Series: Fully Alive - A Study of Ephesians
Sermon Recap
Ephesians 3:14–21 shows us that spiritual
growth happens from the inside out. Paul prays that we would be strengthened by
the Spirit, rooted in Christ’s love, and filled with the fullness of God. This
is not about doing more, but about experiencing more of Him. Because God can do
far more than we can ask or imagine, we can live with confidence, knowing His
power is at work within us for His glory.
Ephesians 3:14-21
Prayer for Spiritual Strength
[14] For this reason I bow my knees before
the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, [16]
that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened
with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may
dwell in your hearts through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in
love, [18] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the
breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ
that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. [20]
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)
The
Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001
by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Ephesians
3:14-21.
Closing Thoughts
Ephesians 3 reminds us that we cannot give
away what we have not first experienced. As the Spirit strengthens us and
Christ dwells in us, His love begins to overflow into the lives of others. As a
group, this means we pursue depth with God together, pray for one another’s
spiritual growth, and step into opportunities to reflect Christ’s love in
tangible ways. Mission is not driven by pressure, but by overflow. The more we
are filled with God’s presence, the more we naturally point others to Him
through our words, actions, and relationships.
END
Teacher Notes:
There comes a point in our life when we begin
to realize something very important. Not everything that matters
can be seen.
The most meaningful things often happen
beneath the surface.
From the outside, our life may look ordinary.
But underneath, God may be doing something extraordinary.
Several years ago, a man in his late 70’s
took his grandson to see the home where he grew up. It wasn’t an impressive
house. The paint had faded, the porch sagged, and the rooms felt a lot smaller
than he remembered them being.
But as they stood there, the grandfather said,
“This house is still standing because of what you can’t see.” He went on to
explain that when his father built this house, he spent more time on the
foundation of the home than anything else. Long before the walls went up…
before the roof was added… there were weeks of digging, pouring, and reinforcing
— work that no one would ever notice. And over the years, that house endured many
storms, changing seasons, and just years of wear and tear. There were other
houses that had been updated or replaced. But this house remained just like it
was.
How come?... the grandson asked, and the grandfather
said,
“because of the strength beneath the surface.”
He went on to say, “People admire what they
can see — but what holds you up is what’s been built deep inside you.”
Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I bow my knees before the
Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according
to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power
through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength
to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and
depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be
filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more
abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within
us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all
generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Does any phrase stand out to you personally as you
hear Paul’s prayer?
Ephesians 3:14-15
For this reason, I bow my knees before the
Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
Why is kneeling so important to our prayer
life?
Kneeling itself isn’t what makes a prayer
effective — but it often reveals and shapes something deeper that does matter.
It Reflects Humility
When we kneel, we are physically lowering
ourselves. That posture mirrors a spiritual reality: We are not in control — God
is.
Throughout Scripture, kneeling is often
connected to reverence and surrender. Even Apostle Paul — a spiritual giant — chose
to kneel. Not because he had to, but because he understood who God is.
It Positions the Heart, Not Just the Body
Our bodies and hearts are more connected than
we realize. Kneeling can quiet distractions, slow us down, and move us from
casual conversation to intentional communion with God.
It’s a way of saying, “This moment matters.”
It Teaches Dependence
There’s something about kneeling that reminds
us: We come to God not as achievers — but as receivers. In a world that values
independence, kneeling pushes us in the opposite direction: toward reliance on
God’s strength, not our own.
It Aligns Us with Worship, Not Just Requests
Prayer is not just about asking — it’s about
honoring. Kneeling shifts prayer from: “God, help me with this…” to “God, You
are worthy.” It centers us on who God is before what we need.
Kneeling is not required for God
to hear you.
You can pray driving, walking or sitting, but
kneeling is a powerful practice because it helps your heart catch up with what
your mind already knows.
As you look back over your life, how has
your dependence on God
changed?
Ephesians 3:16-17a
…that according to the riches of His glory He
may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner
being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…
Where have you seen God strengthen you
internally, even when circumstances
didn’t change?
As the Spirit strengthens us - Christ begins
to fully dwell
in our hearts.
Not as a guest and not visiting us
occasionally.
But at home
continually shaping our thoughts, our
responses,
and our desires.
This isn’t about perfection — it’s about
access.
Christ doesn’t become “at home” because
everything is in order.
He becomes at home because you’ve given Him
full access to every part of your life.
Ephesians 3:17b-19
— that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
These aren’t new believers — they are mature
ones.
So, no matter how long you’ve followed Jesus,
there is
still more of His love to discover.
Paul describes it as breadth, length, height,
and depth.
In other words — it has no end.
And yet, it’s not just something we
understand.
It’s something we live in.
Can you share a time when the love of Christ
became especially real to you?
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Later in life, it’s easy to think that God
has already done His work in us or that our most impactful days are
behind us.
But Paul reminds us that God is still at work within us.
Even now – your prayers matter, your faith
matters,
and your influence matters.
Years later, that same grandson returned to
where the house used to be — now a grown man with two children of his own. The
house was gone. Time had simply taken it away. But something else remained.
There was a large tree that stood in the yard. His grandfather had planted it
the same year that the house was built. Back then, it was small and overlooked.
But now it was tall, and strong — its roots were deep, and its branches were wide.
So, on that day, he sat beneath that tree with his own children. And he told
them about their great-grandfather — the man who built the house, planted the
tree, and lived a very quiet life of faith. Then he said, “The house may be gone…
but what was planted here still lives on.”
This is what God is doing in each of us.
He’s not building something for now; He’s
planting something that will outlast us.
The foundation that God builds in you will
become the legacy that others will live in.
Click Play to Listen
Just like a home has a “feel” to it, a life
does too.
When Christ is at home in you:
- there’s a quiet steadiness
- a deeper patience
- and a noticeable love
People may not always be able to explain it —
but they can sense it.
