Don Pearson // Northview Campus // September 14, 2025

SERMON DISCUSSION GUIDE

THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Ephesians 1:1-10

REMINDERS

Men’s & Women’s and Fall Studies

New fall studies are beginning soon! There are multiple times available for each, so sign up for the time and study that fits best. Women’s groups begin as early as September 14, and Men’s groups begin the week of September 15.

Men’s Fall Breakfast – Praise Report!

The Men at Magnify kicked off the fall season with a breakfast where over 80 men came together to eat some good grub, worship, and meet with other good men. We are so grateful for the way men responded and are excited to see where the Lord leads our church through these guys!

Northview Men: There will be a monthly Men’s Breakfast occurring on the 2nd Saturday each month. For details and to get on the mailing list, reach out to Andy Eastham (andrew.e.eastham@gmail.com) or Kim Bronkema (kbronkema@magnifychurch.org) for details.

TOGETHER IN THE WORD

Read Ephesians 1:1-10

QUESTIONS

•  In the Greek, this passage (v 3-14) is one sentence!  There is a load of information in this one brief passage!  Take a moment and list the power phrases and blessings. What stands out for you on this list?  Why?
• How do you live with the tension between God’s sovereignty and man’s free will?
• “The Man on the Middle Cross    by Alistair Begg” Look this up on YouTube and play it for review.  Just hearing the audio will be enough.  Approx. 4 min.
• Alistair says we must preach the Gospel to ourselves every day, all day.  Why?
• How do you balance your own messy life with God’s view of you from Ephesians 1:3-10 (chosen, adopted, predestined, blessed)?
• Ephesus was an affluent city with devoted followers of Artemis.  Paul was teaching in the Hall of Tyrannus….Read Acts 19:23-41.
• “There arose a great disturbance in the Way…”Don likened the disturbance in Ephesus to the current events of the past week, (Charlie Kirk), and the political climate as of late.  He showed two quotes:

  “To triumph fully, evil needs two victories, not one—the first when evil is perpetrated; the second when evil is returned.”    -Miroslav Volf

  “We can only hope to defuse evil’s power if we refuse evil’s craving to be returned—and we can only refuse evil’s craving to be returned if we refuse to remake God into the image of our own resentments… ours is the God who never demonizes His enemies, but sacrificially dies for them.”                                      –Ann Voskamp

• In light of these quotes, who we are in Christ (Eph. 1:3-10), and our own opinions, how do we live a godly life in our current culture?

TOGETHER IN PRAYER & ACTION

• This week, continue to meditate on the power phrases and blessings of this passage.  Pray for God to infuse you with the promises and assurances of your identity in Christ.