Belong Because of Grace

Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1–10 (ESV)

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Why is grace necessary to belong?

1.) Because We are Broken. (v 1-3)

2.) Because God is Loving. (v 4-7)

3.) Because God is the Hero of the Story. (v 8-9)

4.) Because We Belong to God. (v 10)

Questions:

Head-

What stood out to you about tonight’s message?

What are some ways you have experienced the brokeness of this world? Did it point you toward God or away from God?

What are the advantages of God’s saving work flowing from His grace and not from our works?

Heart-

Why is it so difficult for many to see God’s grace as enough to reconcile our relationship with him?

As a group, each person discuss one way you have experienced God’s grace and love in the past year.

How does seeing ourselves and others as “his workmanship” (Ephesians 2:10) help us to be more unified as a student ministry? As a church?

Hands-

If God is full of mercy, grace, and love, how are you challenged to more accurately reflect those characteristics in your own life?

What does this statement mean, “Faith is meant to be personal, but never private”. Do you agree or disagree with it? Why?

Identify one person in your life that is close to you, but far from God? Each person write down one name. The challenge is that in the next 30 days you would share with them how awesome God’s love and grace are. Here’s a tool that may help you. Let’s pray for all of the names mentioned. (www.namb.net/evangelism/life-on-mission-app/)