This week we’ll start a new series in the book of Ephesians: we'll be studying the background of Ephesians and then study Ephesians chapter by chapter. If you'd like to get started, the background reading is Acts chapter 19 which describes the Apostle Paul's visit to Ephesus.
Here are the discussion questions for this week from Grant K.:
Assignment: Please read Acts 19. Wait a minute; that’s not Ephesians? Acts 19 is the story of Paul’s visit to Ephesus many years before he wrote the letter to the Ephesians. Also read all of Ephesians—it’s not that long; you can do it.
Ephesians Introduction
1. Imagine you only had a short time to live. Imagine writing a letter describing what it means to be a follower of Christ. What would be in your letter? In other words, what are the essential beliefs or actions required?
2. In Paul’s time there was often tension between Jews and Greeks. This was not merely a racial issue, but frequently it was an issue between people who had grown up knowing the Hebrew God and people who were newcomers. What can we do today to improve connection between “old-timers” and newcomers to the Christian faith? What are the sins of “old-timers” that make it difficult for newcomers to integrate?
3. What does it mean to submit to a parent/spouse/boss when that person has a minor flaw? What does it mean to submit to a parent/spouse/boss when that person has a major flaw? (ethical failure, substance abuse, violence, incest) Describe how you submit to the people in your life?
4. Do you believe in angels, demons? Can you describe an experience of spiritual warfare in your life? How did you respond?
