Doing Follows Being

In one paragraph

This message walked through the first three chapters of Ephesians as a second pass, after the congregation had been asked to read the section during the week. The pastor treated these chapters as inspiration before application, grounding the church in what they were and what they are in Christ before turning toward how to live. The final verses of chapter three and the opening of chapter four...

Read together

1. Ephesians 1:1-2 Paul introduces himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, greeting the saints in Ephesus with grace and peace
2. Ephesians 2:1-3 you were dead in trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the prince of the power of the air, children of wrath
3. Ephesians 2:4-7 but God, being rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ and raised us up with him
4. Ephesians 2:8-9 by grace you have been saved through faith, not of works so that no one should boast, it is the gift of God
5. Ephesians 2:10 we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them
6. Ephesians 2:11-12 remember that at one time Gentiles were separated from Christ, alienated from Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God
7. Ephesians 2:13 but now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ
8. Ephesians 2:17-22 fellow citizens and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus the cornerstone, being built together into a dwelling place for God
9. Ephesians 3:1-3 the mystery of Christ revealed to Paul, not made known to sons of men in other generations
10. Ephesians 3:4-6 the mystery that Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel
11. Ephesians 3:7-8 Paul made a minister by the gift of God's grace to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, though he is the least of all the saints
12. Ephesians 3:9-11 to bring to light the plan of the mystery hidden for ages so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to rulers and authorities in heavenly places
13. Ephesians 3:12 in Christ Jesus we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him
14. Ephesians 3:13 Paul asks them not to lose heart over his suffering for them, which is their glory
15. Ephesians 3:14-19 Paul bows his knees to the Father, praying that believers be strengthened through the Spirit, rooted and grounded in love, able to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ
16. Ephesians 3:19 that you may be filled with all the fullness of God
17. Ephesians 3:20-21 now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations
18. Ephesians 4:1-3 Paul urges believers to walk worthy of their calling with humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

Talk about it

1. The pastor said the first three chapters of Ephesians are about 'being' before chapters four through six get to 'doing.' What is the difference between being inspired by who you are in Christ and being told what to do, and why do you think Paul arranged it that way?
2. The pastor asked whether you would rather have God work through your obedience or in spite of your disobedience. How does your honest answer to that question sit with you, and what does it reveal about where you are right now?
3. The only two imperatives in the first three chapters of Ephesians are both the word 'remember,' telling believers to remember what it was like to be without Christ. Why do you think Paul makes that the one thing he commands, and how well do you actually hold onto that memory?
4. The pastor shared the story of a man whose family was killed and children taken by ISIS, who prayed every day for God to send his power to ISIS and change their hearts. What is your honest reaction to that prayer, and what does your reaction tell you about the love of Christ that Paul says surpasses knowledge?
5. The pastor said that taking in Ephesians one through three all week left him unable to sit still and kept moving him toward people. Has scripture ever worked that way in your own life, and what do you think gets in the way of that happening more often?