You Are In Christ

Written By Clay Worrell

This week, we continue our series titled, "In Christ", a study through the book of Ephesians. As Paul continues writing to the church in Ephesus, he gives thanks for the faith they have and love for the saints, as it is possible to have one but not the other. Paul continues with a prayer for the church, that they might be struck with the experiential knowledge and deep conviction of the unshakable hope, unearned inheritance, and power beyond their own limits that they have in Christ.

RLC Home Group Handout | September 14th, 2025 

“In Christ”  | Ephesians 1:15-23

Recap

Paul’s words to the Ephesians remind us that we are IN Christ. God looks in our direction and sees Christ’s perfection, perfect obedience and righteousness instead of our failures. The Bible uses illustrations of a grafted branch and a righteous robe to illustrate a new source of life and Christ’s covering for our sin.

References 

  • Psalm 33:18-22 – Hope enables us to see reality like God does.

  • Eph. 1:3-6 – We’re blessed with EVERY spiritual blessing.

  • Hebrews 12:2 – For the joy that lay before Him, Christ endured the cross.

Discussion Questions


Head

  • Is there anything that stood out or spoke to you in this week’s sermon?

  • In Eph. 1:16, Paul gives thanks for the Ephesians’ a) faith in the Lord Jesus and their and b) love for all the saints. Explain the importance of having both things present in the believer’s life.

  • In Eph. 1:17, Paul prays that the Ephesians would have a knowledge (epignōsis) of Him. This word notes an experiential knowledge. Why is experiential knowledge important? Give an example of experiential knowledge you have gained of a particular attribute of God.

Heart

  • Tim Mackey wrote, “Christian hope looks back to the risen Jesus in order to look forward.” How is it possible to look backwards to see forward?

  • How is Christ my inheritance while I am simultaneously an inheritance to Him (v. 18)?

  • How do I train my heart to look to the past to see the future?

  • Paul prays for specific experiential knowledge of these three things: a) Hope, b) Inheritance, and c) Power. Which of these do you most struggle to experientially know?

Hands

  • How can others see my experiential knowledge of Christ’s power?

  • Using the words of Miroslav Volf, “Forgiveness flounders because I exclude the enemy from the community of humans even as I exclude myself from the community of sinners,” how must I see myself in order to build unity in the church?

  • What specific steps can you take this week to be Christ to a hurting world?


Clay Worrell
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Grace in Christ
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Blessing in Christ