Benefits from the Trinity | Get Rich
We see that Ephesians 1:3-14 is all about praise to God for the many benefits he freely gives believers in Jesus.
Talking Points:
- Benefits from God the Father: we are both chosen and adopted into the family of God. Ephesians 1:4-5
- Benefits from God the Son: we are both redeemed and forgiven. Ephesians 1:7
- Benefits from God the Spirit: we are both sealed and secured. Ephesians 1:13-14
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Do you think the word “rich” is a good word to describe living as a Christian? Why or Why not?
- Share about a time when you were chosen for a team or activity. How did it make you feel to be chosen?
- Read Ephesians 1:4. What is your response to the idea that God wanted you before you wanted him? What does this teach us about God?
- Read Ephesians 1:5. Why is adoption an appropriate term to describe how God brings us into his family?
- Read 1 Peter 1:18-19. What does the word “redeem” mean in the Bible? Why do we need redemption?
- Read Ephesians 1:7. What do you think Jesus went through emotionally and spiritually to provide forgiveness for us? What should our response be to this gift?
- Read Ephesians 1:13-14. When we trust in Jesus, we are guaranteed a ticket to heaven. What do you think heaven will be like?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
Moving Beyond Mediocrity | Get Rich #2
We go to church and might know it’s important to read the Bible, but is there more to the Christian life than this?
Talking Points:
- The baseline of pursuing God: love God and love people. Ephesians 1:15-16
- Paul wants us to grow in your knowledge of God, moving beyond a casual acquaintance to God as our best friend. Ephesians 1:16-17
- Developing an eternal perspective that is full of hope will help us to keep the day to day stresses in perspective. Ephesians 1:18
- As his followers, our mission is to help others find eternal life in Jesus, and the same Holy Spirit who had enough power to raise Jesus from the dead gives us power as well. Ephesians 1:19-20
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Read Ephesians 1:15. Which one is harder: faith in God or love for people? Why?
- Read Ephesians 1:16-17. What does a casual, acquaintance-type knowledge of God look like? What would it look like to have a deeper, more intimate knowledge of God?
- Read 2 Timothy 3:15-17. What are some of the key ways the Bible can help us grow in our knowledge of God?
- Read Ephesians 1:18. What are some of the dangers of a mindset that is primarily focused on the here and now?
- Read Colossians 3:1-3. How can we practically “set our sights” on Heaven on a daily basis?
- What are some things that slowly kill your love for Jesus? (These aren’t always bad things…maybe sports, concern with your appearance, likes on social media, etc.)
- What are things that grow your affections for Jesus? How can you get around those things more this week?
- Read Ephesians 2:19-20. What causes us to live our lives with timidity and fear? What would a more Spirit-empowered life practically look like?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
The Walking Dead | Get Rich #3
While we may be very much alive physically, the spiritual disease of sin has caused our souls to dead. Which is worse?
Talking Points:
- The Bible says that our sin makes us dead. It’s not talking about physical death, but spiritual death. While we may be alive physically, the negative consequence of sin has killed our souls. Ephesians 2:1-3
- In order to rescue us from death, he chose to die himself. Jesus, as God in flesh, received the ultimate punishment of death on the cross that we deserve. God then raised Jesus from the dead. Ephesians 2:8-9
- God’s desire for us is to not just simply live, but to have meaning and purpose. He has a journey of “good things” waiting for us to do. God’s rescue plan isn’t an excuse for you to sin all you want, but it’s an invitation for you to start a pursuit of Him. Ephesians 2:10
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Do you have a favorite zombie movie/show? Why do you think these are so popular and common?
- Read Ephesians 2:1. What does it mean that we are “dead” in our sins? Why is this such a serious situation?
- Describe the different spiritual forces referred to in vs. 2-3. How do each of these have a negative effect on our lives?
- Have you ever been rescued from something? Share the quick story. How did that rescue make you feel?
- Read Ephesians 2:4 Why do you think God chose to rescue us rather than just letting us experience the consequences we deserve? What drives His love and mercy?
- Why are the cross and the resurrection both necessary for this rescue plan?
- Read Ephesians 2:8-9. Why do you think Paul had to make the point that we can’t take credit for our salvation? What is it about humans that makes us want to, or feel like we have to, earn our salvation?
- Read Ephesians 2:10. Describe some elements of what new life can and should look like for the Christian. Be specific.
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
Beyond the Clique | Get Rich #4
You have your friend group, and you're comfortable with it. But what if God's calling you to be a bit uncomfortable?
Talking Points:
- We have a clique. We have the people we like and the people we don’t like. It was the same in Paul’s day. There were Jews-the descendants of God’s people and the Gentiles-people who didn’t grow up learning about God. Ephesians 2:11
- We focus on the differences. The Jews and Gentiles grew up with different beliefs and lived their lives very differently. Even after becoming Christians, they kept focusing on their differences. Ephesians 2:13
- We need to get rid of cliques. Living separated from others is not why God died for us on the cross. He did that so that we can have peace with God and peace with those around us, and not just those who are like us. Ephesians 2:14-18
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Share a time when you became friends with someone different than you and how it’s impacted your life.
- Why is it hard to get along with people who are different than us, or come from a different background than we do?
- How have you seen cliques hurt people at your school or in your youth group?
- Read Ephesians 2:11-12. What is a Gentile in this verse? Make a list of all the disadvantages that the Gentiles had according to these verses.
- Read Ephesians 2:13. What do you think it means that Christians are “united with Christ”? How does this reverse the situation that Gentiles were in from verses 11-12?
- Read Ephesians 2:14-18. What are these verses saying? How do these verses challenge you?
- What is one thing you can do today or tomorrow to break down cliques around you?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
How to Pray for Friends | Get Rich #5
Have you ever prayed for your friends? You will definitely want to after hearing what Ephesians has to say about it.
Talking Points:
- Pray for your friends to have inner strength through the Holy Spirit. You can even think about the fruits of the Spirit and pray for your friends to have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Ephesians 3:16-17
- Pray that your friends will really experience the love of Christ in their everyday lives- in their devotional times, at youth group, and when they are meeting with a group or mentor. Ephesians 3:18-19
- One of the best ways to think about the complete Christian life of a disciple is someone who trusts Jesus, honors God with his or her everyday life, and then helps other people to pursue God. Ephesians 3:19
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- How often are your prayers focused on yourself? On others?
- When you pray for others, what sort of things do you typically pray?
- Read Ephesians 3:16-17. Identify some areas where you need the Holy Spirit’s inner strength.
- Read Ephesians 3:18-19. How do you know when another person loves you? How do you know that God loves you?
- Share about a friend who needs to understand God’s love for them. How can you pray for that friend right now?
- “The Christian life is simply God’s supernatural life in and through us.” What do you think about that statement?
- Read Ephesians 3:20. What are some things God might want to accomplish through you that stretch what you think is “normal”?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
Living in the Light | Get Rich #6
Living a God honoring life can give us some awesome benefits, but only if we choose to accept them.
Talking Points:
- With Jesus, people can be transformed to live in the light. If you are a follower of Jesus then there is a light in you that can rub off on others. Ephesians 5:8
- The fruits of the spirit should be a natural byproduct of your faith, like when sun shines on a plant, eventually it will grow fruit. The more you allow Christ’s light to be in you the more fruit you will produce. Ephesians 5:9
- We need to actively expose the “deeds of darkness” and walk away from sinful things. Ephesians 5:10-11
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- In the media, what does “darkness” symbolize? What does “light” symbolize? Give examples.
- Read Ephesians 5:3-5. How do these verses describe what Paul means when he says “darkness”? Why is living in darkness bad for us?
- Read John 8:12. Why does Jesus describe himself as “the Light of the world? What do you think it means that his believers will not “walk in darkness”?
- Read Ephesians 5:8-9. If you took a video of people living as people of light, what would you see?
- Read Ephesians 5:11-13. What does it mean to expose the deeds of darkness? What are some wrong ways to go about doing that?
- Read Matthew 5:14-16. How can you show light to your friends?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
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