Small Group Lesson Sheet for Week of Nov 8 - 14

SMALL GROUP LESSON SHEETS
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 8 – 14, 2009
EPHESIANS 1:4-5

“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” Ephesians 1:4-5

AROUND THE ROOM

1. What have you witnessed or heard over the past two weeks that absolutely shocked you? That absolutely excited you? Why?

THE ROUND UP

1. What in life were you chosen for (outside of your relationship with God) that you were so grateful that you were chosen for it? What were you not chosen for that discouraged you?

2. Did anything really strike you from the message on Sunday or was this just all common knowledge for you?

3. What crosses your mind when God writes to you that you were chosen before the foundation of the world?

4. What is it about ourselves that makes being chosen such an emotionally powerful thing


ROUNDING THE BEND

1. If you have been chosen for a position what do you believe the unspoken expectations are of you? Talk some of those expectations out and how they should impact how you now go about your life.

2. Who are some of the passionate people that have motivated you in the past? What do they do/say that motivates you?

3. Is the Bible a passionate writing or is it just a cold list of instructions and commands? Why are there differing opinions on it?

4. If it is a passionate writing what is stopping you from allowing it to motivate you? What is helping it to motivate you? What more do you believe that you need? (Be honest and kind to one another in your answers)

WRAPPING AROUND

1. Read Acts 20:17-32 together. How has Paul allowed his chosen status to motivate him to live like this? Why do you think he is willing to live in this manner (see v24 again)?

2. What this past year has dared your heart to begin to think what Paul states in verse 24? Does knowing that you have been chosen make a difference in your thinking?

3. What this past year has stopped your heart from beginning to think what Paul states in verse 24? Would you classify these things as “savage wolves” as Paul does in v28? Why or why not?

4. How many times does someone have to weep in front of you before you choose a direction? Now read verse 31 again. How many times do you think it took for some of the believers in Ephesus? Why?

5. If your passion for your chosen life in the gospel has to be lived out tearfully time and time again what will you need in order to continue on this path?

6. On Sunday it was said that the chosen ones will always have opposition. What has opposed you? How has that changed how you live?

7. Knowing this is the backdrop of Paul’s letter to the believers in Ephesus how does this now help you read the letter?


ONE LAST TIME AROUND

1. How clear are you on your chosen status? What more if anything do you need to know to believe that God has chosen you? What would you like to know? Can it be found in the Bible?

2. Take time to discuss some of the things you’ve been praying for one another for. Are there other areas in your life in which your group can pray for you?

3. How can your group strengthen the Sunday morning service?


Extra Reading for the Week – Ephesians – takes notes of the enemy warning verses, the what to do in case of enemy verses, the instructions to fulfill your chosen purposes, the reminders of your chosen status.