The devotional will build off the ideas and passages of the sermon series.

Our encouragement is to spend 15 minutes of your day with your study book at a certain time and

place to grow your relationship with Jesus.

Each day, you can follow 3

simple sections:

settle, read & respond.

Life can be hectic, and we are often hustling from one thing to the next. Occasionally our time for God is caught up in the whirlwind of life, which makes it hard to engage well. There is a need to just settle, take a deep breath and prepare to engage with God and his Word.

Before you just start reading, here are a few tips to help you settle:

Quiet the noise Sometimes the best thing is to do is just to be silent. There is lots of noise around us and if you take even one minute to sit still and be silent, you’ll be surprised by your ability to listen to God and his Word.

Clear your mindWhat’s on your mind? Often, simply writing out what is consuming your thoughts can better prepare you to engage in God’s Word. Take a few minutes to jot down what you’re feeling or what might be a distraction for you.

Ask for helpIf this time will be transformational, we need God’s help and the leading of the Holy Spirit. A simple humble prayer of “God, teach me” or “God, help me to understand” can make all the difference. Psalm 25:5 says it well:

settle.

5 lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all the day long.

1.

We know the Bible and God’s Word to be powerful, active and life-changing. God uses his Word in a number of ways to mold, shape, and transform us.

As we read, let’s expect to learn something new about God, to see something different about ourselves, to feel a sense of conviction, to be

constantly pointed back to Jesus and his work on the cross for us, to experience his grace, love and forgiveness and let’s

expect to get a sense of direction in how to follow Jesus well.

read.

In this section, you will find a passage of Scripture to read and reflect on followed by

space to write down your thoughts, questions and reactions.

2.

AND HIS WORK ON

THE CROSS FOR US

respond.3.

Did you know there are different types of prayers? A prayer of worship and adoration is a time we praise God for who he is. Or someone could be drawn into a time of confessing through prayer while being convicted of sin.

Another common prayer is one of thanksgiving, feeling grateful for the grace, mercy, love and forgiveness that God extends because of Jesus. Sometimes prayer consists of simply asking for God’s help in a particular situation for you or for someone else. Be open to praying different kinds of prayers in these ten weeks.

PrayJesus gives us invitation to boldly approach God in prayer and seek his grace and mercy. This section will help you do that.

MemorizeThere is a strong connection between our grasp of God’s Word and our life of following Jesus. The more we know of God and his Word, the more we can follow him . Our challenge is to memorize one verse each week.

Do The third type of response prompts us to apply the passage to our everyday lives. It could be something you need to say to someone, it could be something you need to do for someone or maybe there is something you should stop doing altogether. Imagine the transformation if each of us changed one small action a day, every day for 10 weeks?

We’ve provided space for response in the weekly notes section at the end of each week.

14

week 1 // new status

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in

the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the

foundation of the world, that we should be holy

and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for

adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according

to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious

grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him

we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of

our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he

lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known

to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which

he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to

unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been

predestined according to the purpose of him who works

all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that

we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the

praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the

word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in

him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the

guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,

to the praise of his glory.

E p h e s i a n s 1 : 3 – 1 4E p h e s i a n s 1 : 3 – 1 4E p h e s i a n s 1 : 3 – 1 4E p h e s i a n s 1 : 3 – 1 4

sermon

16

community group

17

18

read. Ephesians 1:3–6

Mark the text in the following ways. Circle the words “us” and “we.” Place a box around “in him” or “in Christ.” Watch for things you notice about God, like “God the Father.” Put a question mark near anything you want to know more about.

Make a list of what is true about those who are “in Christ.” See Romans 8:15 for additional insight.

Reflect Read the passage again. This time read it in the first person when you see the words “us” and “we.” The Trinity of God miraculously transforms us from unholy outcasts to adopted children who belong to a loving God. The image of adoption is a powerful one. What things encourage you the most about this new status? What is hard to believe about it?

respond.

Pray Spend time praising God in your own words as you meditate on Ephesians 1:6. Pray that God will speak to you in a personal way during this sermon series. Ask him to reveal any areas in your life that he wants to transform.

Memorize Write out Ephesians 1:5 three times with the intention of committing it to memory this week. Do Remind yourself frequently today that God is your father because of Jesus. He chose you, he loves you and he is with you.

we are adopted

settle. Quiet the noise, clear your mind, ask for help.week 1

day 1

19

read. Ephesians 1:7–8

Mark the text in the following ways. Put a box around the words “in him”. Underline what it is that the believer has in Christ. Circle the phrase “lavished upon us”. Draw a line to what has been lavished upon.

Read Hebrews 9:12–14. Without Jesus, every person in the world is held hostage by sin and death. But Jesus paid our ransom and secured our forgiveness with his own blood. What stands out to you in this passage? What kind of redemption has Jesus secured for us all?

Reflect Jesus paid the highest price for your rescue, redemption and forgiveness. He offered up his own blood and his own life. Take a moment to reflect on the price Jesus paid for your redemption and make a short list of what he has forgiven you for.

respond.

Pray Thank God that your sins were nailed to the cross and that Jesus completely forgave you at that time and place. Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you sense the riches of his grace today so that you can offer grace to others.

Memorize Revisit Ephesians 1:5 at least three times throughout your day, reading it aloud to help commit it to memory. Do Think of someone specific that you can forgive in the way that God has forgiven you.

we are rede-emed

settle. Quiet the noise, clear your mind, ask for help.week 1day 2

20

read. Ephesians 1:11

Mark the text in the following ways. Put a box around, “in him,” circle “have obtained.” Draw a line to what we have obtained.

Read Hebrews 9:15. Jesus Christ wrote his last will and testament with his own blood at the cross. With his death and resurrection, he named you as a full heir of his spiritual riches. Survey Hebrews 9:15 and all of Ephesians 1 and list out what we inherit because of Jesus.

Reflect We have a spiritually rich new status because of Christ. God has given us an inheritance and every spiritual blessing in Jesus. How does this reality speak to you and how does it compare to how you normally view God?

respond.

Pray Thank God for the endless supply of spiritual riches he has given you in Christ. Ask God for a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving.

Memorize Throughout your day, pause regularly to recall Ephesians 1:5. Do If in Jesus we have every spiritual need firmly secured, consider how you are able to materially bless someone who is in need today.

we are rich

settle. Quiet the noise, clear your mind, ask for help.week 1

day 3

21

read. Ephesians 1:13–14

Mark the text in the following ways. Underline the words “heard” and “believed.” Circle the words “sealed” and “guarantee.” Draw a line under what Scripture tells us that we are sealed with after hearing and believing the truth.

Now read 2 Corinthians 1:21–22. According to these passages, what does the presence of the Holy Spirit mean for you and for me?

Reflect When we believe in Jesus, God miraculously gives the Holy Spirit to us. The presence of the Spirit guarantees us a place in God’s family and a place in his kingdom. What sort of confidence does that give you? On the other hand, what makes you struggle to trust this passage?

respond.

Pray Praise the Lord for the assurance and confidence that we have through the works of Jesus and the power of the Spirit.

Memorize Without looking back at the passage, try to write out Ephesians 1:5. Do Reach out to someone who was instrumental in you coming to know Jesus. Thank them for the role they played in your life.

we are sealed

settle. Quiet the noise, clear your mind, ask for help.week 1day 4

22

read. Ephesians 1:13–14

Mark the text in the following ways. Circle “we” and write “I” above it. Read this verse aloud using the first person.

See the beginning of Ephesians 1:6 and the end of Ephesians 1:12. Notice the similar language. Make a note of what repeating phrase you find.

Reflect Why do you think God did what he did for us? As we close this week, rest on that repeating phrase again and again– “to the praise of his glory.” God has acted in a way to magnify his name, not our own glory. What does it mean to have a God-centered, God-glorifying life? Lastly, why do you think it is in our nature to have an us-centered life?

respond.

Pray Confess the ways we live for ourselves and ask for God to switch our hearts from wanting an us-centered life to wanting a God-centered life.

Memorize Without looking back at the passage, try to write out Ephesians 1:5. Refer back to the passage to fill in any missing words only after you’ve tried to write it out first.

Do Plan to perform an act of love today in secret so that you will not get the glory.

we live for him

settle. Quiet the noise, clear your mind, ask for help.week 1

day 5

23

weekly