pastor resources
Pastor’s Resources
Paul (NT Wright)
Ephesians, Verse by Verse (Grant R. Osborne)
Ephesians Audio Lectures (Clinton Arnold)
Understanding Spiritual Warfare (Sam Storms & Clinton Arnold)
The Blue Parakeet (Scot McKnight)
Rediscovering Scripture’s Vision for Women (Lucy Peppiatt & Scott McKnight)
Paul (NT Wright)
Ephesians, Verse by Verse (Grant R. Osborne)
Ephesians Audio Lectures (Clinton Arnold)
Understanding Spiritual Warfare (Sam Storms & Clinton Arnold)
The Blue Parakeet (Scot McKnight)
Rediscovering Scripture’s Vision for Women (Lucy Peppiatt & Scott McKnight)
core group questions
Small Group Questions
Eph. 5:3-20
1. Light vs. Dark Allegiance
Paul says in Ephesians 5 that we were once darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. How do our everyday choices (words, habits, use of time, relationships) reveal whether
we are living in the light or in the dark?
2. Freedom vs. Slavery Alcohol, sex, and other desires are not inherently evil, but when abused they enslave us. What are some practical signs that something good is starting to become slavery in
someone's life? How can we help each other spot those warning signs early?
3. Influence on Others Paul warns that even if something is permissible, it can still be sin if it causes another believer to stumble. Have you ever had to limit your own freedom for the sake of
someone else's faith? What might that look like in your current stage of life?
4. Purity in a Sexualized World Ephesians 5:3 says there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality among God's people. In a culture where sexual sin is normalized, what practical steps can Christians
take to protect purity and resist temptation?
5. The Better Alternative Paul contrasts being "drunk with wine" with being "filled with the Spirit." How does the Spirit provide a better and more lasting joy than alcohol, sex, or other temporary
escapes?
6. Gospel Hope The message of the Gospel is not "stay pure to earn God's love," but "God's love and mercy are available even in our failure." How does this truth free us BOTH from shame
over the past and from slavery to sin in the present?
Challenge of the Week Identify one area where you may be flirting with the "dark side" — whether in thought patterns, entertainment choices, habits with drinking or sex, or even something as simple as careless words. Share it (confidentially) with your prayer partner (or with the group if you see fit) and ask them to pray with you. Then, intentionally replace that
space with light: worship, Scripture, prayer, or a practical act of obedience.
Eph. 5:3-20
1. Light vs. Dark Allegiance
Paul says in Ephesians 5 that we were once darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. How do our everyday choices (words, habits, use of time, relationships) reveal whether
we are living in the light or in the dark?
2. Freedom vs. Slavery Alcohol, sex, and other desires are not inherently evil, but when abused they enslave us. What are some practical signs that something good is starting to become slavery in
someone's life? How can we help each other spot those warning signs early?
3. Influence on Others Paul warns that even if something is permissible, it can still be sin if it causes another believer to stumble. Have you ever had to limit your own freedom for the sake of
someone else's faith? What might that look like in your current stage of life?
4. Purity in a Sexualized World Ephesians 5:3 says there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality among God's people. In a culture where sexual sin is normalized, what practical steps can Christians
take to protect purity and resist temptation?
5. The Better Alternative Paul contrasts being "drunk with wine" with being "filled with the Spirit." How does the Spirit provide a better and more lasting joy than alcohol, sex, or other temporary
escapes?
6. Gospel Hope The message of the Gospel is not "stay pure to earn God's love," but "God's love and mercy are available even in our failure." How does this truth free us BOTH from shame
over the past and from slavery to sin in the present?
Challenge of the Week Identify one area where you may be flirting with the "dark side" — whether in thought patterns, entertainment choices, habits with drinking or sex, or even something as simple as careless words. Share it (confidentially) with your prayer partner (or with the group if you see fit) and ask them to pray with you. Then, intentionally replace that
space with light: worship, Scripture, prayer, or a practical act of obedience.