This guide is available to help our Small Groups or individuals focus on the main points of the weekly sermon.

Ephesians 2:11-22

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

1.) What have you taken for granted in your life? Have there been seasons of your life when you have even taken God and what He’s done for granted? If so, what did this look like?

2.) What did your life look like before you trusted in Christ and were born again? What does your life look like now? How does this tie to the spiritual circumcision of your heart?

3.) Are you at peace with God and men? Is there another believer with which you are not at peace with? If so, what will you do to make it right?

4.) Do you long for unbelievers in your life to know the peace of God in Christ? Do you speak of this with them? Have you ever wept for them in prayer?

5.) Do you walk in the access we have through Christ by the Spirit to the Father? What does this look like in your life? How may we encourage one another to do so?

6.) Does your heart belong to Christ? Do you yearn for Him and His presence? As part of the new temple, are you harboring any sin that is tainting His sanctuary within you?

7.) Why should we not sacrifice truth for the sake of peace? Have you ever been tempted to do this?

8.) Are you prone to overemphasize the personal/individualistic view of the Christian faith or the body/corporate? Why must we hold both of these at the same time? What are the pitfalls of each overemphasis?

Ephesians 2:1-10

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

1) What are your thoughts on the introductory point of this sermon - that we cannot understand and appreciate and be thankful for Jesus nearly as much as we should be if we do not first grasp just how dire our position is without him.

2) Paul uses some pretty shocking descriptions of people who are spiritually dead, including following after the prince of the power of the air - Satan. For some of us we can remember a time in our life when that was painfully true. For others, we may not have any memories at all of not loving God - yet the Bible says this was the state of each and every one of us before our salvation. How does coming to grips with that truth help you in your evangelism of others?

3) Verse 4 begins with the two words: "But God..." These two words are the turning point not only for this particular passage, but for the eternal trajectory of the lives of those who are in Christ. We were dead in sin, but God made us alive with Christ. In what ways has God intervened in your life to bring you out of sin and into new life in Jesus? In what ways do you still struggle against your old self?

4) Pastor Ben argued that the whole of the Christian life is a gift from God that should be lived in thankfulness. How do you need to be more grateful for the new life God has given you? How can you thank God with how you live?

5) Paul closes in verse 10 by explaining that a huge part of the new life we have in Christ is walking in good works that God has prepared beforehand. How can we work at not getting caught up in wanting to know the details of the future (like what those specific works will be), but walking faithfully in the present as God slowly reveals what He has for us over time?

1) Thank God for saving us by his grace through faith - for bringing us to life from death.

2) Ask that God would help us to look our sin in the face and remember sober-mindedly who we are apart from Jesus.

3) Pray for one another to be confident and loving in our evangelism of others.

4) Ask God for wisdom in how to live a thankful life that is lived with all your might.

5) Thank God for preparing good works for us to walk in - and ask Him to help us all be patient and faithful in the present.