Connection Group Questions
September 19, 2021
Message: “Hope. Inheritance. Power.”
Series: “Ephesians: Union and Unity”
“18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you,
the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
~ Ephesians 1:18-19
Opening
This quote from Marianne Williamson that has made the rounds:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
What do you think? Are you more frightened of your potential power, or your inadequacy?
Digging Deeper
Read Ephesians 1:14-23
Pauls begins with thanks and prayer. Not a bad way to approach life and ministry! What is your current state of, or practice of, gratitude? What about your prayer life and practice?
The heart of Paul’s prayer for the saints is that they might “know him (Jesus) better.”
How can this become the heart of our prayers, for ourselves and for others?
Paul says he’s praying for three things: Hope. Inheritance. Power.
What is Christian hope? How is it different from wishful thinking? How is Jesus the heart of our hope? What does it mean to have the eyes of our heart opened?
Paul is also praying that we know the riches of his glorious inheritance in us, the saints. What is our inheritance? How is it already in us? How might we begin to live our of our inheritance, even as we wait for Jesus’ return?
Pauls then prays for his incomparably great power for us who believe, and then write more about that power. So let’s talk about power. It’s a dirty word in many circles. But it’s still craved by most people. What is the power Paul is talking about? How is it different, or similar, to other powers? Ultimately it is the same source of power that rose Christ from the dead that is at work in us. Is this the power of the Holy Spirit? Would you say you are a Spirit-filled, powerful Christian?
For more context on Paul, Ephesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit read Acts 19 and discuss the outpouring of the Spirit, speaking in tongues, and being empowered for ministry.
Living It
Pray for yourselves and one another for hope, inheritance and power. Specially pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit for one another.
