Ephesians 1:17-23 Breakout Groups

We had a different sort of activity at our worship gathering tonight. Instead of listening to a speaker, we got to break up into smaller groups and talk through Ephesians 1:17-23. John put together a list of questions to get discussion going, and it turns out there's a lot to talk about in those few verses.

One of the questions was "What is one step you will take this week to align your life with the truth of this passage?" This is one of those dangerous, slightly scary questions where there are a lot of good answers, but most of them take some work and have a very real possibility of leading you to grow spiritually. My one step? At the end of each day, I'll take a few minutes to think through what I did all day, and compare what I did to what I could have done. I'll compare what happened with what could have happened if I had been living in the knowledge that God can and will work in me with the same power that raised Christ from the dead (as it says in verses 19-21).

My hope is that by reflecting on my day, I'll practice really knowing God's power. And then I might start to live out that knowledge.

Comments are open to share insights or your "one step" from tonight's breakout groups.

Spiritual Q & A - The Answered Questions

We held our Spiritual Q & A last night. While many across Iowa were questioning who to caucus for, we were asking questions about life, the Bible, spiritual matters, and more. I must say there were some GREAT questions asked, and I wish we could have gotten to all of them.

Below are the questions we DID get to. The other questions we didn't have time for will be posted in separate posts with comments open.

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- What is the "year of Jubilee"?

- My friend proclaims Christ, but is considering moving with her boyfriend. She says the Bible has nothing to say about this issue. What does the Bible say about this issue?

- If a person is in a relationship with a non-Christian, should that person continue the relationship or break it off and have a "hole" in their heart? Also, would Jesus be upset if that person wants to stay in the relationship?

- What are some good verses or passages that can encourage others in their faith?

- What is faith, and is it blind?

- My parents are new believers and are unfamiliar with the Bible. Where would you recomend they start reading in the Bible?

- How can we be joyful, knowing that some people will not be with God in eternity?

- When studying the historical books of the Old Testament, how do we "put ourselves in the Israelite's Place" - reconciling the ethics of a nation at that time - military conquest, plunder, putting the conquered "to the sword" vs. our ethics since the time of Christ - "love your neighbor", "peace", etc.?

- Many Muslims believe Allah is the same as the Christian God - how does the Christian church view the relationship between Yahweh and Allah?

Question - Church

How should we address the fact that the Church as a whole is miserable, poor, blind, and naked?

Question - Matthew 6

What does "the eye is the lamp of the body" and "if the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness" mean in Matthew 6?

Question - Bible Translations

Note: There were two different questions related to this topic, so they are both being put in the same post.

What is/are good translations of the Bible? Why? What benefits? Ease of understanding?

Which translation of the Bible is the best to read? (i.e. most accurate)

Question - Obedience

How can we grow in obedience?

Question - Worldliness and Holiness

What is Wordliness?

-OR-

How do we become holy?

Question - Taming the Tongue

The Bible says the mouth is like a wild animal that cannot be tamed - how does the Lord teach us to control our tongue?

Question - Guidance Scriptures

This spring I will be graduating from school, but I don't know where I'll end up when I find a job. What verses would be helpful in guiding me on trusting God to help me through this big change in my life?

Question - Sabbath?

Should we observe a Sabbath? Why?

(Preferably answer in terms of the Covenant Theology vs. New Covenant Theology vs. Despensationalism debate)

Question - Christianity being purified?

Is Christianity going through a purification process?

e.g. Catholics -> Methodists -> Baptists -> Pentecostals