God’s Team at Ephesus

God’s Team at Ephesus

An inductive study of Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians through the lens of sport teams.

Session 1- Your Position on God’s Team

1)     Read Ephesians chapter 1, verses 1-14 aloud and pray together.

2)    How does the author describe himself and those to whom he’s writing in verses 1 and 2?

3)    Where was Ephesus and what kind of a city was it?

4)    According to verses 3 and 4 how did we gain our positions on God’s team?

5)    What is the difference between being chosen for this team versus our choosing to join God’s team?

6)    What was the timing and purpose for which we were chosen?

7)    From what you read in verses 5 and 6, what has God’s grace accomplished in us?

8)   Verses 7 through 10 describe further accomplishments of God’s grace in us.  Let’s make a list of what has been done.

9)    In verses 7 through11, we hear details of our inheritance.

a.     From whom does a person receive an inheritance?

b.     On what basis is it received?

c.      Who were “the first to hope in Christ” mentioned here?

d.    Who are the people he addresses as “you also” in verse 13?

e.     What is the common result of both groups having heard and believed the gospel?

f.       How is the Holy Spirit a pledge of our inheritance?

10)       Thoughts for contemplation and application:

a.     How does knowing God chose you for His team affect your sense of belonging to Him?

b.     Which of the accomplishments of God’s grace listed in verses 7 through 10 do you sense most strongly in your life?  Which seem most remote to you?

c.      How can we best reflect our position on God’s team and our inheritance this week?  

Session 2- God’s Team has Christ Jesus as Its Leader

1.      Read Ephesians chapter 1, verses 15-23 aloud and pray together.

2.     Verses 15 through 21 comprise one very long sentence which describes Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians.  Let’s summarize his requests in each verse.

a.     Verse 17 (summarize) What would result from having wisdom and revelation in knowing Christ?

b.     Verse 18 (summarize) What are some riches you have inherited as a saint?

c.      Verse 19 (summarize) How have you experienced Christ’s power?

d.    Verses 20 and 21 (summarize) How would you describe Jesus’ place in God’s team?

3.     What seems to be Jesus position related to all things in creation?

4.     What is Jesus’ relationship to the Church as described here?

5.     How is the Church described?

6.   Thoughts for contemplation and application:

a.     When do you sense real progress in the results from verse 17?

b.     How can the riches you have inherited through your relationship with Christ affect your attitudes and actions?

c.      How does knowing that Jesus is above all created things affect your view of the world?

d.    How does knowing that Jesus is the head of the Church and that it is the fullness of God affect your view of the Church?

Session 3 – The Transfer from Your Former Team

1)     Read Ephesians chapter 2, verses 1 through 10 aloud and pray together.

2)    Verses 1 and 2 detail our former state, the leadership of our former team and those who were our teammates.

a.     What was our former state of being?

b.     Who was leading that team?

c.      Who were our teammates?

3)    In verse 3, what are listed as the driving forces for our former way of life?

4)    Verses 4 through 9 describe God’s action in our behalf as He transferred us from our former team to His team.

a.     What drives God’s action in the transfer?

b.     From what you read in verses 5 and 6, how would you describe our former and present positions?

c.      From reading verse 7, what is another long lasting effect of God’s action toward us?

d.    Verses 8 and 9 state that salvation is a matter of grace through faith and not a matter of our work, why is that important?

5)    Verse 10 states our purpose and the provision which has been made for us.  What are they?

6)  Thoughts for contemplation and application:

a.     How much did you feel “dead in your sin and trespasses” prior to your trusting Christ with your life?

b.     How clearly do you now perceive the hopeless state of your former life?  What does your grasp of this lead you to do?

c.      When and how did you receive the grace of God through faith and begin your life in Christ Jesus?

d.    What are some of the good works God has prepared for you to walk in this week?

Session 4 – Formerly Opponents, Now Teammates

1)     Read Ephesians chapter 2, verses 11 through 22 aloud and pray together.

2)    Verses 11 and 12 describe how the Gentiles were separate from Christ.

a.     How did Jewish people describe them?

b.     How highly do you perceive that Paul values physical circumcision?

c.      How would you describe the outlook for everyone who is non-Jewish in verse 12?

3)    Verse 13 indicates the agent of change in relation to the Gentiles, who and what made the difference?

a.     Where were they?

b.     Where are they now?

4)    Verses 14 through 18 describe the results of Jesus’ work.

a.     What do you see as important results?

b.     How is the reconciliation mentioned in verse 16 different than simply tolerating each other?

c.      Why is verse 18 so important?

5)    Verses 19 through 22 outline the implications of Christ’s work for your life as Jesus’ Church.

a.     What strikes you about the sharp contrast drawn between what we were and what we are now, as described in verse 19?

b.     What are the building components Paul mentions in his “dwelling of God” metaphor from verses 20 through 22?

6)  Thoughts for contemplation and application:

a.     Take a few minutes to consider the utter hopelessness that was the plight of the Gentiles prior to Jesus’ work on the cross.

b.     On a 1-10 scale, how near do you feel to God today?

c.      With whom do you need reconciliation?  Will you trust Jesus to move you beyond mere tolerance to real reconciliation?

d.    Who are some of the building blocks nearest you in God’s dwelling?

Session 5 – God’s Team is Awesome!

1)     Read Ephesians chapter 3, verses 1 through 13 aloud and pray together.

2)    In verses 1 through 7 Paul shares the process whereby he became the Apostle to the Gentiles.

a.     What does he mean by “prisoner” in verse 1?

b.     What is mysterious about the gospel of Jesus including the Gentiles?

c.      By what authority and what process was Paul made a servant of the gospel?

3)    In verses 8 through 13, Paul outlines the implications of the Gentiles’ adoption by God through Christ.

a.     How does Paul describe his rank in the Church?

b.     What does he outline as his responsibilities in verses 8 and 9?

c.      To whom is the wisdom of God demonstrated through the Church?

d.    Who do you suppose these rulers and authorities are?

e.     From your reading of verses 11 through 13, does it seem that this was God’s plan all along or a recent adjustment to His plan?  Why?

f.       How does Paul want his friends in Ephesus to view his trials?  Why?

4)  Thoughts for contemplation and application:

a.     Who have been some of God’s messengers in your life?

b.     If Paul calls himself “the very least of all the saints,” how would you rank yourself?

c.      What do you perceive to be God’s wisdom as demonstrated by your local church, God’s team?

d.    How do the trials of leaders in the Church amount to glory for the members of the Church?

Session 6 – A Prayer for God’s Team

1)     Read Ephesians chapter 3, verses 14 through 20 aloud and pray together.

2)    In light of this great mystery, the Gentiles having joined the family of God through the gospel, Paul is moved to pray for the Ephesians.

a.     Let’s list his requests from verses 16-19.

b.     How can one tell that he is being strengthened in his inner man?

c.      What are some results of Christ dwelling in our hearts through faith?

d.    How does being rooted and grounded in love affect our comprehension of the love of Christ?

e.     What would it look like to be filled up with all the fullness of God?

f.       How long would it take for this prayer to be fully accomplished?

3)    In verses 20 and 21, Paul wraps up his discourse on the Ephesians’ position in God’s team with a reminder as to whom the credit for all this belongs.

a.     How does he describe God’s capacity to move on our behalf?

b.     Where does it seem God’s power is most strongly at work?

c.      Where and for how long is God’s glory revealed?

4)  Thoughts for contemplation and application:

a.     When do you most strongly sense that God is strengthening our inner man?

b.     In which dimensions of Christ’s love are you presently growing?

c.      How is God’s glory revealed in His Church today?

Session 7 – God’s Team is Unified and Gifted

1)     Read Ephesians chapter 4, verses 1 through 16 aloud and pray together.

2)    Why would Paul mention again that he’s a prisoner as he calls them to a Gospel-worthy lifestyle?

3)    What are the characteristics he lists as being worthy of our calling in verses 1 through 3?

4)    Why would Paul emphasize unity so strongly with this church?

5)    Why is this so hard to achieve among very diverse people in a team?

6)    Who is the giver of the gifts mentioned in verses 7 through 13?  How are these gifts appropriated?

7)    What is the stated purpose of these gifts?

8)   What do you suppose is the function of each of the listed roles in God’s team?

9)    From what you read in verses 14 through 16, what are the intended results for having these gifts in God’s team?

10)           How do these people help us grow into stable, loving, Christ-honoring members of God’s team?

11)        Thoughts for contemplation and application:

a.     Which of the gospel worthy characteristics from verses 1 through 3 do you presently embody?  Which ones seem most remote to you?

b.     On an A through F grading scale, how unified would you say God’s team is among you?

c.      When and how can you express your thankfulness for God’s gifts in your team?

d.    How much progress does it seem your team is making toward being built up in love?

Session 8 – The Culture of God’s Team

1)     Read Ephesians chapter 4, verses 17 through 32 aloud and pray together.

2)    From what you read in verses 17 through 19, describe some of the futile things which characterized the Gentile culture of Paul’s time.

3)    Which of those also describe our culture today?

4)    Whose authority does Paul invoke as he tells them to not live like that?

5)    What is the change of culture process Paul prescribes for those who know Jesus’ truth in verses 20 through 24?

6)    What is the nature of this new self which Paul mentions?

7)    In verses 25 through 32, Paul outlines some specific values for his team’s culture.

a.     Let’s make a list of things to not do and another list of things to do.

b.     The reason for these values is listed in verse 25, what is it?

c.      How do each of the things listed to do or to not do either enhance or hinder our relationships?

8)   The model for this culture is mentioned in verse 32, who is it?

9)  Thoughts for contemplation and application:

a.     How fully do you believe you have laid aside the futile culture and behavior of your past?

b.     How well is your team doing in defining its culture by Christ’s values?

c.      How well are you doing with speaking words which build others up rather than tearing them down?

Session 9 – The Relationships of God’s Team

1)     Read Ephesians chapter 5, verses 1 through 21 aloud and pray together.

2)    What sorts of characteristics do children imitate in their parents?

3)    What are some things you do just like one of your parents?

4)    How is that similar to how we are to be imitators of God?

5)    What are the behaviors listed in verses 3 through 6 which are improper for saints?

6)    What is the most proper action for saints and how is this in direct contrast to the previous list?

7)    Why would those who practice the behaviors listed in verses 5 and 6 be excluded from the kingdom of God?

8)   How does Paul describe the contrast between our former lives and our present lives in verses 7 through 9?

9)    What does he say children of light do and don’t do in this set of verses?

10)           How do these deeds of darkness affect our relationships?

11) What would it be to make the most of our time in wisely building relationships on our team?

12)            Why is the admonition to not get drunk set right beside the command to be filled with the Spirit?

13)            What would it sound like if your team spoke like described in verses 19 and 20?

14)            What does it mean for teammates to be subject to one another?

15)        Thoughts for contemplation and application:

a.     What are some of God’s attributes you most want to imitate?

b.     What are some of the “improper for saints” behaviors from which you must repent?

c.      To which of your teammates will you subject yourself this week?

Session 10 – The Family Life of God’s Team

1)     Read Ephesians chapter 5, verses 22 through chapter 6 verse 4 aloud and pray together.

2)    Why would Paul prescribe this structure for husband and wife relationships?

3)    How is that similar to Jesus’ relationship with His bride, the Church?

4)    From what you read in verses 25 through 27, how would you describe the way husbands are commanded to love their wives?

5)    What do you perceive about Jesus’ love for His Church from these verses?

6)    How does Paul describe the mysterious unity that husbands and wives experience?

7)    What actions does this unity lead husbands to take?

8)   In summary, Paul states very simply the responsibilities for husbands and wives.

a.     What are the responsibilities for each?

b.     Why are they different?

9)    What are children commanded to do and what is promised to them if they comply?

10)           What do parents do that can exasperate their children?

11) How is godly discipline and instruction different from those exasperating actions and attitudes?

12)       Thoughts for contemplation and application:

a.     How well do you think you’re fulfilling your role in marriage?

b.     How strongly are you sensing the unity described here as reflective of Jesus and His bride?

c.      What letter grade would you give yourself for your responsibility as described in verse 33?

d.    How similar are the marriages around you to the relationship between Jesus and His Church?

e.     How will you discipline and instruct your children this week?

f.       How can you best give honor to your parents this week?

Session 11 – God’s Team at Work and in Conflict

1)     Read Ephesians chapter 6, verses 5 through 20 aloud and pray together.

2)    What are some relationships in your lives which are similar to the slaves and masters mentioned here?

3)    Who have you observed to be a good example of these relational principles?  Tell us about him or her.

4)    Who is the one to whom both slave and master, employee and employer, player and coach are ultimately accountable?

5)    How would being mindful of that ultimate accountability affect these relationships?

6)    From reading verses 10 through 20, who are and who are not our enemies as our team encounters conflict?

7)    Can you name some of the real forces with which we struggle?

8)   With what are we to battle such forces?

9)    How is the word of God like a sword?

10)           For whom and how are we called to pray while in conflict?

11)        Thoughts for contemplation and application:

a.     How much more difficult do you find it to work for those who supervise you as opposed to if Jesus was your supervisor?  Why?

b.     Who are the people in your life who occasionally seem to be the source of conflict?

c.      Who or what could be the real forces behind those conflicts?

d.    For whom and how will you pray this week as our team battles with rulers, powers and forces of darkness?

Session 12 – Peace to Our Teammates

1)     Read Ephesians chapter 6, verses 21 through 24 aloud and pray together.

2)    Why is Paul sending Tychicus to the Ephesians?

3)    How does Paul describe him?

4)    Paul finishes his letter with a blessing for his friends – peace and grace.

a.     Who is listed as the source of peace?

b.     For whom does he pronounce grace?

5)  Thoughts for contemplation and application:

a.     Who is in your life that you find to be as faithful and trustworthy as Tychicus was to Paul?

b.     When do you sense the peace and love with faith which God the Father has given you?

c.      How will your incorruptible love for Christ Jesus and grace take action in our team this week?