For some of you who read this blog, you’ll want to simply pass this post by. This post if for those attending our church’s “How to Teach the Bible” class.
We are developing the skill of asking good questions in leading a dialogue teaching lesson in a small group. The assignment is to develop a series of questions (the types discussed in class) on Ephesians 2:1-10.
If you are in the class, please list your questions in the comments section. Members of the class can feel free to interact with the questions, and I may give comment on them as well.
Not to be mean, but on this post, I will not publish or will need to remove comments from those not in the class (we don’t yet have an alternate web-means to accomplish this).
Dialogue questions for Ephesians 2:1-10
Who were dead in their trespasses and sins?
What does Paul say the characteristics of "being dead" are? What do those dead people do?
What is their fate?
What did God do about this?
Why did he do this?
According to verse 4, how have we been saved?
What does it mean to be "made alive together with Christ"?
How are we both seated in the "heavenly places in Christ" and still here?
What is the gift of God, grace or faith?
How did God make dead people alive?
For what purpose did he do this?
Who's riches will be shown in the coming ages?
How will his riches be shown?
How do the dead walk?
How do the living walk?
Sorry it took me a while to get these posted but here are my questions for tomorrow's Sunday School class.
-What three themes do you see in Ephesians 2: 1 – 10? How would you describe those themes?
(possible answers: Life without Christ vv 1-3 / Life in Christ vv 4-6 / The purpose of our salvation vv 7-10)
– Who did Paul say used to be dead in trespasses and sins? (can refer back to Ch 1:1 for context)
– What characterizes a life ruled by sin?
– what characterizes a life in Christ?
– According to v 2 sinful desires come from where? (flesh and mind)
– How is God described in v 5?
– What three primary reasons are given in vv 7-10 for our salvation?
(possible answers: 1. To show Gods grace and kindness 2. So that no one may boast 3. So that we may do good works in response to our salvation)
– How is Gods grace and kindness shown to us?
– What words describe our salvation?
– For what reason were we created?
– Why do you think Paul found it necessary to remind Christians of their life before Christ?
– What can we gain from doing the same in our lives and remembering what God has done for us in Christ? How might you display a thankful and appreciative heart for Christ throughout this week?
This is kinda hard to do without cheating and looking at Erick's answers. 🙂 Also, I'm glad to see that I'm not the last one to do this assignment.
What does it mean that we were dead?
What is a trespass?
Who is the prince of the power of the air?
Who are the sons of disobedience?
In verse 3 when it says "we" who is it talking about?
When it says "children of wrath" whose children were we? Whose wrath?
What is a key word of transition in verse 4?
Why did God make us alive? (v.7)
What is God's purpose in saving us?
What does that mean for our lives? Are we saved for our sake or for the sake of God's glory?
Can we do anything to deserve salvation?
Whose workmanship are we?
What does it mean to be God's workmanship?
What were we created to do?
Can we do those good works in our own strength?
Whose strength do we rely on and who receives the credit for our good works?
Paul Fewell
Ephesians 2:1-10
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Questions:
1.As slaves to our sin how are we dead?
2.As followers of Christ how are we made alive?
3.As unbelievers, in what ways were dead?
a.Dead in transgressions
b.Dead in sin
4.What other problems do we face as unbelievers. Enslaved to follow the ways of the world, Under the ruler ship of Satan, By nature we are objects of Gods wrath, controlled by a spirit other than God. “at work in” = controlled by?
5.Why did God help us out of this tight spot? Because of his great love for us.
6.What was the great currency that God used to help us? “Mercy”
7.Now that we follow Christ where are we positionally with God i.e. where has Christ placed us? When did this occur?
8.Why has Christ done this?
9.What comes first our faith in Him or His grace to us?
10.What cost must be paid by us in order to receive His grace? It is a gift- we have no recourses to pay.
11.Is there anything we can do to receive His grace? No, no work of our own will satisfy payment.
12.Why is it a good thing that we do not have the recourses to satisfy God for our transgressions against Him?
13.Are we our own workmanship making ourselves better and better?
14.As followers of Christ what would be good evidence that we have in fact received Gods grace and mercy and are in fact truly following Christ and not some form of works based religion?
15.Considering the work that God has for each one of us to do:
a.Is our work for the Lord a result of life’s circumstances i.e. do we just expect that God will let us find out what it is on our own? No- He prepared it. God never prepares something and then never sees it finished.