SUBLIME: Ephesians – Week 7 | Ryan Falls

Ephesians 2:1-7 – The Last Word, the Beginning of Hope

I. Insurmountable?

1. Prejudice, systemic racism, injustice
2. Global pandemic
3. Economic impact

II. Why it was necessary (vs. 1-3)

1. We were dead
   i. We didn’t need…
   ii. Different consequences, same issue iii. We were characterized by sin
2. Nurture and Nature
   i. The course of this world
   ii. The power of Satan
   iii. The sin nature and twisted desires
3. The other side of the coin: wrath

III. How it happens

1. The last word – our attempt
2. The last word – God’s victory
3. Where He’s coming from
   i. Mercy
   ii. Love
   iii. Grace
4. What we receive
   i. Life
   ii. Power
   iii. Status
   iv. Hope

Next Week… what it means

Discussion Questions:

1. How have you processed everything going on in our world these past months, and what have you learned/had to face these last couple of weeks in particular?
2. When did you come to terms with the realities of Ephesians 2:1-3? What stood out to you as we looked at the verses together?
3. How have you been affected and influenced(nurture) by the external influences of a fallen world? Where do you still feel the pull of the “course of this world” and “the prince of the power of the air”?
4. What about nature? Where do you struggle with your good desires being twisted?
5. In the midst of writing these questions, I(Ryan) thought a good point of discussion mightbe this question: why do we have such a hard time with confession? It doesn’t come directly out of the text, but is tangentially relevant. These first verses really challenge our pride and remind us of just how broken our world is.
6. What about the little phrase “but God” is meaningful and hopeful to you?
7. How does the gospel speak into the problems we’re facing today? How does it continue to transform you?