Ephesians 4 Study Page 2

31 minutes: Group discussion of questions • Individual: to pursue the gifts God has given us. Group: to grow and build the body up in l. 1 What is the calling we have received? Is love. A life becomes worthy when it is fully it an individual calling or a church calling? submitted to God. How can a life be worthy of a calling? • Humble: meek (4240) “inwrought grace of the soul.” Gentle not in original text. Patient: l. 2 What does it mean to be humble, gentle, forebearing, longsuffering. Respond to patient? How do we bear with each other in others’ faults with love and acceptance. love? • Unity in the Spirit comes when the Spirit descends upon a group. Each church has a l. 3 How do we achieve unity in the Spirit? communal spirit. We sustain it through How do we sustain it? What does it look reconciliation and partnership. like? • Hope (1680) “favorable and confidant expectation.” 1. Living out the gospel & l. 4 What is the hope to which we are called? being a part of God’s work. 2. The hope of resurrection. • Maybe. Does it really matter? God tells Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.” The main points are that 1. we all need it and 2. Christ l. 6 Does that mean we each receive different has enough for each of us, regardless of our levels of grace? deeds. • Ps 68:18. He is taking the Psalm out of context to remind his audience of what happens when a general wins a battle: everyone is l. 7 What is Paul quoting and why? raised, everyone shares the spoils. When Christ was raised, he brought everyone up with Him and turned the captives free, sharing the spoils with us. • It’s debatable. Scholars think either hell (when he conquered it) or the earth (as he served it). l. 8 What are the “lower, earthly regions”? • Detail Jewish world view of the time. Christ blew the top off of heaven! l. 9 What are the “heavens” and how can you go higher? l. 10-11 What does it mean to be an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher?

• Apostle (652) “one sent forth”; we all are. Prophet (4394) “the speaking forth of the mind and counsel of God”; “the purpose of their ministry was to edify, to comfort, and to encourage the believers...while its effect upon unbelievers was to show that the secrets of a man’s heart are known to God, to convict of sin, and to constrain to worship”