It provides resources for those in need and opens its arms to the forgotten, the downtrodden, the disillusioned. It breaks the chains of addictions, frees the oppressed, and offers belonging to the marginalized of this world. Whatever the capacity for human suffering, the church has a greater capacity for healing and wholeness…”

”The potential of the local church is almost more that I can grasp. No other organization on earth is like the church. Nothing even comes close.”
This is what it looks like when people have become the vessel containing the presence of God on earth.
Take a few moments to consider this mystery.
Pray prayers of praise for Gods master plan to give this world his presence initial through Christ, then through His spirit on His people for His glory.

Formation

Thoughts and notes you can use for discussion:

OVERVIEW - Paul says:
- I am in prison —> but dont feel bad about that. (dont let your courage drain out, this is for your good)
- Part of why I am in prison is zeal for my job.
- My job is thousands of years in the making but God has made me like the executor of a trust. Something planned to give to you.
  - I am the administrator of it.
  - In this trust is:
    1. Grace
    2. Mystery (open secret)
- I became aware of this trust (inheritance) in a dramatic way. Through Apocalypse
  - God breaking in. An overlap of the ages. The revealing
- So here it is. There is this grace soaked open secret - its like going to see the worlds most famous piece of art - Starry Night by Van Gogh and taking out a magnifying glass and seeing you were painted into it.
- The grace soaked open secret is that anyone from any nation, not just Israel can share life with God. There is an incredible inheritance and you are being told right now that you are part of the family. Through the Gospel (life, death, and resurrection of Jesus
  1. Heirs (with Israel)
  2. Members (of the body)
  3. Sharers (in the promise)
- I didn’t deserve it at all. In fact I was trying with all my might to stomp this movement out, but God determined that I was going to be a part of
  1. Setting out the banquet table
  2. Lighting the fireworks
  - To celebrate this miracle
- The miracle is that the artistic, powerful, vibrant, shining, glorious, multifaceted WISDOM of GOD is being displayed to this world and the hidden powers.
- How?
  - Through the church (picture) rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms see
- When you realize this is your story, It will give you freedom, confidence, courage, and perspective
- God has been planning a rich welcome for you into the family since the beginning
- This hope has been carried and protected across generations
- Nothing is strong enough to keep you out because the way has been opened by God Himself
  - In Jesus life, death, and resurrection
- The revelation of this shows the artistry of God across the ages - an artist in creation. an artist in redemption.
- It happens in the simplest of ways.
- A Life Turned Around
- When people encounter the real Jesus - their lives are utterly rearranged
  - Enemies are Made Family
  - Strangers are Made Friends
- This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 3 v 6
- Are you living as an:
  - Heir of God’s inheritance
  - Member of the body
  - Sharer in the promise
- Grace Passed Along - give what you have received
Paul wants us to have:
- Freedom
  - Do not be entangled by a lesser vision and experience of life
  - We are choking on a false vision of freedom in our society - that its doing whatever you want
  - Freedom is living fully alive - so much of our so called freedom - diminishes our live
Where are you not yet free? What addictions, habbits and thought patterns stil have mastery over you?
Confidence - heir, member, sharer - no 2nd class citizen
Do you have confidence in your identity as His son/daughter?
Courage - do not let the pain of this life drain your courage away
What areas of life does fear overshadow your ability to be confident in God’s sufficiency?
Perspective - don’t worry about me being in jail
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” – Romans 8 v 18
“In light of heaven, the worst suffering on earth will be seen to be no more serious than one night in an inconvenient hotel.” – Saint Teresa Of Avila
Do you feel like you dont believe God has good things in store for you? God shares His kindness with you.
Do you feel like you are an imposter? You are an heir.
Do you feel like you have been sidelined? You are a member of God’s household.

Love

Read these notes and discuss the questions below:

Read this again… consider how you, as part of the church of God are playing your part:
- “There is nothing like the local church when it's working right. Its beauty is indescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. It comforts the grieving and heals the broken in the context of community. It builds bridges to seekers and offers truth to the confused. It provides resources for those in need and opens its arms to the forgotten, the downtrodden, the disillusioned. It breaks the chains of addictions, frees the oppressed, and offers belonging to the marginalized of this world. Whatever the capacity for human suffering, the church has a greater capacity for healing and wholeness…”
- The potential of the local church is almost more that I can grasp. No other organization on earth is like the church. Nothing even comes close.
As an act of love we can pass on the grace we have received.
Some practices of passing along Grace:
- Praying in secret.
- Making sandwiches.
- Giving the gift of listening.
- Asking God for healing.
- Holding on to hope.
- Communicating the beauty and love of Jesus
- Sitting in the silence of grief.
- Lifting hands in worship.
- Lowering them in service.
- Welcome in an outsider
- Inviting someone to a meal
- Being filled with joy in the presence of God
- Taking a risk to share a word God has impressed on you for another
- Secret generosity
- Living the sermon on the mount
- Dreaming up new ways, venture, companies, stories and art pieces
- Visiting prisoners
- Tutoring Students
- Hanging out with the lonely
Can you think of others?