The Bridge Church
Made for More - Made to Love
May 14, 2023
Locations & Times
Englewood SKY Academy
871 S River Rd, Englewood, FL 34223, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
3 Life-Changing Prayers
1. Be strengthened by the Spirit's power
1. Be strengthened by the Spirit's power
Paroikeo - to dwell as a guest or visitor
Katoikeo - to dwell as a permanent resident
Katoikeo - to dwell as a permanent resident
2. Be rooted in God's limitless love
Length - God's love is never ending (Eph 1:3-4)
Width - God's love is available to the entire world (Eph 3:6)
Height - God's love seats us in Heaven with Christ (Eph 2:6)
Depth - God's love pursues those far from Him to bring them to life (Eph 2:1)
Width - God's love is available to the entire world (Eph 3:6)
Height - God's love seats us in Heaven with Christ (Eph 2:6)
Depth - God's love pursues those far from Him to bring them to life (Eph 2:1)
3. Be expectant for God to do immeasurably more
We are made by God to experience His love so we can extend His love.
MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
Dig Deeper:
1. This week, we focused on Paul’s second prayer to the church in Ephesus. Why is prayer such an important part in our relationship with God?
2. Do you hesitate to pray to Jesus for spiritual strength? What keeps us from being humble and dependent to God in our prayer life?
3. Read Ephesians 3:14-15. Paul is in prison as he writes this letter, and he kneels to pray. Why is intercessory prayer so powerful?
4. Read Ephesians 3:16. Where does Paul say that we should be “strengthened with power”? Why should we be strengthened there specifically?
5. What would be most helpful in the long run; an individual solution to a circumstance or challenge OR increased spiritual strength and power through the Holy Spirit? Why?
6. Read 2 Corinthians 4:16. Our culture spends a lot of time focusing on our outward appearance. Why is being strengthened on the inside by the Holy Spirit more important than anything we can do to our “outer person”?
7. What must happen for us to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit? How should we approach God when asking for His strength?
8. When we rely on being strengthened by God’s power, how does that affect how we live?
9. Read Ephesians 3:17. What kind of dwelling is taking place here? What impact does this type of dwelling have on us?
10. When you hear the words “rooted” and “firmly established,” what comes to mind? What does it mean to be rooted and firmly established in love?
11. Read Ephesians 3:18-19. Describe the “length and width, height and depth of God’s love.” How can we comprehend it? Read these passages for more ideas: Psalm 103:11-12, Micah 7:19, Jeremiah 31:3
12. Do you find it easy or hard to believe God loves you? Why do you think that is the case?
13. Can you think of something you do habitually because you believe God loves you? What about something you do habitually because you fail to believe God loves you?
14. What does it mean to “be filled with all the fullness of God”?
15. Read Romans 8:38-39. What does it mean to never be separated from God?
16. Read Ephesians 3:20-21. Why should we pray for God to do amazing things, according to verse 21?
17. How do we pray, knowing that He can do exceedingly, abundantly more that we can ask, or imagine, through His power within us?
18. How does God’s power work in and through us? What does that look like, and how do we best position ourselves for God to accomplish more than we could ask or think through us?
Live It Out:
We are made by God to experience His love so we can extend His love. Paul's prayer to the church at Ephesus extends to us today.
1. We need to be strengthened by the Spirit’s power. God desires to give us His power so we can fulfill His purposes. For us to be strengthened, we need to admit that we need His strength. Dependence leads to God’s strengthening. How much do you struggle to believe you have what it takes to make an eternal difference in the lives of others? What might it look like for God’s power to work through you or your family? Where has He uniquely positioned you at this point?
2. Be rooted in God’s limitless love. Do you comprehend God’s love for you, “what is the length and width, height and depth” of His love (v18)? Is your life rooted in the promise that nothing is able to separate you from His love? Write down all of the ways in which God has shown his love to you. Continue to add to this list as you are reminded of His love. Begin each day being reminded of His love for you, in order to stay rooted throughout your day.
3. Be expectant for God to do immeasurably more. How has God shown to you that He is able to “do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us” (v20)? What impossible thing(s) does God want to accomplish in and through you in this season? What do you think are the biggest roadblocks to process? What is your next step to what God is calling you into?
Reading Plan:
Monday: Ephesians 3:14-21
Tuesday: 2 Corinthians 4:16, John 15:7
Wednesday: Romans 8:38-39, Matthew 19:26
Thursday: 1 Chronicles 29:11, 1 Corinthians 6:14
Friday: 1 John 4:7-16
Saturday: 1 John 4:17-21
1. This week, we focused on Paul’s second prayer to the church in Ephesus. Why is prayer such an important part in our relationship with God?
2. Do you hesitate to pray to Jesus for spiritual strength? What keeps us from being humble and dependent to God in our prayer life?
3. Read Ephesians 3:14-15. Paul is in prison as he writes this letter, and he kneels to pray. Why is intercessory prayer so powerful?
4. Read Ephesians 3:16. Where does Paul say that we should be “strengthened with power”? Why should we be strengthened there specifically?
5. What would be most helpful in the long run; an individual solution to a circumstance or challenge OR increased spiritual strength and power through the Holy Spirit? Why?
6. Read 2 Corinthians 4:16. Our culture spends a lot of time focusing on our outward appearance. Why is being strengthened on the inside by the Holy Spirit more important than anything we can do to our “outer person”?
7. What must happen for us to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit? How should we approach God when asking for His strength?
8. When we rely on being strengthened by God’s power, how does that affect how we live?
9. Read Ephesians 3:17. What kind of dwelling is taking place here? What impact does this type of dwelling have on us?
10. When you hear the words “rooted” and “firmly established,” what comes to mind? What does it mean to be rooted and firmly established in love?
11. Read Ephesians 3:18-19. Describe the “length and width, height and depth of God’s love.” How can we comprehend it? Read these passages for more ideas: Psalm 103:11-12, Micah 7:19, Jeremiah 31:3
12. Do you find it easy or hard to believe God loves you? Why do you think that is the case?
13. Can you think of something you do habitually because you believe God loves you? What about something you do habitually because you fail to believe God loves you?
14. What does it mean to “be filled with all the fullness of God”?
15. Read Romans 8:38-39. What does it mean to never be separated from God?
16. Read Ephesians 3:20-21. Why should we pray for God to do amazing things, according to verse 21?
17. How do we pray, knowing that He can do exceedingly, abundantly more that we can ask, or imagine, through His power within us?
18. How does God’s power work in and through us? What does that look like, and how do we best position ourselves for God to accomplish more than we could ask or think through us?
Live It Out:
We are made by God to experience His love so we can extend His love. Paul's prayer to the church at Ephesus extends to us today.
1. We need to be strengthened by the Spirit’s power. God desires to give us His power so we can fulfill His purposes. For us to be strengthened, we need to admit that we need His strength. Dependence leads to God’s strengthening. How much do you struggle to believe you have what it takes to make an eternal difference in the lives of others? What might it look like for God’s power to work through you or your family? Where has He uniquely positioned you at this point?
2. Be rooted in God’s limitless love. Do you comprehend God’s love for you, “what is the length and width, height and depth” of His love (v18)? Is your life rooted in the promise that nothing is able to separate you from His love? Write down all of the ways in which God has shown his love to you. Continue to add to this list as you are reminded of His love. Begin each day being reminded of His love for you, in order to stay rooted throughout your day.
3. Be expectant for God to do immeasurably more. How has God shown to you that He is able to “do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us” (v20)? What impossible thing(s) does God want to accomplish in and through you in this season? What do you think are the biggest roadblocks to process? What is your next step to what God is calling you into?
Reading Plan:
Monday: Ephesians 3:14-21
Tuesday: 2 Corinthians 4:16, John 15:7
Wednesday: Romans 8:38-39, Matthew 19:26
Thursday: 1 Chronicles 29:11, 1 Corinthians 6:14
Friday: 1 John 4:7-16
Saturday: 1 John 4:17-21