1.  Read Ephesians 4:14-16 (we didn’t cover this section on Sunday).  These three verses speak about our spiritual growth. Discuss how our lives will change as we live in God’s design for us.  What will be different?  How will we change?  Do you agree that involvement in service is essential to spiritual growth? (Ephesians 4:12) Why or why not?

2.  Last weekend we talked a lot about spiritual gifts (Ephesians 4:11).  Take a look at these other important Scriptures that address spiritual gifts–1 Corinthians 12:8-11, 28; Romans 12:6-8; and 1 Peter 4:10.  How many total gifts did you find in all these passages? Do these passages include all the spiritual gifts?  If not, what are some others?  What spiritual gift(s) do you have?  How did you identify your gift(s)?  How are you using your gift(s) in the body of Christ?  How is the body of Christ and the world affected if you don’t know and/or don’t use your spiritual gift(s)?

3.  Ephesians 4:11 mentions the gifts of “pastors and teachers.”  How do they work to build up the body of Christ? Do you know anyone in our church who has a pastoral or teaching ministry who is not an ordained minister or church staff member?  What effect do they have upon the body of Christ?  What do small group leaders, Sunday School teachers and Adult Bible Fellowship leaders do to build the body of Christ?

4.  Ephesians 4:11-12 says that pastors and teachers were given by God “for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ . . .” Why is it vital for pastors and teachers to focus on the “training or equipping” of the saints rather than on serving as “paid chaplains” to the flock?  What actions might this training or equipping involve?

We live in a world that is divided by walls. There are walls that separate us according to ethnicity, race and gender. There are walls between progressives and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, rich and poor, those for and those against the present health care reform legislation.  Many times, there are even walls separating us from those we love the most.   Jesus came to break down walls–the wall of sin that separated us from an intimate relationship with God; and the walls of prejudice and selfishness that separate us from each other; God has called us as His people to be a church without walls.  Let’s explore that theme in these passages a little bit:

1.  In the early church, there were significant walls between Jews and Gentiles.  What were those walls?  Why does Paul regard these divisions as so significant?

2.  What did Jesus do to tear down the walls between Jews and Gentiles and to make peace between these two communities? Why did He do this instead of having a summit and peace negotiations?

3.  Pastor Greg said that peace in Christ should bring unity to all those who are “in Christ.”  That happens because we have a new identity centered in Jesus Christ. How does our new identity in Christ affect our relationship with others? How does our new identity in Christ help to break down walls?

4.  Our church here at First B. has a growing diversity among our members. What are some potential walls that could divide us? Are there any potential walls that could divide your small group (if you have one–if not, you should get one on April 17 at our “small group launch.” details coming)?  Why is unity within diversity so important in the church?

5.  Let me challenge you:  Spend some time this week praying about your attitudes toward those in the church with whom you are different. Ask God to show you if you need an “attitude adjustment” to help you deal with prejudice or racism or any other wall that you might have built. Ask God to help you tear down the walls that separate you from others both in the church and outside of the church.

1.  Reflect a little on your own salvation experience as you look at Ephesians 1:13.  When did you first “hear the word of truth?”  And realize it was for your salvation? How many times did you hear the word before you “believed”?

2.  One of the questions people often ask is, can I lose my salvation?  How does Ephesians 1:13-14 address this question? Do these verses answer the question–and if so, do you agree with the answer?

3.  What is God’s main purpose for: the Father choosing, adopting and accepting us? (Ephesians 1: 4-5); the Son redeeming, forgiving and revealing God’s will to us? (Ephesians 1: 7-9); the Holy Spirit sealing and guaranteeing our future blessing? (Ephesians 1:13-14)  Hint–Pay special attention to Ephesians 1:6, 12.

Week 2, 02/21/10, Personalized II, Ephesians 1:7-12

1) What is accomplished through redemption? In these passages, what do you see as the significance to this progression of “redemption,” “forgiveness,” “enlightenment,” and “inheritance”?

2) In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:30) he mentions that in Christ we have righteousness, holiness and redemption. How does redemption work in connection with holiness and righteousness? And how are they different?

3) What is the significance of being “let in” (as God’s people) on the mystery of His plan?

4) Verse 10 says that God’s plan is “to bring everything together in the Messiah;” and the verses we read in Colossians 1:20 says that God plans, “through Him (Jesus Christ) to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross—whether things on earth or things in heaven.” Many people read these passages and believe they imply that eventually everyone will be “reconciled to God,” and go to heaven. What do you think?

5) Why is it significant that God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will? What if God didn’t do that?

6) What impact might vs. 12 have on how we approach worship on Sunday morning and the rest of the week?

Thanks for taking the time to “dive in” a little deeper during the week. Hopefully these questions will give you a little more to think about and talk about from the Word of God and the letter of Ephesians. You might want to discuss them in your small group, with a prayer partner or with family and friends. And if you can’t find someone to share it with this week, you can always meditate upon God’s Word and listen as He speaks to you personally. Dive deep, and I’ll see you Sunday.

Pastor Greg

Week 1, 02/14/10, Personalized, Ephesians 1:1-6

1. In chapter 1, verse 1, Paul refers to himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, what is the significance of being an apostle? In what way(s) does that qualify him to write a Book in the Bible?

2. Ephesians is not a “book” in the typical way we think of books; rather it is a personal letter, written from the Apostle Paul To the saints and believers in Christ Jesus at Ephesus (vs.1). How is it different and/or significant that this is a personal letter? How does it being a personal letter change the way you read it and hear it?

3. In verse 3, “blessed” or “blessing” is used multiple times. What does the word blessing mean? Through whom have blessings come? The significance of a blessing is in the giver of the blessing. How is it different when God blesses you from when someone else blesses you?

4. In verse 4, God makes a choice. What is significant about the timing of that choice?

5. This first section in Ephesians focuses on our blessings in Christ (vs, 3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ) As you go through this week, reflect upon the “when” the “how” and the “why” of these spiritual blessings. Be blessed . . . and share God’s blessings with someone this week.

We live in a day when people really want to see things.  We’ve all taken Missouri’s state motto to heart, “show me!”  Here’s a little trivia for you. Do you know how Missouri got that motto? One of her congressmen, Hillard Duncan Vandiver, speaking in Philadelphia in 1899 said this: Frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me!”  I think it would be nice to have seen Jesus in the flesh, but perhaps His impact is greater because we didn’t see Him physically (Remember, Peter saw Jesus a lot–before he denied Him).  I think that’s what Jesus suggests to Thomas–Those who believe without seeing are blessed. 

Though we don’t have the same access to Him physically, we are able to know Him in a way that’s just as powerful and convincing–by Faith! The apostle Paul goes so far as to say we live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).  So we come to know the Risen and Living Jesus, not by seeing His flesh, but by faith, when the Good News is shared with us.  Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).  We can’t see Him physically, but we can know Him personally.  Peter writes, You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:8-9).  You could miss Him; but not because you can’t see Him. You’ll only miss Him if you refuse to meet Him, by faith.   I hope there’s a Jesus Sighting–by faith–in your future.

For by God’s grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift (Ephesians 2:8)

blessings,

pastor greg

By the way, that phrase “he descended into hell,”  is the most controversial one in the entire Creed. Some denominations consider it optional and others leave it out all together.  So what does it mean?  It depends on who you ask.  Historically, some believed it meant everything from Jesus taking our sins to hell (On Sunday I said they stayed buried in the tomb–you were listening, weren’t you?) to Him taking the Good News to Old Testament saints in the place of the dead (Old Testament, sheol). 

 If you ask me,  I think a better option flows directly from the text (imagine that?).  He went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed . . .   I believe it refers to Jesus proclaiming his victory over death, the grave, Satan and hell.  Peter doesn’t use his normal word for “preach the gospel,” euangelizein; instead he uses the more general word for making a proclamation, kerussein.  Besides, nothing in scripture indicates that any person hears preaching after death (I know you’re saying “Thank God!”).  So Jesus is not on an evangelistic tour down under–He’s proclaiming His victory to . . . spirits in prison.  Nowhere in the New Testament are human beings ever called “spirits.” The closest reference is in Hebrews 12:23 where it talks about the spirits of righteous people made perfect–and this reference is qualified–they are spirits “of people.”  So in 1 Peter 3:19, these are not the spirits of dead people or Old Testament people.  They are simply spirits.  When this term is used in an unqualified way in the New Testament it refers to demonic spirits (Matthew 8:16, Luke 10:20)–and qualified as “unclean” or “evil” spirits (Matthew 10:1; Mark 1:27; 3:11; 5:13; 6:7; Luke 4:36; 6:18; Acts 5:16; Matthew 12:45; Luke 7:21; 8:2; Acts 19:12-13). 

So I believe this passage should be understood as describing Jesus’ proclamation of triumph over death to the demons imprisoned, most likely since the fall of Satan. These are perhaps referenced in the New Testament book of Jude, verse 6, And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home–these He has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.  So with His descent, even the demons in “darkest hell” now know that Jesus has become the sacrifice for our sins and the savior of our lives.  They learned that He was dead,  and buried and that He was on the way up–to rise from the dead.   Or as many preachers have proclaimed, It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming!

See you on Easter Sunday morning–7:30, 9:00 or 10:30.  Come and worship; and invite someone to come hear the Good News!

 blessings,   

pastor greg

I did wonder if I talked enough about our responsibilty, as followers of Christ, to support the work of His kingdom–and yes, the work of His church.  There are always those who feel that I should have emphasized tithing more.  Personally, that would be easy for me to do because Rebecca and I have practiced giving that way for many years.  I know, however, that many other Christians don’t view tithing as a “mandatory” practice taught in the New Testament.  I can’t settle that argument here (though there are  some New Testament verses where Jesus affirms the practice of tithing, specifically in a Jewish context though), but I will argue (all day long) that tithing is (at least) a good start in developing the spirit and habit of generous giving.  And there is no question that the New Testament teaches “generous” giving.  Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).  On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his or her income (1 Corinthians 16:2).  If I were giving advice,  I’d say “start with a tithe, and then go from there as God leads you.” He really will do that, you know?  Maybe you just need to ask Him.

Overall, the real truth about money and possessions confronts us every day–no matter how much or how little we have or want: You are not your own; you were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).  Everything I have belongs to God, including me!  I really am the manger (Remember, Steward = House Manager), and not the owner. That’s easy to say, and pretty easy to preach, but I wonder–for all of us–do we really believe that? Can anyone tell?   The quote goes something like this: All other giving is easy when one first learns to give themselves to God. 

Baptism and communion this weekend–don’t miss the celebration! Oh, and don’t forget your offering . . .

blessings,

pastor greg

I hope you enjoyed our Walking Into a New Year series. Can you believe the first month of 2008 is (almost) over? God already has some great things planned for this year–and if you’ll walk with Him this year, those plans will be manifested through you!!  Don’t miss what God is doing, and don’t expect too little. Expect more!  “Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think–according to the power that works in you–to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

We’ll be visiting our good friend Mickey Mouse this weekend, but I’m excited and you’ll be blessed by Chuck DeRolf preaching in our celebrations.  Chuck is a member of First B. and a retired missionary who ministered in Japan for 30 years.  He’ll be speaking about communion and Jason Poland, our Pastor of Ministry Development, will lead us in Holy Communion during our worship. 

On February 10, when I return from Mickey’s, we’ll begin a new series entitled Frozen by Your Assets: Cold, Hard Facts, about You and Your Money.  I know what it sounds like, but I promise (scout’s honor), it won’t be a guilt trip about how you should give more money to the church! It will be three weeks (think three weeks of , “encouragment,” “blessing,” “free stuff”–kidding!) where we think together about money and possessions–our attitudes toward them, our attraction to them, and the ability they have, to be a blessing or a curse.  We’ll try to see all our money and our stuff in light of Jesus’ famous words that where your treasure is, there you heart is also (Matthew 6:21). 

I hope you’ll check it out.  Have a blessed week . . .

 pastor greg