The Garage Door

Ephesians 5:21-33

1. What does it mean to submit to each other out of reverence for Christ?

2. What does it mean for a wife to submit to her husband?  How does it look?

3. How does it look for a husband to love his wife as Christ loves the church?

4. Why does marriage thrive only if both the wife submit to the husband and the husband love the wife like Christ loved the church? 

5. What does it look like for a husband to love his wife like he loves himself?

 

Ephesians 5:1-21

1. What does it mean to be an imitator of God?

2. What would it look like if you lived a life of love?  Who do you need to love?

3. Did you read verse 3-4 there must not be even a HINT of sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking. 

4. How can you live as a child of light?  What is one thing you can do today live as a child of light?

5. Does your life have fruitless deeds of darkness?  Do you have a secret sin that nobody knows about?  Did you know the sins you commit over and over are the same sins you never confess to a person?

6. Are you making the most of every opportunity?  If not, what can you do to make the most of every opportunity?

7. What does it mean to speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs?

8. Do you thank God enough for everything He has given you?  If not spend a couple of minutes thanking Him.

Ephesians 4:17-32

1. Why should we no longer live as Gentiles do?

2.  What is our old self?  Why do we need to take off our old self?

3. What does it mean to put on our new self?  Why do we have to take off the old self in order to put on the new self?

4. Do you speak truthfully to your friends, family, and teachers? 

5.  Why should we not go to bed angry?

6. In verse 28 why does it say we should work?

7. Do you let unwholesome talk come out your mouth?  If so, what steps can you take to make your talk uplifting?  Who do you need to uplift?

8. Have you rid yourself of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and malice?  What are some steps you can take to get rid of it?  Do you need someone to help you get rid of these things?

9. Are you compassionate or forgiving like Jesus Christ? (Crazy to think that Jesus is compassionate and forgiving to us, but we are often not forgiving to others.)

Ephesians 4:1-16

1.  What does it mean to live a life worthy of the calling you have received?

2.  What does it mean to bear with one another in love?  When is the last time you have carried some else’s burdened?

3. What does it mean to keep the unity of the Spirit?

4. Why does God give everyone different gifts? 

5. God has gifted each one of His children.  Each one of us is good at something.  Some of you could be good at playing guitar, teaching, counseling, working with children, serving, etc.  (Some of you are still trying to figure it out.  Do not give up!  God will reveal it to you!) How do you think God has gifted you?  What are you good at?

6. Why has Jesus gifted you? 

7. No matter what your gifts are each of plays a part in the body. You are valuable and important!

Why is important that each part of the body of Christ do it’s work?  Why is love important in building each other up?

 

 

 

How are we doing?

Hey all,

Just checking in on how we are doing?  How is the Bible Reading going?  This week, our featured blogger is non other than our own Pastor Pete!  We are going to try to have a new person blogging every week about what you are reading.  If you have any questions or thoughts, don't hesistate to talk to anyone of us.  How are you all doing with Gossip?  Does it stop with you?

Pastor Lance or Plants

Ephesians 3:14-21

1.  For reason does Paul  kneel before the Father?  (Hint: look at previous verses)

2. What does it mean to be strengthened by His Spirit?   

3.  Why is it sooo important to grasp how wide, long, and deep is the love of Christ?

4.  What does it mean to be filled to the measure of the fullness of God?

5.  Read verse 20 again.  Do we realize God is able to do more than we ask or imagine?  What is some God sized dreams you have?  If you do not have one, pray for one.  Pray God sized prayers that could only happen by divine intervention 

Ephesians 3: 1-13

Hey Guys and Gals,

Last one for the week.  How did you guys do this week? I will keep this one a little shorter.

1.  Basically these few verses are talking about how the gospel is for everyone.  God's saving grace isn't just for the Jews, it is for everyone.  It is for me and you.  This was a big deal than and Paul was always justifying this to the Jews who believed they were the only chosen people of God.

2.  Two quick insights:

a.  In verse 1, Paul calls himself a prisoner of the Gospel  Paul is writing this letter from prison so he his affirming the length and call of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  How far are you willing to go for Jesus and serving him?  Are you willing to go to prison for Jesus?  Are you willing to be made fun of for going on this trip? 

b.  Verse 12 says we can approach God with confidence and freedom.  Too many times we go to God with guilty hearts.  Because of Jesus sacrifice on the cross, we don't have to live guilty lives, because God doesn't see us as sinners anymore; he sees us as righteous. 

3.  Have a great weekend. 

Ephesians 2: 11-22

Ok, so your crazy youth pastor is out of control with these Bible Reading summaries.  I am going to try and keep this one brief. 

1.  I could talk forever about some of the really cool images in this passage, but i will give you a few thoughts.

-We are all one!!!  Too many times we look at the differences we have in our lives.  We look at different races, different schools, different churches, but for those who have be called and saved by Jesus we are all one.  Try not to focus on the differences as much and what we have in common and the biggest thing is we are all brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.  In Crossroads and TRL you have about 100 brothers and sisters.  We need to start treating each other like family.  That doesn't mean you won't have issues and fights; families do.  What it means though is we have a special bond and that bond in Jesus Christ and that should always win the day.

-Verse 19 talks about citizens.  Citizenship means not only do you belong, but you have responsibilities.  As citizens of the USA, you have responsibilities and the same goes for your citizenship in God's kingdom.  What are some things you can do to be a better citizen in God's kingdom?

-Last one!  (And I said I was going to be shorter) Good Grief!  Verse 22 talks about making a dwelling for the Holy Spirit.  That is what we talked about last week with the Tabernacle.  What kind of home are you making for God in your heart, in your mind, and in your soul?  Is it a place where God would want to be?  If we have a messy home, we get embarrassed when people come over.  How clean is your "home"?   The best way to clean something is to not let it get dirty.  The best way to keep your heart, mind, soul, and "home" clean is to not let it get dirty with stuff.  What are some things you can do to keep your house clean for God?

2.  Pray!  Thank God for some things that are going well. 

Ephesians 2: 1-10

Hey guys and gals,

It is Wednesday!  How are you doing?  Are you keeping up with your reading and praying?  Let's dive into Ephesians 2.

1.  I am not going to lie.  I needed to read this passage today.  For some of you, yesterday was a very tough day.  For those who don't know, a senior girl and freshmen boy at Illiana lost their mother tragically yesterday.  I have no words to describe their loss.  There is a part of me that is hurt, angry, scared, and worried.  Death is never something we like to think about, but it is the only certainty in life.  I know a lot of you have dealt with death.  Some of you have lost parents, siblings, grandparents, or friends and it is painful.  I would like all of us to say a prayer for the Huizenga family as they wrestle with this loss.  Then I want you to pray for others that you know that have lost loved ones in the last few years and ask God to wrap their arms around them as well.  I know of at least 4 or 5 people in our youth groups that have lost parents in the last 3 years.  Pray for them and then thank God that because of Jesus Christ, death does not have the final answer.

2.  This passage from Ephesians talks about that.  It says we are all dead in our sin and that we followed the ways of the world instead of God.  In what ways do you still follow the ways of the world?  Are you listening to the Spirit work in your heart or do you let the voices of culture drown out the Spirit's voice?  Do you listen to the voices that say that you are not good enough, pretty enough, talented enough?  Do you listen to voices of culture that say sex is ok before marriage?  Or do you listen to cultural voices that say live for today and for yourself?  Or do you listen to God's voice.  Now I not talking about audible voices here.  You guys are probably thinking I am crazy person who hears all these voices.  I am talking about the message of culture and the message of God.  Which do you listen to and what keeps you from listening to the message of God?

3.  You can't get past verse 4 without a little smile.  BECAUSE OF GOD'S GREAT LOVE FOR US.  God loves you and he saved you.  It is because of God's great love that death doesn't win.  It is because of God's great love that we have hope that when someone we love dies, that we will see them again.  It is because of God's great love that we can have purpose in life.  It is because of God's great love that we know that people who have die are now with Jesus.  God's love is great and it is only because of his grace that we can be saved.  As we talked about yesterday, nothing we do can save us and everyone of us deserve eternal death.  But God wasn't going to let that happen and although every one of us here is going to die, we know that death is not an ending, but a beginning.  It is a beginning of an eternity with Jesus.  Look at verse 6.  We will be seated with Jesus.  We get to be on his lap right next to God.  You are not just going to be thrown in a corner some day in heaven, you are going to be seated right next to Jesus.  I don't know about you, but that is cool to me.  Now that doesn't mean that death is easy and I think sometimes we try to over-religiousize death.  Death hurts deep and is some ways those wounds never fully heal.  I don't have good answers for death.  I always think of 2 things.  First, we need to rally around those who are hurting because of a death in their family.  Just be there for them.  Just love on them.  Don't tell them you know how they feel because you don't.  EVeryone's grief is different.  Just be there an love on them.  Second, take hope in knowing that you will see them again and that their loved one is sitting with Jesus.  It is a little hope in intense pain, but it is hope and remember that God is always faithful.

4.  Verse 8 talks about how our faith is a gift from God and that we need to be grateful for that gift.  Have you ever thanked God for giving you the gift of faith?  We love getting gifts don't we, but how often do we thank God for giving us the gift of faith?

5.  Verse 10 talks about us being God's workmanship.  When someone creates something, they expect it to perform for the purpose it was created.  If I make a paper airplane, I expect it to fly even though it usually doesn't.  God created us.  He crafted you in a very special way.  Each one of you are special, unique, and awesome because God has put his special stamp on you.  However, you have a purpose and that is to do good works.  We know Good works don't save us, but we were created to do them.  That is our purpose.  If the paper airplane doesn't fly, it has failed to live up to its purpose.  W need to live up to our purpose.  What are things in your life you can do to better live up to your purpose?  Read I Corinthians 13 for a great list. 

Ephesians 1: 15-23

Hey All,

It is Pastor Lance again.  It is day 2 of the Bible Reading.  I hope you are all doing well.  If you have any questions let me know.  If you want a more private way to contact me, you can email me at ldavids@faitchurchonline.org

1.  Verse 16 has a lot of rich thoughts.  Image that Paul, one of the greatest missionaries ever, never stopped given thanks for the people in his church in Ephesus and he always has them in his prayers.  Now that doesn't mean that he doesn't get frustrated with them. That doesn't mean that he doesn't get angry at them or even dislike them sometimes.  He does and when we read the rest of Ephesians we will see that.  But Paul prays for them and thanks God for them every day.  Do you thank God for you friends and family every day?  Do you thank God for the people in your class and in your school even though they can annoy you?  Who do you pray for other than yourself?  Pray shouldn't just be about you.  Today in your prayers, spend your two minutes praying for others.  Maybe your family, friends, teachers, fellow students, youth leaders or pastors (lol).  Spend some time in prayer thanking God for the people he has placed in your life.

2.  Verse 17 takes it a step further.  Paul says he keeps asking God to make his Spirit alive in the people that Paul is praying for that they may know God better.  Paul is asking for his friends and even those people who are not his friends to know God better.  How much do you pray that others' faith will grow?  That God will work in other people's lives.  Can you imagine if we all did that?  I am so bad at this.  My prayer life often is selfish.  It is usually either about me or my family.  Wouldn't it be cool if we were all praying for each other and our faith to grow?

3. Verses 18-23 talk about the things Paul hopes the Ephesians get through Christ.  They will receive knowledge, power, their eyes will be opened and see the power, majesty and wonder of God.  Paul is praying that the Ephesians grasp a little bit about the wonder and sovereignty of God.  (We will talk about sovereignty in 2 week).  He is also emphasizing the extraordinary power that it took to raise Jesus from the dead and that same power is at work in you!!!!! 

4.  This is a powerful lesson on prayer and what we pray for.  What do you pray for?  Do you even pray?  Are your prayers all about you?  Do you realize how much power you have?  The power it took to raise the dead is at work in you, but for so many of us it lie dormant because we are not people of prayer.  Jesus said the church and its people should be a house of prayer, but too many times we are everything but that.  I encourage you to pray.  I know it is frustrating sometimes and you feel like you are the only one talking, but there is power there.  Pray for others and ask for God to show himself to you.  John Piper says that one of the problems in our prayer lives is not that we ask for too much, but we ask for too little.  Try going to God and asking him to do a miracle in someones life.  Pray with passion and boldness.  Pray with the same passion that you live the rest of your lives.  I admire that passion that all of you have for your friends and for life.  Give a little bit of that passion to God through prayer and watch him light a passion in your own live.  I am going to work on praying more for others too and that starts with me praying for you.  Let's make Crossroads and TRL houses of prayer.