Study Guide for Sermon on Ephesians 1:15-23: “Knowing Him Better”
Opening Prayer
Begin with a prayer asking God to open the eyes of your heart to receive His wisdom and revelation. Ask for insight into the hope, power, and inheritance found in Jesus Christ.
Scripture Passage: Ephesians 1:15-23
“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.
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 His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.”
(Ephesians 1:15-18)
Key Themes from the Sermon
- The Power of Knowing God Better
- Paul’s prayer centers on the Ephesian church knowing God deeply, transforming their relationship.
- The Hope We Have in Christ
- Knowing God includes understanding the eternal hope He provides.
- “If you do know God, then this hopeless world gets a little glimmer of hope.”
- Our Identity as His Inheritance
- We are precious to God, His glorious inheritance, which changes how we see ourselves.
- The Power at Work Within Us
- The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us, empowering us to partner with the Spirit.
- “We cannot, we must not, do these things in our own strength. We must do it by His power, His might, and His Spirit.”
Discussion Questions
Understanding the Passage
- Why does Paul emphasize knowing God better in his prayer for the Ephesian church?
- What does it mean for the “eyes of your heart” to be enlightened?
Applying the Message
- How does knowing the hope God has called you to change the way you face life’s challenges?
- How can you remind yourself daily that you are part of God’s glorious inheritance?
Living in His Power
- How can you rely more on His strength rather than your own?
- Share a moment when you felt God’s power at work in your life. How did it change the situation?
Application Prompts
- Personal Reflection
- Spend time this week reflecting on how well you know God.
- Encouragement to Others
- Use Ephesians 1:15-23 to pray for someone specific and commit to praying for them daily.
- Walking in His Power
- Identify an area in your life where you need God’s power. Take a step of faith this week, trusting in His strength.
Prayer Prompts
- Thanksgiving
- Praise God for the hope He has given you and for calling you His inheritance.
- Confession
- Acknowledge times when you’ve relied on your own strength rather than His power.
- Intercession
- Pray Ephesians 1:15-23 over someone in your life, asking God to open their heart to His hope, power, and love.
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