Yesterday I had the privilege of preaching from Luke 16:19-31 in the morning services and Ephesians 1:15-23 in the evening service.
Later today or tomorrow, you will be able to watch and/or listen to the messages here.
Here are some questions to guide a discussion to further help you grasp and apply Sunday morning's message:
1. In Luke 16:15 Jesus told the Pharisees that what man exalts, God hates. What are the two primary 'man-exalting' and 'God hating' areas in this chapter that Jesus (Luke) addresses?
2. What does Jesus want the Pharisees to understand about the Old Testament and their own self-righteousness? (See Luke 16:14-18)
3. How does the parable Jesus tells in Luke 16:19-31 help further communicate this point?
4. What is the primary point of the parable Jesus tells?
5. How does knowing that humans are woefully sinful and Jesus is one's only hope of being right with God free you forever? How does it change/adjust how you live your everday life?
6. Read all of Luke 16. What does Jesus want us to understand about the relationship between a born again follower of Jesus and how he or she spends their money?
7. How many copies of the Bible do you have at your home/study? Do you read it? Why or why not? If you were to die today, how could you be sure that you would not be like the rich Jew/Pharisee?
8. If you have experienced the grace of God in Christ in your life, how has that reality begun to play itself out in your practical life? In your spending? In your time?
Sunday night, I only had time to briefly (in my opinion!) unpack Ephesians 1:19-21. I plan to go back and fill in the other parts of Ephesians 1:15-23 next Sunday night (if the Lord wills).
Here are a few questions to enhance your dialogue, discussion, and understanding of what Paul prays for the Ephesians regarding the power working toward believers:
1. According to verse 18, how is the believer supposed to grasp the immeasurable greatness of God's power working toward the believer?
2. Why do you think, when speaking of the power that is at work toward the believer, Paul mentions the power God used to raise Jesus from the dead? Why not talk about the power needed to walk on water or feed 5,000 people, or raise Lazarus from the dead or cast our demons?
3. How does knowing that when Jesus rose from the dead, everything necessary to accomplish our salvation was completed give you power to live today?
4. Why do you think Paul also mentions that the power working toward the believer is the same power Christ exercises over every single power in the universe?
5. How does knowing that a God who loves you passionately and unconditionally and a Jesus who gave Himself for you on a cross and who reigns over every molecule in all the universe give you power to live today with radical intentionality?
6. Will you commit to pray for yourself, your family, your church family, and others would have God open the eyes of their hearts to know this power that is at work toward them? Will you pray now?
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