The Forge - Ephesians 3

1. "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms." (v. 10)One of the mysteries of God's plan is His desire to use the church to communicate His love, grace, invitation, and forgiveness.What mysteries has God revealed to you? How are you walking in the truth of those mysteries in your daily life? How can we, as a church, walk in the revealed mysteries of God?2. "In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." (v. 12)What hinders you from approaching God with freedom and confidence? What person or situation in your life do you need to carry to God with freedom and confidence?3. Read verses 14-21. Our capacity to be filled with all the fullness of whom God comes from being rooted in love.What does it look like for you to be rooted in love? What does it look like to be filled with all the fullness of God?You can walk through this quick list to check where your roots lie. In the places you find something other than Christ's love and perhaps sin blooming, do not respond in shame or judgment; receive it as an invitation for pruning and another opportunity to remember His vast love.Mentally - What thoughts blossom from receiving Christ's love for you, and which thoughts shrivel from being rooted in something else (control, fear, pride, etc.)Emotionally - What emotions do you most often experience in an ordinary day? Which of those do you intentionally lead toward Christ's love, and which do you let lead you?Physically - If you have felt a physical response to Christ's love, what was it, and what was it like for you? If you have not, how does this idea of physically feeling Christ's love sound to you? What about Christ's love physically energizes you?4. Paul blesses the Ephesians with a prayer. He prays they fully understand God's love (v. 17-19). What a beautiful thing to pray over someone! Being able to pray that blessing for someone else is most powerful when you have experienced the height, width, and depth of His love yourself.How have you experienced an overwhelming love of God? How is that reflected in your testimony? Share that love story with someone to encourage them to seek that love for themselves. Use it as a blessing for someone!