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Ekkelsia Adult Life Group Class Guide

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Ekkelsia Adult Life Group Class Guide A study in from the Book of Ephesians HOW AM I DEMONSTRATING TO THE WORLD EKKLESIA? Spirituality is not declining in America, but church affiliation is. Even those whose spirituality is grounded in the tenets of Christianity may question the value of the church. We hear things like, “I love Jesus, so why do I need the church?” Such thinking overlooks the great truth of the purpose of the church. Through faith in Christ, God gives us a new identity through Jesus and a new family in His church. Commitment to the church is a nonnegotiable part of Christian discipleship; by neglecting the church we will miss the great benefits and opportunities that come from being affiliated with and committed to God’s people. In our study, we will explore Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. We’re going to see how God’s encouragement to these first-century Christians still instructs our twenty-first century lives today. During our time together, we’ll discuss the following more deeply: We are joined together. We pray for one another. We support one another. We encourage one another. We strengthen one another. We stand together in spiritual battle. Let’s dive in and see why we need the church—and why the church needs us. Author: Chris James lives in the Boston area where he pastors and ministers to college students at UMass-Lowell. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He co-authored the study Commit: Releasing the Hold of Reluctance. Commentary Writer: Warren McWilliams wrote the Bible commentary for “Why Do I Need the Church?” He is a retired professor of Bible at Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Okla. Warren is a graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. SESSION 1 We Are Joined Together THE POINT When we come to Christ, we also become a part of the body of Christ. THE PASSAGE Ephesians 1:20-23; 2:8-10,19-22 THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE A few years ago, I visited Muir Woods National Monument—known for its beautiful California redwoods. Dwarfing other tree species, redwoods can grow to over 350 feet high and can be as wide as 24 feet in diameter. Yet, as massive as these trees are, redwoods possess remarkably shallow root systems. But the roots overcome their lack of depth by extending outward more than 100 feet from the tree’s base. Each tree’s roots then intertwine with the roots of other redwoods. By joining together, the individual root systems create a forest of trees with staggering strength. The simple reality is that redwood trees were not created to exist in isolation—and neither were we. Just as a redwood tree requires a forest of other redwood trees in order to stand, so also the Christian requires a spiritual family in order to grow. The church—the body of Christ—is that family. Being a part of Christ’s church is not an option. Through Jesus, God designed us to live and serve together as His body. THE SETTING The apostle Paul wrote to a church he knew well. He spent about three years in Ephesus on his missionary journeys (Acts 20:31). Since the name Ephesus does not appear in some early copies of his book (Eph. 1:1), some scholars believe Paul wrote a letter to several churches in the area around Ephesus, and the book we have was preserved in Ephesus. Paul, as a church planter, wrote many letters to churches and church leaders (such as Timothy and Titus). GET INTO THE STUDY Leader Pack: Display Pack Item 7, the “Why Do I Need the Church?” poster, to introduce the major theme of this study, along with the special focus of each session. Discuss: Question #1 on page 81 of the PSG: “When have you felt most at home with a group of people?” Guide: Direct group members to “The Bible Meets Life” on page 82 of the PSG. Introduce the importance of each part of the body of Christ by reading or summarizing the text—or by encouraging group members to read it on their own Guide: Call attention to “The Point” on page 82 of the PSG: “When we come to Christ, we also become a part of the body of Christ.” Activity (optional): In advance, gather some items from nature. Display various items—a small branch of a tree with its leaves, a plant, an acorn, or a flower—and ask members to point out various parts of the vegetation that are necessary for its survival. Ask members how they might relate what they see to the interrelatedness of the church. Leader Pack: Display Pack Item 3, the “Exiles of 1 Peter” poster, to give context to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. (Note: The city of Ephesus is also on the map.) Pray: Transition into the study by thanking God for the gift of the church. Ask Him to help group members gain a greater understanding and a deeper love for the church through this study. STUDY THE BIBLE EPHESIANS 1:20-23 20 He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way. Read: Ask a group member to read aloud Ephesians 1:20-23 on page 83 of the PSG. Leader Pack: In advance, make copies of Pack Item 8, “Ephesians” handout, and distribute them to your group members. Use this handout to give an overview of this unit’s Scripture focus. Recap: The New Testament writers used various metaphors to describe God’s church, such as flock, temple, household, gathering, and so forth. But the most frequently used metaphor is “the body.” Through this picture, we learn that each Christ-follower is a member (or part) of the body while Jesus Christ is the head. Bodies can have multiple hands, feet, fingers, toes, ears, eyes, hairs, and even kidneys. But a body possesses only one head. So, if the church is considered a body and that body can have just one head, then it only makes sense that Jesus would be the head. Discuss: Question #2 on page 83 of the PSG: “How is being a part of a church different from being a part of any other organization?” ALTERNATE QUESTION: What does Jesus being head of the church really look like? Summarize: Highlight the main points from pages 83 and 84 of the PSG. Consider what this passage tells us about God’s demonstration of His power through His Son, Jesus: God raised Jesus from the dead. God seated Jesus at His right hand in a place of authority over every other ruler. God put everything under Jesus’ authority. God gave Jesus an eternal rule—not only in this age, but also in the one to come. God appointed Jesus as head over everything for the church. God appointed Jesus to fill all things in every way; in other words, everything finds its purpose in Jesus. Transition: Christ is the head of His body, the church. In the next verses, we also see that Christ brought us into His church by His grace. EPHESIANS 1:20-23 COMMENTARY [VERSE 20] Paul’s favorite word picture for the nature of the church was the body of Christ. He introduced this theme in the context of prayer for the Ephesian Christians (1:16-19). Paul stressed God’s power (v. 19) and gave two examples of how God had exercised His power in the story of Jesus (v. 20). First, God had raised Jesus from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus was central to Paul’s preaching and the Christian faith in general (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Second, God placed Jesus at his right hand. Being at the Father’s “right hand” points to Jesus’ enthronement. The New Testament authors often referred to Psalm 110:1 being fulfilled in Jesus (Heb. 10:12). After His resurrection, Jesus ascended and reigns in the heavens. The risen Christ was both in the presence of God the Father and with His followers. [VERSE 21] Paul stressed the risen Christ’s power and supremacy in two ways in this verse. First, Christ is superior to every kind of spiritual being. Paul used several words familiar to his first-century readers. Christ is supreme over every ruler and authority, power and dominion. The risen Christ is superior to every title given. In Colossians 1:16 Paul noted that Christ was involved in the creation of the world and therefore had supremacy over such beings. Those spiritual beings that opposed God were defeated by Christ (Col. 2:15). Later in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul would stress that Christians are engaged in a spiritual war with evil forces (Eph. 6:12). Second, Paul noted that the risen Christ reigns now and in the future. Paul wanted to assure his readers and us that Christ is supreme in this age and in the one to come. [VERSE 22] Here Paul quoted Psalm 8:6. David praised God for creating humans and giving them authority over God’s creation. Paul was inspired to apply this truth to Jesus in particular.
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