Why Ephesians Matters: Developing an identity in a shifting world The City of Ephesus - A City Obsessed with Power Paul and Ephesus Why Paul Wrote Ephesians Ephesians 1:1–2 - Identity Ephesians 1:3–14 - A Song of Praise Chosen by the Father Redeemed by the Son Sealed by the Spirit Why This Matters Today LifeGroup Discussion Questions: The sermon emphasized that Paul begins Ephesians by telling believers who they are before telling them how to live. What are some ways people today tend to define their identity? Which of those are hardest for you personally to let go of? Ephesus was a city obsessed with power, security, and spiritual control. In what ways do you see similar obsessions in our culture today? How do these pressures show up in your own life? Paul says God chose us in Christ before creation (Eph. 1:4). How does this truth challenge feelings of insecurity, insignificance, or fear?Why do you think it’s sometimes hard to believe God’s choice is secure? Ephesians says we are redeemed through Christ’s blood. What does “redemption” mean in your own words? How does understanding the cost of redemption change the way you see grace? The believers in Ephesus lived in a world that constantly reminded them of unseen forces and threats. What “voices” today try to shape your sense of safety or worth? How does Ephesians redirect our confidence? As we begin this series, Paul’s message is that believers are already “alive in Christ.” What part of your life most needs to be reshaped by that truth right now? How can this group support one another in living out that identity?