Stuck Lesson 5 - Overwhelmed

This week’s challenge… How did it go for everyone?

Passage: Ephesians 2:1-10 NLT “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are {united with Christ Jesus}. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” What is this passage telling us? [open-ended question] Breakdown the passage: What are the characteristics of people who follow the ways of the world? Dead: (1) no longer living (2) absolute; complete = “slain” (AMP): kill (a person or animal) in a violent (using or involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something) way Live in sin: What does this mean? = “walked habitually” (AMP) Obeying the Devil = go over AMP version “following the course {the way in which something progresses or develops} and fashion {popular trend} of this world”  what are some of the ways the world has progressed? What are some of the “fashions” of the world today? “under the sway {influence} of the tendency of this present age”  how do we see people fall into this? “following the prince of the power of the air “  why “air”? “obedient to and under the control of “  what images come to mind? BUT GOD” What changed when Christ rescued people from that rule? Life: “He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him” = AMP Why be specific about the “life” we receive? We are given the same life that resurrected Christ. There is no other life like that; there is no other life that holds such power. To conquer death is unimaginable, but He did it. Saved: “delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation” = AMP; “he embraced us” (MSG)  Why would The Message interpret it as ”embracing” us? In the “ickiness” of our sin, God demonstrated an intentional, personal, all-encompassing act of love and affection. God’s masterpiece pièce de résistance (french) = (especially with reference to creative work or a meal) the most important or remarkable feature Tour de force (french) = an impressive performance or achievement that has been accomplished or managed with great skill magnum opus (latin) = a large and important work of art, music, or literature, especially one regarded as the most important work of an artist or writer Anew in Christ Jesus = “recreated” (AMP) = reproduce We weren’t repaired; we weren’t covered; God didn’t just put a bandaid over us. HE MADE US COMPLETELY NEW! United with Christ Jesus (x2) = “come or bring together for a common purpose or action” (AMP)  Why repeat this characteristic? What is so important about being united with Christ? For what purpose did Christ save you? Examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness = “to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus” (MSG) Do the good things He planned for us long ago = “living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live “ (AMP)  love this! How does this relate to being overwhelmed? (We looked at who we were, who we are now, and why we were made new…why were each of these topic areas addressed and why do you think Jennie Allen would choose this passage to address the issue of being overwhelmed?) We talked last week about how being scared and full of worry is unnatural; we were not intended to live that way, and when we live in a way that God did not intend, it is sin. We see in this passage that living in sin is something that we “once were”, BUT GOD…but God saved us from all of that. He gave us the life that would resurrect us from living the way the world lives and become completely new masterpieces that were to be united with Christ for a purpose much greater than this world could ever give us, and in all of this, God is demonstrating to that broken world we came from that He still loves us, that He cares and has incredible blessings of grace and kindness to offer so we can live the good life that He intended, a life free from worry. The right attitude to counteract being overwhelmed is to rest in the hope and power of Christ’s resurrecting life, the life He is freely offering us, the life He has always intended for us to live.

Control or God? Psalm 3:3 (The Message) Ephesians 1:3-4 (Amplified) But you, God, shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head high; 3 Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ, 4 just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose- driven] and blameless in His sight.

“I feel simply carried along each hour, doing my part in a plan which is far beyond myself. This sense of cooperation with God in little things is what so astonished me, for I have never felt this way before. I need something, and turn round to find it waiting for me. I must work to be sure, but there is God working along with me. My part is to live this hour in continuous inner conversation with God and in perfect responsiveness to His will. This seems to be all I need to think about.” Practicing His Presence – Frank Laubach

Challenge – project 4 (pg. 105) Strip away concerns about time, money, your abilities, your capacities, your life stage, your insecurities, and your reality. If all of these were not an issue, what would be the things God desires to do through you on this planet? Dream… I want you to frame your “dream” and bring it next week. Throughout the week, think of what is stopping you from reaching that dream, what is keeping you from living the life that God intended for you to live, what is hindering you from fulfilling your purpose on this earth?

Did you make efforts to share the Gospel this week? Accountability Worship Connect Serve Devotion Struggles Lesson 5 Family Christian community Mentor/Mentee Home School Church SHARE Did you make efforts to share the Gospel this week?