Sermon Study Guide

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Maranatha Bible Church

Chicago

Sermon Study Guide

The Dwelling Place of God - Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Ephesians Series)

Pastor Daniel Batarseh|Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Scripture References

Ephesians 2:19-22Ephesians 4:12-13Hebrews 10:24-25Hebrews 3:131 Corinthians 3:9John 4:21-241 Corinthians 12:7John 14:211 Peter 2:52 Corinthians 7:12 Corinthians 6:16Ephesians 4:301 Thessalonians 5:19Acts 13:2Acts 15:28

Sermon Summary

Pastor Daniel Batarseh explores Ephesians 2, explaining that the church is not a building but a living household and temple for God. He emphasizes the importance of a scriptural foundation and the role of holiness in hosting God's corporate presence.

Key Takeaways

1The church is a living assembly of people, functioning as both a universal body and a local family of believers.
2A healthy local church must be built exclusively on the foundation of Apostolic teaching (the Bible) and the person of Jesus Christ.
3The local church is a corporate temple where the Holy Spirit manifests His presence through the spiritual gifts and character of its members.
4Holiness and healthy interpersonal relationships are vital requirements for hosting the presence and activity of God in a congregation.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions for small group discussion or personal reflection.

1How does viewing the church as a 'dwelling place for God' change your perspective on attending services?
2Pastor Daniel warned against the 'entertainment trap' in modern churches. How can we distinguish between healthy engagement and worldly entertainment?
3What does it mean practically for Jesus to be the 'chief cornerstone' of your life and your local church foundation?
4How do the 'gifts of the Spirit' and the 'fruit of the Spirit' work together to reveal God's presence to those around us?
5In what ways can our treatment of one another (speech, conflict, etc.) specifically 'grieve' or 'quench' the Holy Spirit in a local congregation?
6Why is it impossible to experience the full manifestation of the Spirit if we remain isolated from the 'living stones' of the local church?

Application Points

Practical ways to apply this message to your life.

Evaluate your commitment to your local church based on its biblical foundation rather than its entertainment or social value.
Identify and exercise your spiritual gifts to contribute to the corporate manifestation of the Holy Spirit in your community.
Prioritize holiness in your speech and relationships to ensure you are not grieving the Holy Spirit within the body of Christ.
Seek a deeper 'inward awareness' of God by walking in faithful obedience to His commandments.

Personal Reflection

Take time to quietly reflect on these prompts.

How is the Holy Spirit speaking to me through this message?

What areas of my life need to change in light of this teaching?

Who can I share this truth with this week?

What is one specific action I will take as a result of this sermon?

Prayer Points

Thank God for His Word and the truths revealed in this message.
Pray for understanding and wisdom to apply what you've learned.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you live out these truths in your daily life.
Pray for others who heard this message, that they too would be transformed.

Notes

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