Application Questions

1. What is something God has been teaching you through your Bible reading this week? 
    
2. What is one truth or “take-away” from the sermon that you found particularly challenging/convicting/helpful?
    
3. Read Ephesians 5:15-21. What commands are given in this passage and which ones do you find most challenging to live out in your life?
    
4. What is one specific way you could personally apply verse 15 by making better use of your time this week? Consider asking someone else (community group member, family member, someone else in the church, etc.) to help keep you accountable in your daily schedule.
    
5. People often wonder what God’s will is for their lives. Yet, verse 17 commands us to understand what the will of the Lord is. Based on everything in Ephesians 5 that leads up to this command, what is the will of the Lord for your life?
    
6. Take time to pray that God would help you to grow in thankfulness towards Him and in humility, according to Ephesians 5:20-21. Then, think of a couple practical ways you can intentionally cultivate those attitudes this week. What’s one area that you need to humbly submit to others in order to show your reverence to Christ? 

Discussion Questions

1. What is something God has been teaching you through your Bible reading this week? 
    
2. What is one truth or “take-away” from the sermon that you found particularly challenging/convicting/helpful?
    
3. Read Ephesians 5:3-4. What six sins are we instructed to “put off”? What light does 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1 shed on this idea of putting off filthiness?
    
4. Consider Ephesians 5:4 along with Matthew 12:33-37. Why is it so crucial to be holy even in our speech? (See also James 3:1-12)
    
5. Read Ephesians 5:5-6. What warning is given in this passage? 16. Paul gives a similar warning in I Corinthians 6:9-11. Based on these two passages, why would a sexually immoral person, an impure person, someone who is covetous, have no inheritance in the kingdom of God?
    
6. Read Ephesians 5:7-14. When you consider the contrast between light and darkness in this passage, ask yourself whether there are certain areas of your life – your thought processes, your attitudes, your social media habits – that are living in darkness or perhaps living in a “gray” zone. Are there changes you need to make in your life, based on Paul’s admonition to live in the light? How can your community group help you make these changes?

Discussion Questions

1. What is something God has been teaching you through your Bible reading this week? 
    
2. What is one truth or “take-away” from the sermon that you found particularly challenging/convicting/helpful?
    
3. Read Ephesians 5:1-2. How do we imitate God as we walk in love? (See John 10:11 and Philippians 2:4)
    
4. Read Ephesians 5:3-4. What six sins are we instructed to “put off”? What light does 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1 shed on this idea of putting off filthiness?
    
5. Consider Ephesians 5:4 along with Matthew 12:33-37. Why is it so crucial to be holy even in our speech? (See also James 3:1-12)
    
6. Read Ephesians 5:5-14. When you consider the contrast between light and darkness in this passage, ask yourself whether there are certain areas of your life – your thought processes, your attitudes, your social media habits – that are living in darkness or perhaps living in a “gray” zone. Are there changes you need to make in your life, based on Paul’s admonition to live in the light? How can your community group help you make these changes?

Discussion Questions

1. Write down any questions you have from the message and discuss them with your community group.

Family Christmas Quiz

[See if you or your family can answer these Christmas questions, and then use the Scripture references to look up the answers and see if you were right!]

1.  Who told Joseph to travel to Bethlehem? (Luke 2:1-4) 
    
2. Where and when did the wise men meet Jesus? (Matthew 2:1, 8-12, 16)
    
3. How many angels spoke to the shepherds? (Luke 2:8-14)
    
4. This devout man was told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Christ. (Luke 2:25-32)
    
5. What are the names of the relatives Mary stayed with for 3 months after the angel’s announcement? (Luke 1:35-40)
    
6. If Jesus was born in Bethlehem, why is He called “Jesus of Nazareth”? (Matthew 2:13-23)
    
7. Can you list all 8 occurrences of angels and/or dreams in the Christmas story? (Matthew 1:18-2:23 and Luke 1:8-2:20)

Discussion Questions

1. What is something God has been teaching you through your Bible reading this week? 
    
2. What is one truth or “take-away” from the sermon that you found particularly challenging/convicting/helpful?
    
3. Read Ephesians 4:25-27. How might this passage, impact the way you interact with other when you are angry? According to verse 27, what is really at stake when believers are angry with one another? How does this affect the value you place on unity within the body of Christ?
    
4. Read Ephesians 4:28-30. What criteria are given for speech? What are some ways in which a believer’s speech could grieve the Holy Spirit?
    
5. Read Ephesians 4:31-32. What contrasts can be drawn between the things listed in verse 31 and the things listed in verse 32? According to verse 32, what is the motivation and the source of our ability to do these things?
    
6. Other than the five specific areas of the Christian life addressed in this passage, what are some other areas in which you need to continually apply the “put off” and “put on” pattern of Ephesians 4?  What Scripture passages do you use to “renew” your mind and guide you in that process?

Discussion Questions

1. What is something God has been teaching you through your Bible reading this week? 
    
2. What is one truth or “take-away” from the sermon that you found particularly challenging/convicting/helpful?
    
3. Read Ephesians 4:17-24. Compare the differences between the old self and the new self. How does Galatians 5:16-26 help us to apply Ephesians 4:17-24?
    
4. What causes the differences between the old self (futile way of the Gentiles) and the righteous way of the new self? (Compare Ephesians 4:18 with Ephesians 4:20-21.)
    
5. When you consider the ignorance and hardness of heart that alienates from God (v18) and the difference that being taught the truth of Christ makes (verses 20-21) why is it important to be discerning in the things you allow to influence your life? What are some examples of being discerning in regards to the way you spend your time, the people you hang out with, the music you listen to, movies you watch, etc.?
    
6. Are there traces of the “old self” that you still deal with in your own life? How does the reminder of the truth of Christ encourage you? What are ways your community group can help you in the process of renewing your mind?

Discussion Questions

1. What is something God has been teaching you through your Bible reading this week? 
    
2. What is one truth or “take-away” from the sermon that you found particularly challenging/convicting/helpful?
    
3. Read Jude 1:17-20. Jude calls believers to remember the predictions of the apostles. Why is it important for us to remember the truths of Scripture when we consider everything going on in our world?
    
4. Based on verses 18-19, what are characteristics of the ungodly?
    
5. Read Jude 1:20-21. According to these verses, how are believers to be different than the ungodly described in the previous verses?
    
6. Read Jude 1:22-23. We see in verse 21 that we are shown mercy by Jesus Christ. Then, verses 22-23 remind us twice to have mercy on others. What are some practical examples of ways you can show mercy to other believers. What are some practical examples of ways you can show mercy to non-believers? Do you have an example of a time when a believer showed you mercy?
    
7. Read Jude 1:24-25. What characteristics of God are mentioned in verse 25. How does this reminder of God’s character encourage your own spiritual perseverance in light of verse 24? (See also Philippians 1:6)

Discussion Questions

1. 1. What is something God has been teaching you through your Bible reading this week? 
    
2. What is one truth or “take-away” from the sermon that you found particularly challenging/convicting/helpful?
    
3. How would you discern that the following unbiblical phrases are false, based on Jude and other passages in scripture?
    
   1. “God wants me to be happy, therefore he’s OK with my sin. He is a God fo Grace, after all” 
       
   2. “It is so old fashioned to say I have to get married before moving in with the person I love.” 
       
   3. “God told me that I should quit my job and join the circus, and I won’t listen to any godly counsel from anyone else because I’m totally convinced God told me to do this.”
       
   4. “How I live out my Christian beliefs is between me and God, so whether or not you think I’m sinning is none of your business.”
       
   5. “Jesus visited me in a dream, revealed new truth to me, and gave me a personal tour of heaven. Buy my book to discover these new truths for yourself and find out what heaven is like!”
       
   6. “Jesus is so loving, he couldn’t possibly send people to hell. I’m sure eventually God saves everyone–maybe even after they die.”

Discussion Questions

1. What is something God has been teaching you through your Bible reading this week? 
    
2. What is one truth or “take-away” from the sermon that you found particularly challenging/convicting/helpful?
    
3. Read Ephesians 4:1-16. What is the calling you’ve been called to in verse 1? Are you walking (living your life) according to the truths of Ephesians chapters 1-3? What are some areas in your life that might need to change to better match the truths in Ephesians?
    
4. Read Jesus’ prayer for all believers in John 17:20-26. Considering that passage as well as Ephesians 4:1-6, why is unity among believers so important? 
    
5. What is the purpose for spiritual gifts mentioned in verses 12 and 13? What are some ways you can use your particular gifts for this purpose? 
    
6. What does it mean to be “tossed to and fro by the waves...” in verse 14? What are some examples of the things warned against in verse 14?
    
7. How do members of the body of Christ guard against the warning in verse 14? (See verses 15-16).