Pastor James will post his Sermon Study Questions every Tuesday with the previous Sunday’s sermon. Our hope is for these study questions to promote deeper personal study and further edify our church body.
Sermon Study Questions – May 24, 2026
1. Read Ephesians 3:1-13.
2. In verse 8, Paul writes, “though I am the very least of all the saints,” and in verse 12 he writes that in Christ, “we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.” How does the Gospel produce both humility and confidence in our lives?
3. What are some things in this life that we might be tempted to (mistakenly) place our confidence in instead of Christ?
4. Paul went from persecuting Christians and putting them in prison to being a “prisoner of Christ Jesus” himself. How does Paul’s transformation bring you encouragement when it comes to people in your life who are “far off” from God?
5. Paul writes in verse 6, “The mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” Discuss both the historical and theological significance of this verse.
6. Read John 5:39 and Luke 24:27. What are some of the types and shadows of Christ that we see in the Old Testament? How does seeing Christ at the center of the Scriptures change the way we approach our Bible reading? How might you explain to someone the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament?
7. Paul writes in verse 10, “through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” Discuss what Paul means in this verse and why this matters for us today.
8. How does Christianity fundamentally differ from organizations in our society today that keep their secrets concealed from outsiders?
9. How might you practically apply the truths of this passage to your own life?
10. Pray!
Reading of the Law
1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life- is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
Prayer of Confession
Heavenly Father, we come before you this morning confessing that our hearts are often drawn to the fleeting pleasures of this world. We place our comfort above serving you. We place our security in our possessions. We covet things that do not belong to us. We are prone to take the good gifts that you give us in this life and make them ultimate. We often seek to derive our purpose, meaning, worth, and identity from things in this life. Show us the folly of our ways, and please forgive us now, we ask, Father. Help us to not to set our ultimate affections on the things of this world. Remind us of the fleeting nature of this life, and equip us by your Spirit to lead lives that honor and glorify you. We thank you for the grace and mercy that we have in Christ, and it is in his name that we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
1 John 1:8-9, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 37
101. Q. But may we swear an oath by the name of God in a godly manner?
A. Yes, when the government demands it of its subjects, or when necessity requires it, in order to maintain and promote fidelity and truth, to God’s glory and for our neighbor’s good. Such oath-taking is based on God’s Word 1 and was therefore rightly used by saints in the Old and the New Testament. 2
1.Deut 6:13; 10:20; Jer 4:1, 2; Heb 6:16.
2.Gen 21:24; 31:53; Josh 9:15; 1 Sam 24:22; 1 Kings 1:29, 30; Rom 1:9; 2 Cor 1:23.
102. Q. May we also swear by saints or other creatures?
A. No. A lawful oath is a calling upon God, who alone knows the heart, to bear witness to the truth, and to punish me if I swear falsely. 1 No creature is worthy of such honor. 2
1.Rom 9:1; 2 Cor 1:23.
2.Mt 5:34-37; 23:16-22; Jas 5:12.
Old Testament Reading
Psalm 67
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
6 The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!
Sermon Text
Ephesians 3:1-133 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in[b] God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.