Use your cursor to hover over underlined phrases in order to generate group study questions.

Or use the tabs above for extra information on some topics or themes.

Ephesians starts with this great reminder of all that God has done for us, His Church, through Jesus.

It uses gushing language to attempt describe the almost undescribable love that God has poured out on the world, which is received by those who accept Hi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grace.

In Greek: Charis, from which we get words like charisma and charismatic.

However, grace means more than those words. "Of the character of God" would be one definition.

Getting everything for doing nothing (the opposite to slavery, getting nothing for doing everything).

The opposite of disgrace = shame.

Spend time thinking about what it means to day "Grace be to you" (v2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peace. In Greek, Eirene, which we use as a girl's name.

Peace is an inner state of calm, it does not refer to the world around us.

Jesus was at peace in the boat in the storm. The disciples were afraid, and had no peace. The contrast is vivid, and shows us what it is that God's peace is for us.

It is not something that we can manufacture or train ourselves to create; it can only come from the indwelling Holy Spirit.

We need to cultivate time with Him in order to receive and to be filled with His peace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The thorny problem of predestination. Some people take Calvin's line and say that only those God chose before the beginning of time can be saved. Others say that cannot be the case, what about free will?

Don't get bogged down in a group discussion, but it is worth thinking through. What does this text say?

The letter was addressed to the saints (group of people). Paul writes it is 'we' who have been predestined.

Could it be the Church that is predestined, rather than the individual?

If a train is signalled to be going to Glasgow rather than Penzance, it is predestined. But you have a choice whether to get on it or not, right up to when the doors close.

However, you can waste a lot of time thinking about this, it would be better to schedule it for another week and have a few people read different viewpoints first to aid discussion.