Weekly Discussion Guide

Pastor Matt talked about what it means to connect with God and what He is doing through the church, the body of Christ. By doing so, we invest our lives in endeavors that will bear fruit throughout eternity— but we must also focus on removing those obstacles in our lives that might hinder our progress.

MY STORY | Starting Place
What’s the best training you’ve ever had? What made the instructor so special?

DIGGING DEEPER | Practical Biblical Application
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. (Ephesians 4:7)

As a follower of Christ, you have received mercy, forgiveness, and the gift of a new life—one that’s now in harmony with God’s purpose.

How has God’s purpose in your life shaped your identity? Which of Christ’s gifts was given to you to accomplish that purpose?

Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (Psalm 68)

Paul quotes Psalm 68 here, pointing to Christ’s ascension and the distribution of gifts. What do we have now that apostles didn’t have during the time with Jesus on earth? What gifts do we have at our disposal now that Christ has ascended and sits at the right hand of God?

GROWING TOGETHER | Spiritual Friendship
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13)

Discuss the diversity of gifts Paul listed as given by Christ; why are there so many? What might happen if one of them were missing?

What is the stated purpose of the gifts given to the leaders in the church? How have you been equipped to do the work of ministry by those who lead us?

How do the combination of these diverse gifts equip us in unique ways build-up one another?

According to verse 13, what is the true measure of spiritual maturity? What grade would you give yourself in this regard?

So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doc- trine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (vs. 14-16)

We recently learned how harmful habits of flesh and mind can overrule harmony with God’s purpose.

In what area of life are you most likely to be deceived by old ways of thinking? How does spiritual growth in those areas diminish the impact of momentum of your former hang-ups?

Look at verses 14-16. Ask yourself, “How is my true inner person available for Christ to dwell – in my body, mind and spirit – so that He can _________ ” How would you finish that statement?

Paul admonishes us to speak the truth in love. What does hearing the truth without love sound like? How can our loving feelings for someone hold us back from graciously telling that person the truth?

MOVING OUTWARD | Faith in Action
Now this I say and testify in he Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. (Ephesians 4:17)

Is there any hurt, hang-up, or unhealthy habit that makes you indistinguishable from the world? If so, what steps can you take this week, with the Holy Spirit’s help, to overcome this tendency?

Use your gifts this week in such a way as to meet a legitimate need in the body—if you can do so anonymously, all the better.