Why

Why Our Good Is Not Good Enough 

PDF VERSION HERE

MEETING AGENDA:

  1. OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to Open the meeting in prayer. 
  1. DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Development Questions. 
  1. ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the SG Attendance System. 
  1. TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s SG lesson. 
  1. CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.  

Development Questions

Question #1

Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?

Question #2

What did you learn from this week’s sermon? 

Question #3

What was your most important accomplishment this week?

This Week's Passage:

Ephesians 2:1–10
2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Connection Question:

Have you ever worked hard to earn someone’s approval or acceptance? What did that experience teach you?

Truth #1:

Our Sinfulness Makes Us Spiritually Helpless

Discussion Points:

  1. Paul teaches that apart from Christ, we are spiritually dead in our sins. (Ephesians 2:1)
  2. Human effort cannot overcome the problem of sin and separation from God. (Romans 3:23)
  3. Following the patterns of the world leads us further from God’s purposes. (Ephesians 2:2)

Growth Question:

Why is it difficult for people to admit their spiritual need? 

Truth #2:

Salvation Is a Gift of God’s Grace 

Discussion Points:

  1. God’s mercy and great love moved Him to rescue us through Christ. (Ephesians 2:4–5)
  2. Salvation comes by grace through faith and cannot be earned by works. (Ephesians 2:8–9)
  3. Jesus accomplished what human goodness never could. 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Growth Question:

How does grace differ from the world’s idea of earning acceptance?

Truth #3:

Good Works Are the Result of Salvation, Not the Requirement

Discussion Points:

  1. Believers are God’s workmanship, created in Christ for good works. (Ephesians 2:10)
  2.  Good deeds flow from a transformed heart rather than an attempt to earn salvation. (John 15:5) 
  3.  Eternal life is received as a gift, not as a reward for good behavior.
    (Titus 3:4–7)

Growth Question:

Are there areas where you still try to prove your worth to God? 

GO THEREFORE QUESTION:

Ephesians 2 reminds us that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our own goodness. What is one practical way you can live this week from a place of gratitude for God’s grace and use your life to reflect His love to others?

PRAYER:

Question #1

Who are you praying for  
to be saved? 

Question #2

Who can you invite to Church and/or to Small Group?  

Question #3

What are your prayer requests?