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Bible Study Questions Ephesians 1:15-17 Developing our Prayer Life

Ephesians 1:15-17

Paul J. Bucknell

– The Bible Teacher's Commentary –


Bible Study Questions

These Bible study questions on Ephesians 1:15-17 are designed to challenge a person or group to understand the meaning of the text as well as applying it to their lives. Don't argue but try to understand why the apostle wrote such things. These studies are free to copy without permission.

15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:15-17).

  1. Why do people pray? Is there a certain way people should pray for each other? (KICKOFF QUESTION)

  2. What are the two things Paul heard about regarding their faith in Ephesians 1:15?

  3. What does each of these mean?

  4. What is Paul’s response to these two things (see Ephesians 1:16)?

  5. What does it mean “do not cease giving thanks for you”? How can he keep doing it (I have not stopped giving thanks for you (NIV)?

  6. Who is Paul praying for in Ephesians 1:16?

  7. How did Paul pray for them (Ephesians 1:17)?

  8. Who does Paul ask so that certain things would be done for the Ephesians (1:17)? Who is he praying to? Name the two descriptions given this one.

  9. Why is it that so many Christians pray to Jesus, the Holy Spirit or to Mary? In light of this passage, is it wrong? Why or why not?

  10. Let’s go back and look at the two things Paul asked for. What does ‘a spirit of wisdom’ mean? Who in the Bible had wisdom?

  11. What was it used for? Why do you think Paul asked for this?

  12. What now is the second thing Paul asks for? What does ‘spirit … of revelation in the knowledge of Him’ mean? Who might ‘Him’ refer to?

  13. What is the difference between asking for knowledge and ‘revelation in the knowledge of Him’? Have you ever asked for this for yourself? How about for others?

Applications Bible Study Questions on Ephesians 1:15-17 and Prayer

  1. Do you pray?

  2. How often?

  3. For whom? Self, family or others?

  4. How often do you pray for others?

  5. How do you pray for others?

  6. By taking a close look at Paul’s prayer, how can you improve your prayers for others?

  7. Why might Paul have prayed these things and not for other things?
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