Austin Christian Executives (ACE) Spring 2015 Kickoff

ACE Men’s Bible Study

Spring 2015Kickoff

ACE in a Nutshell

• ACE Mission:• Prepare, launch, and support men to achieve

their ultimate purpose

• ACE Values:• Deep teaching: Learning, understanding and

knowing God• Deep relationships: God, Family, Community,

Marketplace

ACE in a Nutshell

• ACE Goals:• An Encounter with God that you NEVER

Recover From…• Regardless of your “spiritual maturity”• A life fully ENGAGED!• A life forever CHANGED!• A life spiritually ENERGIZED!

• A Different Person by Semester’s End• True change from the inside out…

Our Semester Focus

EphesiansVerse-by-Verse16 weeks

Ephesians Overview

Ephesians deals with topics at the very core of what it means to be a Christian both in faith and in practice

Paul’s two amazing prayers: Spiritual Wisdom (Eph 1:15-23) Spiritual Growth (Eph 3:14-21)

Other Topics in Ephesians

God’s PurposeSalvation Through FaithSpiritual GrowthUnity of the ChurchChristian CharacterLiving with Others/MarriageSpiritual Warfare

Semester Format

Specific verses assigned weekly

(via email or http://austinexec.com/north) Read multiple times during the weekAnswer the personal study questionsBe prepared to share in small groups:

What you learned (seek) What challenged you (engage) How you will apply it to your life today (obey)

What I Have Learned So Far…

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe…” – Eph 1:18-19

God’s Power

Dunamis = Dynamite

Dunamis = Dynamic

Paul’s Prayer (v18-19)

so that you will know what is the hope of His calling (Promises)

what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and (Provision)

what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe (Power)

Personal Impact of Paul’s Prayer

We need to become aware of the power available to us a children of God

It is the same power that put the entire universe into motion!

What should we do with this power? How should we put it to use?

Putting the Power into Practice

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20

My Personal Impact

God desires to provide us with everything we need, today and for eternity

Am I ready to seek, engage, obey, and experience God in this powerful (“dynamic”) way?

Getting the Most from Ephesians

Read as an overviewDon’t be satisfied with basic understandingRe-read to dig deeperAsk why God included the particular versesBe filled with His WordEmpty yourself to othersAllow God to fully control you

Something to Think About this Semester

• Consider three time horizons:• New Year’s Eve 2015• First day of your retirement• Death bed

• Look back - what will truly define your life?• Where does ‘change’ and ‘purpose’ fit into your

schedule and priorities?• How are lives changed from the inside out?

ACE Men’s Bible Study

Next week:Eph 1:1-14