Sermon Notes
- Part of the __________ (v. 14-15)
- We have a __________ (v. 14)
- ____________ to riches (1:18-21; 2:7,18; 3:12)
- We have a __________ (v. 14)
- Powerful _____________ (v. 16-19)
- Receive inner ____________ (v. 16)
- Experience Christ’s _____________ (v. 17)
- Comprehend Christ’s __________ (v. 18-19a)
- Be filled with God’s _____________ (v. 19b)
Going Deeper
- What do you want most for yourself and your loved ones? List 3-5 things that first come to mind.
- What does God want most for you and your loved ones? Meditate on some passages like John 17:3; Romans 8:28-29; Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 1:15-21; 3:14-19; 3 John 1:4 and list 3-5 things that these verses bring to mind.
- When you pray for yourself or for others, what kind of things do you tend to ask for? List a few things that seem to come up the most in your prayers.
- Look over your list. Are these good things to ask for? Are they the best things to ask for? How do they compare to what Paul asks for his loved ones?
- D. A. Carson says, “In a culture where so many people are desperate for good health but not demonstrably hungry for the transformation of the inner being, Christians are in urgent need of following Paul’s example and praying for displays of God’s power in the inner being.” (Praying with Paul) Do you agree with Carson’s assessment? Why or why not?
- Do you ever find yourself praying for a display of God’s power? Why or why not? What kind(s) of power should we be praying for? What kind(s) should we not be praying for?
- What kind of adjustments might you want to make in your prayer habits? Think small at first.
- Praying Scripture for yourself and others can be very powerful and effective when done with sincerity, not mindlessly or legalistically. How might you incorporate the content of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19 (and/or Ephesians 1:15-21) into your prayers for yourself and others?