Sermons in July and August
Ephesians Sermon Series
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Week 1 - 14 July
Lectionary Reading: Ephesians 1.3-14
- Do you think of yourself as one of the ‘saints who are in..’ Ludlow? (v.1)
- How do you feel you have been ‘blessed’ by God? (v.3)
- In what ways could people say of us as a church that they have heard of our faith and our ‘love towards all the saints’? (v.15)
- We sometimes say in the Eucharist ‘We are the Body of Christ’ (v.22-23). What does that mean for you?
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Ephesians Chapter 1
Week 2 - 21 July
Lectionary Reading: Ephesians 2.11-22
- What do you make of the idea of ‘the ruler of the power of the air’ (v.2)? Is having a concept of an external power of evil still appropriate in today’s world?
- ‘Grace’ is a major New Testament word (v.5-9). Old preachers used to define it as ‘God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.’ That may be questionable. But how do you define it?
- Does the language of reconciling Jew and Gentile (v.12-15) have anything to offer in our present world divisions?
- Michel Quoist wrote a prayer about us being bricks in the right place in God’s building (v.21- 22). What is your place in the structure?
Ephesians Chapter 2
Week 3 - 28 July
Lectionary Reading: Ephesians 3.14-21
- The writer speaks of having a ‘revelation’ to share. (v.3-4). Have you ever felt a sense of having a revelation about God?
- He talks of a mystery having been made clear (v.9-10). What do you think he meant by that, and what are the mysteries we still wrestle with?
- He writes about his imprisonment (v.1) and his suffering (v.13). Some fellow-Christians are imprisoned and suffering today. How do we relate to them? What might they have to teach us?
- How have you experienced being ‘strengthened in your inner being’ (v.16)?
Ephesians Chapter 3
Week 4 - 4 August
Lectionary Reading: Ephesians 4.1-16
- What are the things which make it hard for you to ‘maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace’? (v.3)
- What gifts has God given you as your contribution to the building up of the body of Christ (v.11-12)?
- What makes you feel ‘tossed to and fro’ (v.14) in your faith?
- Do you think of non-believers as being ‘in the dark’ (v.18). Or is God at work in everyone?
Ephesians Chapter 4.1-24
Week 5 - 11 August
Lectionary Reading: Ephesians 4.25- 5.2
- How do you deal with the anger you sometimes feel? (v.26)
- Do you find it easier to have ‘bitterness, wrath, and anger’ (v.31) or to be ‘tender-hearted, kind and forgiving’ (v.32)?
- What do you understand by ‘the wrath of God’ (v.6) How does that square with the idea of a God of love?
- How can we try to find out what is ‘pleasing to the Lord? (v.10)
Ephesians Chapter 4.25 - Chapter 5.14
Week 6 - 18 August
Lectionary Reading: Ephesians 5.15-20
- How can we ‘make the most of the time’ (v.15)?
- How do we understand the words about marital relationships (v.22-29) in the light of today’s different concept of marriage?
- How do you understand the image of Christ as Bridegroom and the Church as Bride (v.32)?
- Is there any difference between loving and respecting (v.33)?
Ephesians Chapter 5.15-33
Week 7 - 25 August
Lectionary Reading: Ephesians 6.10-20
- How do parents provoke their children to anger (v.4)? Have you done that?
- We now see slavery as completely wrong. So how can we apply the words addressed here to slaves and masters (v.5-9)
- What are the forces of evil we contend with today (v.12)?
- Which parts of the armour of God (v.13-17) are most helpful to you?
Ephesians Chapter 6
