#Selfie- Community Group Curriculum
Week 7: February 22-26, 2016(Sermon Subject: I am Sealed with the Holy Spirit)
Bottom Line: The sealing of the Spirit is greater than your insecure self.
Community Group Leader instructions: In preparation for the following group discussions and the use of the provided material, take a few moments to read through the instructions below.
***This group curriculum is written in a “funnel” format. The deeper you go into the questions, the deeper you get into community, application and accountability. So if time is an issue, get to the last couple questions even if you have to bypass some questions.***
Before the group meeting:
- Spend time engaging the “Passages for Study” with prayer.
- Read through all material. Consult sermon notes if available.
- As you look through it, you will find helpful tips in the “Leader Guide” section that will allow you to better facilitate the discussion.
- At times, sermon notes may be provided by DBC, and in the meantime your own sermon notes would be beneficial.
- Think through ways you can help your group apply what is being taught instead of “knowing” what’s been taught.
- Write out 2-3
At the Group Meeting:
- Summarize/Read the “Intro”
- Assign readers for the passages outlined in the “Discussion Questions” section.
- Walk your group through each question (or as many that time will allow). Use the leader guide to facilitate the discussion.
- Summarize the “Review & Reflection” section. Reading this aloud may be helpful.
- Share your thoughts on how you and your group can begin to apply what was learned in this lesson. Help them formulate ideas for reading, studying, and meditating on the scriptures.
- Share with your group the resources from the “Keep Digging Deeper” section.
May you dig into this CG experience and be unleashed into more openness, courage and purpose as you trust Jesus more each day!
Intro: Paul wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus in approx. 62 AD. Ephesians is referred to as a Captivity Epistle because Paul wrote it while in a Roman prison.
The purpose of his writing is difficult. Ephesians was not written to correct obvious, errant teaching. The writing is direct, with a serious tone, and it outlines the important practices and doctrines for believers to keep in mind. Ephesians is centered around specific truths for the Church [people], Christian Unity, and the Christian Walk.
One way to outline this letter is
Unity in ChristEphesians 1:1-3:21
Unity in the Body of ChristEphesians 4:1-6:24
#Selfiewill concentrate on Ephesians 1:3-14 as it is foundational to our identity in Christ.
This is not self-help, not a “5 easy step” idealistic approach. This is a Gospel centered, inside-out real life approach to capturing and claiming your real SELF.
This is week 7into this 7 week sermon series,
so if questions arise during this series they may be mentioned later. Feel free to write down your thoughts and discuss them as a CG.
The hard work, the tough questions, and the uncomfortable silences to your past is a quite a task, but a noble one… Because you’re worth more!
Main Text:Ephesians 1:13-14
Bottom Line: The sealing of the Spirit is greater than your insecure self.
Key terms:
- “Deposit” in the NIV is translated earnest (KJV) also means “engagement ring.” In Greece today you would find this word being used that way. But, after all, isn’t an engagement ring an assurance—a guarantee—that the promises made will be kept? Our relationship to God through Christ is not simply a commercial one, but also a personal experience of love. He is the Bridegroom and His church is the bride. We know that He will come and claim His bride because He has given us His promise and His Spirit as the “engagement ring.” What greater assurance could we want?
- The Greek word for grief is lupeo, which means “to cause pain or sorrow.”
- Quench means to stifle or extinguish God’s presence.Quenching the Holy Spirit is resisting him, silencing him, and forfeiting every spiritual perk and warning. When he hinder him long enough, reject his warnings time after time, and desire the flesh against him; we forfeit every spiritual perk and warning resulting in greater fear and isolation from others and God while losing the clarity of purpose.
Discussion Questions:
- What was your most embarrassing thing that has happened to you? (Clean versions)
- From this whole #SELFie series, what is one thing about your Gospel identity you will walk away with that you didn’t have before? Why do you believe this impacting you so deeply?
- How would you define the word insecure?
- What are characteristics of insecurity?
- As mentioned from the sermon, the effects of the “sealing of the Holy Spirit” of a believerare: Security, Authentication, Approval, Genuineness, & Ownership
Security- When you trusted Christ, the Holy Spirit made your salvation complete. (Matthew 27:66; Ephesians 4:30)
Authentication- The work of the Spirit gives evidence of saving faith. (James 2:14-22)
Approval- The seal of the Holy Spirit gives approval of you, who you are in Christ. The work in progress Christ is making in you; the child of God you are becoming; the POEIMA he is making in you to be. (Galatians 5:16-26, See also, John 6:33)
Genuineness- The seal of the Spirit proves that you are a genuine child of God. (Romans 8:16-17)
Ownership- The seal of the Spirit proves the we are God’s property, bought with a great price. (1 Cor. 6:19-20; See also, 2 Cor. 1:22)
Which of these speaks to you the most? Is there a connection to guilt/shame/insecurity? If so, what might that be?
- Of the Fruit of the Spirit, which one do you see, or have people noticed, personal growth?
- Is there an act of repentance you need to make to allow the flow of the Holy Spirit open in your life? (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thes. 6:19)
Review & Reflection:
Although our insecurities come from different experiences by our own doing and others, we can stand secure in the Holy Spirit that seals our Gospel identity.
Passages for further study:
- 2 Corinthians 1:22 NIV 84, “He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
- “Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Corinthians 5:5
- The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:16-17 NIV 84
- Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. You are not your own; you were bought with a price now honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV 2011
- But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.… Galatians 5:16-17 NIV 2011
- I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 NIV 2011
- And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30 NIV 2011
- Do not quench the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 6:19 NIV 2011
Resources to Dig a Little Deeper:
(Great source to search out specific topics)
(article about love & courage)
Boundaries by Drs. Cloud & Townsend
Wild at Heart by John Eldridge
Captivating by John and Staci Eldridge
Who Do You Think You Are?by Mark Driscoll
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown (secular writer)
Rising Strong by Brene Brown (secular writer)