Know the Hope

Message Study Questions

Opening Discussion

What are some common challenges or distractions in your daily life?
How do you currently experience and express your hope in Christ?

Message Summary

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians, and for us, is that we continue to grow in our understanding of our chosen status. In order to do so, there must be a deepening of our spiritual understanding (our heads) and a deepening of our affection (our hearts). In Christ, we have a great, living hope. Life’s difficulties and busyness cause us to forget this hope. Paul’s reminder is for believers to always know the hope we have in Christ.

Discussion

Read Ephesians 1:15-23, then answer the following questions.

Paul expresses gratitude for the Ephesians’ faith and love. Remember Paul wrote this while in prison. How does Paul’s gratitude for their spiritual growth challenge or inspire your own faith journey?
According to verses 16-18, what three things does Paul do/ask for the believers when he prays for them?
From verse 18 - What is it that the “eyes of your heart” are meant to see? Why do you think these three realities are so crucial for us to grasp?
Paul prays for the Ephesians to have a deeper understanding of their hope in Christ. What are some practical ways you can deepen your own spiritual understanding and experience of this hope?
How do life’s difficulties and busy schedules affect your ability to maintain focus on your hope in Christ? What strategies have you found helpful in keeping this hope alive amidst challenges?
In what ways can a deepened affection for Christ impact your relationships with others? How does this affection shape your actions and attitudes toward those around you?
Verse 19 speaks of a ‘incomparably great power” - What is this power? And why does Paul include it here?
How can understanding the ‘hope of His calling’ help us respond to feelings of doubt or insecurity about our future? What role does this hope play in shaping your outlook on life’s uncertainties?
Paul’s prayer is for believers to have both spiritual understanding and affection. How can this group support each other in growing both in knowledge and affection in our faith?

Food for Thought

“In Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul’s prayer is not for the Ephesians to receive more gifts or blessings, but to grasp what they have already been given. The emphasis is on a deeper spiritual insight into the reality of their chosen status, the immense power of God in their lives, and the hope of their calling. This passage underscores that the Christian life is not about achieving new spiritual heights,but about awakening to the profound truths that are already ours in Christ. It is a
call to recognize and live out the extraordinary hope, power, and inheritance we possess through Jesus, which radically transforms our perception of our daily struggles and our place in God’s grand design.”
-Timothy Keller

Application

To apply the insights of this week’s study, we need to embrace the profound spiritual truth already available to us in Christ. Instead of seeking a new experience, focus on deepening your understanding of what you already have in Christ - you are a chosen child with an inheritance and hope. This week spend time reflecting on what you already have in Christ.

In your own words, describe your hope in Christ:

Prayer PointsPRAYER POINTS

Pray for deeper understanding of God’sWord and affection for Jesus.
Pray for focus and wisdom for when to say “no” to the busyness of life.
Pray for 2 other people that you can share the hope you’ve found in
Christ.

Continued Study

Reflect on a specific challenge you are currently experiencing and consider how the spiritual truth of Ephesians 1:15-23 might influence your approach to it.
Identify specific spiritual practices or habits that you could incorporate into your routine to enhance your understanding and experience of the truth of God’s Word.
Memorize Colossians 1:27.