Adaptable Meeting Guide: Ephesians 3-4

Jenga

10 minutes

Have a group game of Jenga, but before you start label some of the bricks with a few key words from today’s passage using sticky labels (so they can be removed afterwards). Depending on how long the first game lasts, you may like to have more than one game.

Explain that in this session we are going to think about a few themes from Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. Some of the themes were shown on the Jenga blocks. There are all sorts of parallels between the passage and the game of Jenga – from the mystery of when the tower will fall to the maturity required not to simply knock the tower over!

God’s marvellous plan for the Gentiles

10 minutes

Read Ephesians 3:1-13 together and ask the young people to discuss the following questions in small groups:

What is the mystery that Paul refers to in verse four?
Why do you think it is important that the gospel is for the Gentiles?
What might this mean for us today?

Explain that this would have been ground-breaking and challenging to Paul’s contemporaries. The promised Messiah was understood to have come / be coming to save the nation of Israel. Not only was Jesus not the Messiah the Jews had anticipated, but Paul was accentuating that Jesus message was not just for God’s chosen people, but for all people.

Key Point 1

The gospel of Jesus is for everyone. Paul’s calling was to share this gospel.

A prayer for the Ephesians

10 minutes

Read Ephesians 3:14-21 together and explain that Paul is praying for the people of Ephesus, focusing on the family. Give each young person a piece of paper and a pen. On the piece of paper invite them to begin to sketch out their family tree. It doesn’t have to go back too far – perhaps to their grandparents – and it doesn’t need to be a work of art. Try to be aware of any members of your group who might find this difficult.

When they have done this, say that knowing our family helps us to know where we come from. It is hard for us when there are gaps. Here, Paul is reminding us that we are all part of God’s family, that God loves us and, unlike our earthly families, who sometimes let us down, God does not. Paul prays a beautiful prayer for the people of Ephesus which we will be returning to later.

Unity and maturity

10 minutes

Give each young person a paper copy of Ephesians 4:1-16 and invite them on their own, or in pairs, to highlight or underline:

Any words that refer to character (v2)
Any words that refer to role (v11)
Any words that emphasise unity (v3-6).

When the young people have done this, ask them to share what they have found with one another and then ask:

Why do you think in a section about unity and maturity Paul chooses to focus on character and role?
What other aspects of life in community does Paul mention?
Is there anything Paul does not mention that you think is part of either unity or maturity?

Key Point 2

When we hear the word unity, we often think it means being and thinking the same. Unity is more than this; it is about celebrating our diversity and within that finding commonality.

Instructions for life

10 minutes

Say: Imagine that you have been given the task of developing a list of instructions for Christian living. In small groups, work together to come up with five instructions. Bring the group back together and share the thoughts and ideas that have been expressed.

Read Ephesians 4:17-32 from The Message and ask the young people to return to their groups to consider the following questions:

What similarities and differences are there between the lists they produced and the things Paul mentions? (This may also provide a good opportunity to talk about the role of context).
Can you think of any examples of people / places where they have grown in truth?
How can you keep Christ at the centre of your life? What practical things can you do?

Key Point 3

While the context in which Paul was writing is critical, the call to keep Christ at the centre of our lives is a challenging one. There are practical things we can put in place to help us do this.

Reflection

5 minutes

Play the song ‘Jesus be the Centre’ by Michael Frye and, if you can, display or print the words for the young people so they can follow them. As they listen, invite the young people to think about all that you have explored together in this session.