Ephesians 4:1-16
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2.3.2013_Discussion_Questions_A_Gift_To_Be_Given
(When do you feel most alone?)
(In which circumstances do you feel like you most belong?)
In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote,
All sorts of people are fond of repeating the Christian statement that “God is love.” But they seem not to notice that the words “God is love” have no real meaning unless God contains at least two Persons. Love is something that one person has for another person. If God was a single person, then before the world was made, He was not love…We’ve got to “enter that pattern,” but we can’t enter that pattern until that pattern enters us: “We love because he first loved us.”
- When have you felt most loved by God?
- What does that reveal to you about the nature of love and how you might best love others?
Paul wrote:
“…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”—Ephesians 4:1-6
- Which of the following do you find most challenging and why? Humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another in love, keeping the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace?
In this passage, we read “one” and “all” several times.
- Who do you think the “one” and “all” are referring to? Why?
In some ways, this passage seems inclusive and exclusive all at the same time?
- Do you think it’s possible to be loving, inclusive, and exclusive all at the same time? Explain.
Ephesians 4:6-14
One God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, ‘When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, [Literally. “He led captivity captive.”] and he gave gifts to men. In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth [Literally, “of the earth’]. He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens that he might fill all things.
- Look at the “alls” in this passage. Does all really mean all? Who does the all include? How big are these alls? Do you think these alls could include people even beyond this world . . . beyond the grave?
“He gave grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift,” and “He gave gifts to men”
- What is the measure of Christ’s gift?
- What gifts do you believe God has given you & for what purpose did He give them to you (see Eph. 4:6,11-16)?
- In what ways or when do you feel tempted to cut yourself away from the body of Christ?
- What might help you to feel more connected to the body of Christ?
Jesus said, “If you lose your life for my sake and the gospel, you will save it.”
- When thinking about this challenge, what in this life are you most afraid of losing?
- Pray for each other over these areas of fear.
~These questions were created by Kimberly Weynen