Small Group Study Guide
November 4 Message: Growing Up
Text: Ephesians 4:1-16
Connecting with Each Other
 At what age did you have your biggest physical “growth spurt”? Were you ahead of other kids your
age or catching up?
Connecting with the Bible
1.
In Ephesians 4:1 Paul writes, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” By
“calling” he means all that he has already identified as God’s intended goal in calling us to Christ.
Take a look back through the material in Ephesians we’ve studied so far and write down what our
calling is.
1:12
1:18
2:10
2:21
2:22
3:10
3:17
3:18
3:19
3:21
2. What are the four things Paul urges the Ephesians to do in 4:1-3?
3. According to biblical scholars Ephesians 4:4-6 may have been one of the first creeds in the early
Christian church. In these ten phrases Paul disempowers any validation of on-going division between
Jewish and Gentile believers in the church at Ephesus—and in the church today. Read the earlier
passage from Ephesians listed below and identify what has already been said about believer’s unity in
Christ.
1:11-13
1:10,22
2:14-15
2:18
2:19
3:6
4. In Ephesians 4:11 Paul says Jesus gave the gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers
to benefit the church. What are the four stated purposes for these gifts according to verses 12 and 13?
5. Describe the two results or benefits of spiritual maturity provided in verses 14 and 15?
In Your Own Words
1. What is the difference between a calling and a job? What does it mean that the Christian life is a
calling?
2. According to verses 12 and 13, who is supposed to be performing works of ministry (service)? How do
we know when our works of ministry are done? How will you know you no longer have to work on
improving yourself?
So Now What?
1. Based on all the material we’ve read in Ephesians up to this point, can you identify an area (or areas) in
your life as a Christian that needs more attention toward maturity? What steps can you take to mature
in this area?
Praying from Ephesians 4:1-16
Praying the text of Scripture is an ancient practice and since Ephesians is simply saturated with praying, it is easy to use
its own language as prayer. Each study guide will include an opportunity for groups to “pray the text” using various
Bible translations, with slight alterations to the pronouns.
Lord we want to walk—no, run!—on the road you called us to travel. No more sitting around on our hands.
No strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. Give us humility and discipline so we can do this not in
fits and starts, but steadily, pouring ourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and
quick at mending fences.
As we travel this same road, keep us together, both outwardly and inwardly. In you, we have one
Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present
in all. Because of you, everything we are and think and do is permeated with oneness.
In your great generosity, Jesus, you have given each of us our own gift. You have filled heaven and
earth with your gifts! You have given us gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers to train us
in skilled servant work, working within your body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily
with each other, efficient and graceful in response to you, fully mature adults, fully developed within and
without, fully alive like you.
Please, keep us from prolonged infancies. We know you want us to grow up, to know the whole truth
and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. Help us take our lead from Christ, who is the source of
everything we do. Jesus, keep us in step with each other. Your very breath and blood flow through us,
nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love. Amen. (from The Message)