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Living a Life Worthy of Your Calling

Study Guide for Sermon on Ephesians 4:1-16: “Living a Life Worthy of Your Calling”

Opening Prayer

Begin by asking God to reveal His calling on your life and how you can live in a way that reflects His holiness. Pray for humility, unity, and a deeper commitment to Christ.

Scripture Passage: Ephesians 4:1-16

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
(Ephesians 4:1-3, NIV)

Key Themes from the Sermon

  • The Call to Live Worthy of Christ
    • Our primary calling is to Christ before any specific role or ministry.
  • The Cost of Following Jesus
    • True discipleship requires sacrifice—letting go of pride, impatience, and division.
  • Unity in the Body of Christ
    • The Church is meant to be a united body, working together to reflect Christ.
  • Gifts for the Church and Working Together
    • Christ gives gifts to equip the Church for service.
  • Spiritual Maturity and Growth
    • Speaking truth in love and being deeply rooted in Christ leads to growth.
    • “We will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves… Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean to live worthy of your calling?
  • How do humility, patience, and love help maintain unity in the Church?
  • How can you better use your gifts to serve the body of Christ?

Application Prompts

  • Commit to Living Worthy of Your Calling – Surrender your struggles and ask God to shape you.
  • Using Your Gifts for the Church – Seek opportunities to serve in your local church.
  • Practicing Unity and Love – Encourage and build up someone in your community.

 

Lord, Make Me Holy – What is a Christian’s calling? – Ephesians 4:1-16 – Gracie Roberts

Hope Live | Lord, Make Me Holy | Ephesians 4:1-16 | Gracie Roberts What if your life had a greater […]

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Lord, Make Me Holy – What is a Christian's calling? – Ephesians 4:1-16 – Gracie Roberts
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Rooted in Love, Filled with Power

Study Guide for Sermon on Ephesians 3:14-21: “Rooted in Love, Filled with Power”

Opening Prayer

Begin with a prayer asking God to strengthen your heart and fill you with His love and power. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas where you need deeper roots in His love and greater reliance on His strength.

Scripture Passage: Ephesians 3:14-21

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”
(Ephesians 3:17b-18, NIV)

Key Themes from the Sermon

  • Kneeling Before the Father – The Posture of Strength
    • Paul begins his prayer by kneeling, demonstrating humility, surrender, and dependence on God.
    • “True strength begins when we humble ourselves before God the Father.”
  • Strengthened in the Inner Being – The Source of Strength
    • Paul prays for inner strength, not just external circumstances to change.
    • “When the wheels come off, where do we go? What are we plugged into?”
  • Rooted and Established in Love – The Foundation of Our Lives
    • Like a deeply rooted tree, we must be firmly grounded in God’s love to withstand life’s storms.
    • “If your roots are in God’s love, you will stand strong in difficulty.”
  • Grasping the Vastness of God’s Love
    • God’s love is wide, long, high, and deep—limitless in every way.
    • “God’s love is wider than our sin, longer than our failures, higher than our doubts, and deeper than our pain.”
  • Filled with the Fullness of God – Living in His Power
    • God is able to do “immeasurably more” through His power in us.
    • “When you’re filled with the fullness of God, there’s no room for fear, insecurity, or doubt.”

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean to be “rooted and established in love”?
  • How does Paul describe the dimensions of God’s love?
  • How can understanding the vastness of God’s love change the way you live?

Application Prompts

  • Deepening Your Roots – Spend time meditating on Scripture and praying for a deeper understanding of God’s love.
  • Living in God’s Power – Identify an area where you need to rely more on God’s strength.
  • Sharing God’s Love – Commit to praying for someone who needs to experience God’s love.

Lord, Make Me Holy – How deep does God’s love go? – Ephesians 3:14-21 – Jonny Gios

Hope Live | Lord, Make Me Holy | Ephesians 3:14-21 | Jonny Gios Are you feeling overwhelmed, lost, or searching […]

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Lord, Make Me Holy – How deep does God's love go? – Ephesians 3:14-21 – Jonny Gios
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The Mystery Revealed

Study Guide for Sermon on Ephesians 3:1-13: “The Mystery Revealed”

Opening Prayer

Begin with a prayer asking God to open your heart to the beauty of the gospel. Ask Him to reveal how you can play a part in sharing His message with others and living out His purpose.

Scripture Passage: Ephesians 3:1-13

“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”
(Ephesians 3:6, NIV)

Key Themes from the Sermon

  • The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed
    • The gospel is for everyone, breaking down all barriers.
    • “The gospel is for ALL—wherever you’re from, whatever you look like, whatever you think of yourself, whatever anyone else thinks of you.”
  • The Privilege of Sharing the Gospel
    • Paul sees himself as a humble servant of this message.
    • “We are all humble servants of a great saviour and a great gospel.”
  • The Church as God’s Multi-Coloured Reflection
    • The church displays God’s “manifold wisdom”—a diverse, multiethnic family.
    • “The church is meant to be a reflection of multicoloured, multiethnic community, beautifully woven together by the grace of God.”
  • Living Out the Gospel with Purpose
    • We are part of an eternal restoration project.
    • “We are part of an eternal restoration project.”

Discussion Questions

  • What does Paul mean by the “mystery” of the gospel?
  • Why was this revelation so radical for Paul’s time?
  • What does it mean that we are “heirs together” with Christ?

Application Prompts

  • Living in Unity
    • Reach out to someone different from you this week.
  • Stepping into God’s Purpose
    • Ask God where He wants you to serve.
  • Embracing the Global Mission
    • Research and pray for unreached people groups.

Prayer Prompts

  • Thanksgiving for the Gospel
    • Praise God for including you in His family.
  • Interceding for Unity
    • Pray for churches worldwide to reflect God’s love.
  • Asking for Boldness
    • Pray for courage to share the gospel.

Lord, Make Me Holy – What practical steps can Christians take to reflect the Gospel’s inclusivity? – Ephesians 3:1-13 – Simeon Lapworth

Hope Live | Lord, Make Me Holy | Ephesians 3:1-13 | Simeon Lapworth What if the good news of Jesus […]

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Lord, Make Me Holy – What practical steps can Christians take to reflect the Gospel’s inclusivity? – Ephesians 3:1-13 – Simeon Lapworth
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Jesus in the Wilderness – The Power of Fasting



Jesus in the Wilderness – The Power of Fasting

Study Guide for Sermon on Matthew 4:1-11

Opening Prayer

Begin by asking God to open your heart to the discipline of fasting. Pray for wisdom and strength to seek Him more deeply during this season of Lent.

Scripture Passage: Matthew 4:1-11

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” (Matthew 4:1-2, NIVUK)

Key Themes from the Sermon

1. The History & Purpose of Fasting

Fasting is seen throughout Scripture as a time of seeking God, repentance, and renewal.

  • Moses fasted 40 days on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28).
  • Elijah fasted 40 days before encountering God (1 Kings 19:8).
  • Israel wandered 40 years in the desert as a time of preparation (Deuteronomy 8:2-3).
  • Jesus fasted 40 days before beginning His ministry (Matthew 4:2).

Key Thought: “The fast of Lent is not about self-denial for self-denial’s sake, but a means to seek more of Christ.”

2. Jesus in the Wilderness – What We Learn from His Fast

  • Fasting was Spirit-led: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness…” (Matthew 4:1).
  • Fasting strengthens us for God’s calling.
  • Fasting reveals what we rely on most – Bread, comfort, control, or God?
  • Jesus resisted temptation because He was spiritually strong.
Satan’s Three Temptations:
  1. Physical needs (stones to bread) – Where do we seek satisfaction?
  2. Testing God (jumping from the temple) – Do we trust God’s ways?
  3. Power & control (worshipping Satan for kingdoms) – Who do we truly serve?

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)

3. The Power of Fasting – How It Transforms Us

  • Shifts our focus from the physical to the spiritual (Colossians 3:2).
  • Strengthens us for spiritual battles.
  • Breaks strongholds and aligns us with God’s power (Acts 13:2-3).
  • Deepens our prayer life – Hunger reminds us to pray and depend on God.

4. Hope Church’s Call to Fast – Practical Application

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do… your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18)

Our Church-Wide Fast:
  • 24-hour fast from Tuesday to Wednesday.
  • Weekly prayer gatherings on Wednesdays.
  • Some will fast from food; others from social media, TV, or distractions.
How to Fast Effectively:
  1. Ask God what He is calling you to surrender.
  2. Pair fasting with prayer – Fasting without prayer is just dieting!
  3. Use hunger or discomfort as a prompt to seek Jesus.
  4. Expect God to move – This is about transformation, not legalism.

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Passage

  1. Why do you think Jesus fasted for 40 days before beginning His ministry?
  2. How does fasting help us rely on God rather than our own strength?
  3. What do you learn from the way Jesus resisted Satan’s temptations?

Applying the Message

  1. What is something in your life that you may rely on more than God?
  2. How can fasting help you grow spiritually in this Lent season?
  3. What practical steps can you take to incorporate fasting into your walk with Jesus?

Personal Reflection

  • Are there areas in your life where you feel spiritually weak? How can fasting strengthen you?
  • How might fasting change your perspective on prayer and dependence on God?

Final Thought

“If Jesus needed to fast, how much more do we?”


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Built Together in Christ

Study Guide for Sermon on Ephesians 2:19-22: “Built Together in Christ”

Opening Prayer

Begin with a prayer asking God to open your heart to understand what it means to be part of His holy temple. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in your life where He is shaping and refining you to fit into His Church.

Scripture Passage: Ephesians 2:19-22

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
(Ephesians 2:19-22, NIV)

Key Themes from the Sermon

  • From Strangers to Family
    • Paul reminds the Ephesians that they are no longer outsiders but part of God’s household.
    • “You belong here. God has taken you from being an outsider and brought you into His family.”
  • The Foundation of the Church
    • The Church is built on the teaching of the apostles and prophets.
    • “Without strong foundations, we lose sight of who we are and what God has done for us.”
  • Jesus as the Cornerstone
    • A cornerstone keeps the entire building aligned.
    • “Jesus isn’t just part of the building—He holds everything together and keeps it true.”
  • God Dwelling Among His People
    • Paul describes the Church as a holy temple where God’s Spirit lives.
    • “God doesn’t want to be far from you—He wants to be present with His people.”

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean to be “fellow citizens” and “members of God’s household”?
  • Why is Jesus called the “chief cornerstone,” and why is that important for the Church?
  • What are some “walls” that can prevent unity in the Church today?

Application Prompts

  • Strengthening Your Foundation
    • Spend time studying Scripture this week to deepen your understanding of who you are in Christ.
  • Living as God’s Temple
    • Identify ways you can live in a way that reflects God’s presence in you.
  • Allowing God to Shape You
    • Ask God to show you any areas of brokenness or sin that need His restoration.

Prayer Prompts

  • Thank God for making you a citizen of His Kingdom and a member of His household.
  • Pray that the Church would stand firm on its foundation in Christ.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to fill His Church with His presence.

Contact Info

Hope Church Lancaster

Psalm 119:114

'You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.'

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Hope Church is a part of the Free Methodist Church UK

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