Thankful To Be Alive

THEME: When someone has been rescued from some disastrous situation or has survived a near-death experience or is battling a life-threatening disease, they will sometimes say, “I’m just thankful to be alive!” While few of us have ever experienced these kinds of things, from a spiritual perspective, all of us are battling a life-threatening disease called sin and are facing certain death and will spend eternity in hell unless we are mercifully rescued by God’s grace. Here in the opening verses of Ephesians 2, Paul explained the doctrine of salvation; specifically how and why we are saved by God’s grace. This passage serves as another great reminder of who we are in Christ compared to who we used to be before we came to Christ which should cause us to be filled with joyful praise and thanksgiving every day of our lives.

1. WHO YOU USED TO BE (vv. 1-3)
2. WHO YOU ARE NOW (vv. 4-7)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” These questions are designed to help you apply today’s message to your life. We encourage you to thoughtfully answer these questions and discuss your answers with others. For more information about joining a Grow Group that uses these questions as the basis for weekly discussion, prayer, and accountability, please call the church office at (936) 582-1977.

1. What are some of the things for which you are most thankful (i.e. physically and spiritually)?
2. Read Ephesians 2:1-3. How does Paul describe what you were like before you were saved? Why is a spiritual zombie an appropriate illustration of your former depraved condition?
3. What is the significance of the two words “trespasses and sins” Paul used in v. 1? How is sin both active (i.e. we are rebels) and passive (i.e. we are failures)? What is the difference between sins of commission and sins of omission (i.e. things we do that we shouldn’t and things we don’t do that we should)?
4. How do you see the world, the flesh, and the devil still seeking to influence and control your life and keep your life dominated by and/or enslaved to sin? What are you doing about it?
5. Read John 3:16 and Romans 5:6-10. What motivated God to rescue you from sin, death, and hell? How should this motivate you to not keep giving in to temptation and sin?
6. Read Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14 and 2:7. What is God’s ultimate goal in providing salvation for sinners like you? How does rescuing you from sin, death, and hell give God the opportunity to show off all of His glorious attributes?
7. Thank God for not leaving you in your dead, depraved, damned state but granting you spiritual life because of His great love. Ask Him to forgive you for losing a sense of wonder and awe for His amazing grace and mercy which He has shown you. Ask Him to help your life be characterized by an attitude of joyful praise and thankfulness for your great salvation in Christ (cf. Rev. 7:9-12).