D-GROUP GUIDE

In CHRIST: From Rags to Riches 

Suggested Songs: Jesus Name Above All Names/ Resound in Praise/ You’re My Everything/ Our Lifted
Up/ It’s All About You/ Christ In You/ Worthy Is The Lamb/ In Christ Alone
W ORSHIP
 
Choose One:
W 1. Narrate an incident in your life - at work, school or family - where you have been granted a special
E treatment or ‘chosen’ for something special. How did it make you feel?
L 2. Before the meeting, ask members to bring a special gift given to them in the past. Ask each one to share
C
why they chose to bring this gift.
O
M SCRIPTURE PASSAGE:
E Ephesians 1:1-14 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the 
faithful in Christ Jesus:2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3Blessed be the God and 
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; 4even as 
he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love; 
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having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his 
desire, 6to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely bestowed favor on us in the Beloved, 7in whom we have 
our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,8which he 
made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his 
good pleasure which he purposed in him10to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, 
the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him;11in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having 
been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will;12to the end that we 
should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:13in whom you also, having heard the word of 

W
the truth, the gospel of your salvation ,‐‐in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of 
promise,14who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of his glory.” 

O
R In last Sunday’s message, what did we learn about our “True Wealth In Christ”?
D
1. We are Chosen by the Father (Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12)
To be chosen is a privilege. God did not choose us because of our qualifications, He has chosen us
because of His great love and mercy. Christ died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).
Can you still remember your life before you were found by God? God has given His life for us
though we were undeserving.

2. We are Redeemed by the Son (Ephesians 1:7-10)

God has redeemed us by giving His life for us as a ransom in exchange for our salvation and
freedom (Col. 1:13-14). It should have been us who were nailed on that cross and suffered all that
Christ had to suffer. Jesus Christ had to die so we can be transferred from death to life.

3. We are Sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14)

God has promised that by His grace He will accomplish His work in our lives until we finally arrive to
what God has planned for us (John 14:2-3).

PRINCIPLE: Understanding our wealth in Christ will allow us to live a life that pleases
God and blesses others
What must be the results in our lives because of these spiritual blessings we have received?
• Humility
Vol. 8, No. 37
Sept. 14, 2008 
• Kindness & Love
• Gratefulness

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 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(Leaders: Please choose questions that are appropriate to the level of spiritual maturity of your members)

1. Pastor Ricky cited the story about King David who granted special favors to Jonathan’s son
Mephiboshet. Can you cite other similar stories from the Bible that told about special favors
being granted (e.g. Mary chosen to be the mother of Jesus; David chosen over all his
brothers, etc.)?
What insights can we learn from these narratives?

2. In your own words, what does being “chosen, redeemed, and sealed by the Holy Spirit”
mean to you?

W
O
R
K
3. Recall your life before you were found by God. Has the reality that God has chosen you to
S be His own made any impact in your life? In what ways has your life changed because of
this?

4. What other areas in your life (might be a character trait, a habit, or a sin) are you trusting
God to help you change (e.g. the attitude of ‘entitlement’ Ptr. Ricky mentioned, etc.)?

5. How have you been showing to others the love that overflows from your life for being
chosen, redeemed & sealed by the Spirit?

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:

1. Watch the movie, “The Passion”, and contemplate on what God had to go through to redeem us.
This week, spend time with God just thanking Him for what He has done for us on the Cross. Read
Luke chapter 22-23 and recall the sufferings of Christ onto to the cross of Calvary.

2. Make a commitment to God to extend the same love and grace that we have received from Him.
List specific ways that you can be a blessing to others this week.

3. Accountability: Find a partner and confess your sins and shortcomings (refer to discussion
question #4). Pray for each other and agree to be accountable for your future actions.

Vol. 8, No. 37
Sept. 14, 2008 

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