GSCC Small Group Bible Study Material

Week of 12/2/06

Ephesians 3:14-21

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

The Father God (v14-15)

“As I look back over the five published books, I realize that it’s kind of a litany of bad fathers.  That’s where evil seems to flourish, in places where people didn’t get good fathering.”

J.K. Rowling (quoted in TIME July 25, 2005)

12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

John 1:12

What does it mean to be the father in a family?

How do we view God as our Father compared to our earthly fathers?

How is God a good father to the church?

Power to Make a Home for Christ (v16-17a)

4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

John 15:4

Why does Paul pray that the church will be strengthened?

So that Christ may dwell in us and we will bear fruit.

Do you think that Christ is at home in you?

Power to Grasp Christ’s Love (v17b-19)

What does it mean to you to be “rooted and established in love?”

Paul says that the church (“all the saints”) have power together to know Christ’s love. Why do we need this unity? How are we as one body empowered to reveal this love to the world?

To Him be the Glory in the Church (v20-21)

21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2:21-22

How have you seen God’s immeasurable power in your life?

How can God’s glory and power be revealed through a weak and flawed church?