May 1, 2023
Ephesians 1:15-23
EXTRAVAGANT POWER
Sometimes Christians say to each other: “I’ll pray for you!” What do you pray? Some of you are leaders, what do you pray for the group of people you lead? In today’s passage, we get a look and a listen into the prayer closet of the apostle Paul. He’s not praying for sunny skies and ease of life, he’s got bigger dreams for the people of God.
Listen to an audio version of the message
Songs for this week: Spotify
Ephesians 1:15-23
- What’s the strength level of your praying lately? What do you find easy about praying? What is hardest?
- Paul mentions that he ‘has not stopped giving thanks’ for the believers in Ephesus. What do you have to give thanks for about the people in your group or those in your church?
- Paul prays that the Ephesian believers would experience three things: intimacy with God, the hope to which they’ve been called, and God’s power. What does each of those include?
- Paul is super jazzed about the Resurrection, Jesus, and the Church. The first two seem obvious. Why would the Church mean so much?
- Finish by praying for each other: pray for intimacy with God, deep hope, and the power of God in the lives of those in your group.
Share with a friend
Recent Sermons

James 2:14-26 -James continues to press deep into the muscles and tissues of our faith. Is your faith doing what it was designed to do? Just like you might go to the doctor for a physical check-up, James offers a self-administered faith check-up in this passage. Where do you see signs of life in your faith?

Empowered Baptism is recognized throughout the Church as the beginning of a ‘God thing.’ John’s baptism was a visible demonstration of the start of a new life — clearing out the junk to prepare for what God was about to do. Jesus’ baptism reveals the true heart of baptism: God’s desire to bless and express His delight. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the start of the Kingdom. Ordinary women and men were now filled with the Spirit of Jesus to continue on the ministry Jesus started.

Luke 3:1-20 - The first mention of baptism in the Bible begins with John. John was the cousin of Jesus and also His opening act. John called the people of his day to "Get Ready." The public sign of a life getting ready for God was, and still is, baptism. Get washed so God can do what God wants to do.