February 12, 2017
Mark’s great messages the last three Sundays were….
“Jesus-Man of Power”, “Jesus-Man of Passion” and “Jesus-Man of Prayer”.
This week we continue with prayer looking at one of Paul’s prayers.
Read Ephesians 3:14-21. In a sentence or two write out the essence of Paul’s prayer.
Answer the following from Eph 3:16,18.
Let’s discuss Eph 3:18.
What are the four aspects of God’s love Paul prayed God’s people would ‘Have the power to understand’?
Read and discuss the following….
God’s love is total says Paul. It reaches to every corner of our experience. It is Wide– it covers the breadth of our own experience and it reaches out to the whole world. God’s love is Long-it continues the length of our lives. It is High-it rises to the heights of our celebration and elation. His love is Deep-it reaches to the depths of discouragement, despair and even death. When you feel shut out or isolated, remember that you can never be lost to God’s love…. #
Read Romans 8:35-39. Write down the 16 things Paul says cannot separate us from God’s love.
Discuss Paul’s summary In Romans 8:39.
What is the assurance he gives us in Romans 8:32?
Consider the depths Christ went to because of His love for you. Philippians 2:6-8, Hebrews 12:2-4.
Application.
What is our part? How do we receive God’s love and respond to it? See Eph 3:12, 17, 4:1
If you have grown up from childhood in the church environment hearing the words ‘God loves you’ how do you know it isn’t just intellectual ‘head knowledge’ but know from your heart you really understand God’s love for you in a personal tangible daily experience?
How does experiencing God’s love on a daily basis show?
Are your ‘roots growing down into God’s love?’ Eph 3:17 How do you know?
What results will we see in our struggles of life? For some examples see Philippians 4:6-7, James 1:2-4,1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 11:28-30.
List some of God’s promises you believe. Eg: Acts 4:24, Romans 8:28, Hebrews 6:17-19.
Are you growing toward God’s goal for you? How closely does your daily walk reflect Eph. 3:19?
What did Paul say was his experience? 2 Corinthians 5:14.
Discuss in your group the following….
Everything that Paul and his companions did was to honor God…… Christ’s love controlled their actions. The word ‘controls’ means ‘to hold fast’. In other words the love of Christ was constraining them to certain courses of action. They knew that Jesus out of His great love, had given up His life for their sakes. He had not acted out of his own self interest, selfishly holding on to the joy of Heaven that He already possessed (Philippians 2:6). Instead Jesus had willing died for everyone. Because Christ died for us, we also are dead to our old life. Like Paul we should no longer live for ourselves: we should spend our life pleasing Christ #
When have you felt overwhelmed by God’s love for you and others?
If someone has grown up not experiencing love from an earthly family but rejection and pain in their relationships how can this person come to understand the love of God in a personal tangible way? How could we as the ‘Body of Christ’ help? How could Home Groups help?
Do you pray Paul’s prayer Eph. 3:14-21 for others who don’t know or fully grasp how wide, how long, how high and how deep God’s love is for them?
Finish by praying Paul’s prayer for such people.
#taken from ‘Life Application Study Bible’