What's Next?

Whether you heard the message from Sunday or are part of one of our “What’s Next” groups at Venture, here’s a way for you to go deeper.

this week's next steps

Read Ephesians 2 several times in preparation for next week

Read Acts 9 to in preparation for next week

Evaluate areas of my life where I am not living like I am an “adopted son or daughter” of God

Say yes to Jesus - click here

This week's Bible reading plan

This week's fill-in notes

This week's study

It is possible to possess limitless riches yet live like a pauper, completely unaware of the wealth at our disposal. For the believer, our entire spiritual fortune is found in one place: "in Christ." This is far more than a religious phrase; it is our new address, our new identity, our new reality. To be "in Christ" is to be a saint—not a flawless person, but one who has been set apart by God, for God. This new position means we have full redemption, our past and present sins washed clean "through his blood." This isn't a gift we earn; it is "in accordance with the riches of God's grace," a treasure lavished upon us freely.

This identity also means we are adopted. Before the world was even created, God set His affection on us, choosing us to be in His family. We are no longer orphans but sons and daughters with the full rights and privileges of a beloved child. As a promise of what's to come, He has marked us with the Holy Spirit, a divine "seal" that guarantees our full inheritance. The challenge, then, is to stop living in spiritual poverty. We must learn to draw upon the immense wealth we already possess, living a life that reflects the magnificent calling we have received—a life worthy of our position as children of the King.

Questions to Consider:

In what specific areas of your life (e.g., worries, fears, habits, relationships) are you most likely to live like a "spiritual pauper," forgetting the immense wealth you have "in Christ"?
Ephesians 1:7 says we have "redemption... the forgiveness of sins." How does meditating on the richness of this grace (as something "lavished" on us) move you beyond just being thankful for forgiveness to living in daily freedom and joy?
The idea of being "chosen before the creation of the world" (Eph. 1:4) is profound. How does this truth impact your sense of identity and purpose, especially in moments when you feel overlooked, insignificant, or like a failure?
What are the practical, day-to-day "rights and privileges" of being an adopted child of God and an "heir" to His kingdom (Eph. 1:5, 1:14)?
Ephesians 4:1 (referenced in the study) urges us to "live a life worthy of the calling." What is the relationship between inheriting our spiritual wealth (which is by faith) and investing it (which is by our works and actions)?