Rooted: A Journey Through Ephesians
As we continue our Rooted sermon series this fall, we are inviting everyone at New City to spend time in the book of Ephesians throughout the week.
We have created a simple weekly Scripture reading plan that follows along with the Sunday messages. Each day includes a short passage from Ephesians, a related Scripture reading, a reflection question, and a brief prayer.
Our hope is that we will do more than hear Ephesians on Sundays. We want to become familiar with this letter, listen for what God is saying to us, and allow His Word to shape the way we live.
Read slowly. Reflect honestly. Pray simply. Let God’s Word take root.
A Simple Rhythm for Each Day
READ
Spend time in the Scripture.
REFLECT
Ask what God is showing you.
RESPOND
Consider how you can live in response.
PRAY
Turn what you have read into a conversation with God.
Don't read Ephesians simply to finish Ephesians. Read Ephesians until Ephesians begins to shape you.
Rooted in Community
Ephesians 4:1-16
This week, Ephesians reaches an important turning point.
For the first three chapters, Paul has focused primarily on what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. Now he begins to describe the kind of life that grows out of that grace.
His first major instruction is:
“Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1)
And the first place that calling becomes visible is in the way Christians live together.
Humility. Gentleness. Patience. Unity. Service. Truth. Love. Maturity.
Paul’s vision of spiritual growth is deeply communal. We do not become mature followers of Jesus by ourselves. God joins us together as one body, gives each person a role to play, and grows the whole church as each part does its work (Ephesians 4:15-16).
This Week's Big Idea
We don't grow into spiritual maturity alone. We grow together.
Christian unity does not mean everyone becomes the same.
It means people with different personalities, gifts, experiences, and backgrounds learn to center their lives around the same Lord, the same faith, the same Spirit, and the same hope (Ephesians 4:4-6).
Monday
Monday | Live Worthy of Your Calling
READ
Ephesians 4:1-3
Philippians 2:1-5Paul urges believers to “live a life worthy of the calling” they have received (Ephesians 4:1).
Then he immediately describes what that life looks like:
Humility. Gentleness. Patience. Bearing with one another in love. Making every effort to maintain unity. (Ephesians 4:2-3)
For Paul, spiritual maturity is not measured only by what we know. It becomes visible in how we treat people.
REFLECT
Which of these qualities comes most naturally to you?
Which one is most difficult?
Is there a relationship where God may be asking you to practice humility, gentleness, patience, or love?
PRAY
Jesus, help me live in a way that reflects the grace You have given me. Make me humble, gentle, patient, and willing to protect the unity of Your church. Amen.
Tuesday
Tuesday | One Body
READ
Ephesians 4:4-6
John 17:20-23Paul repeats one word again and again:
One.
One body.
One Spirit.
One hope.
One Lord.
One faith.
One baptism.
One God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:4-6).Christian unity does not begin with our preferences or personalities.
It begins with what God has already made true in Christ.
REFLECT
What does Paul say Christians already share?
Which differences are you most tempted to make more important than the unity we have in Jesus?
PRAY
Father, thank You for making us one in Christ. Help me value the unity You have already created and resist anything that unnecessarily divides Your people. Amen.
Wednesday
Wednesday | Grace Given to Each One
READ
Ephesians 4:7-10
Romans 12:3-8Unity does not mean uniformity.
Paul says, “To each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” (Ephesians 4:7)
Jesus gives different gifts and responsibilities to different people.
The church becomes healthy when we stop comparing ourselves with others and faithfully use what Christ has entrusted to us.
REFLECT
What gifts, abilities, experiences, or opportunities has God given you?
Where might comparison be keeping you from recognizing the contribution God has given you to make?
PRAY
Jesus, thank You for the grace and gifts You have given me. Help me use them faithfully for the good of others rather than comparing myself with someone else. Amen.
Thursday
Thursday | Equipped to Serve
READ
Ephesians 4:11-13
1 Corinthians 12:4-7Paul describes different leaders Christ gives to the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Ephesians 4:11).
Their purpose is not to perform all the ministry themselves.
They are given “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Ephesians 4:12)
Everyone has a part to play.
The goal is a church growing together toward unity and maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4:13).
REFLECT
Do you tend to think of ministry as something church leaders do, or as something every Christian participates in?
Where might God be inviting you to serve, encourage, lead, give, teach, welcome, or care for someone?
PRAY
God, thank You for giving every person a place in Your church. Show me how You have equipped me to serve, and give me a willing heart to contribute to the growth of Your people. Amen.
Friday
Friday | Growing Up Together
READ
Ephesians 4:14-16
Colossians 3:12-15Paul describes the goal of Christian community as maturity.
He does not want believers to remain spiritually unstable or easily pulled away from the truth (Ephesians 4:14).
Instead, we are to “speak the truth in love” and grow together toward Christ (Ephesians 4:15).
Paul finishes with a picture of the church as a body:
“The whole body... grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:16)
Every part matters.
And every part affects the health of the whole.
REFLECT
Where do you need someone else to help you grow?
Who might God be asking you to encourage or strengthen?
What does it look like for you to speak truth with both courage and love?
PRAY
Jesus, grow me toward maturity. Give me people who will help me follow You faithfully, and help me become someone who strengthens others. Build Your church through all of us as each person does their part. Amen.
Weekend Reflection
Before Sunday, read Ephesians 4:1-16 one more time in a single sitting.
Then consider these four questions:
What qualities does Paul connect with a life worthy of our calling?
What already makes Christians one?
What contribution has Christ given me to make within His church?
Where do I need other people in order to continue growing toward maturity?
Pay attention to the movement of the passage:
Calling → Character
Unity → Diversity
Gifts → Service
Truth → Maturity
Individual Parts → One Growing BodyWe Grow Together
Our culture often encourages us to think of spiritual growth as a private journey between ourselves and God.
Paul gives us a larger picture.
We need one another.
We need people who encourage us, challenge us, forgive us, teach us, serve beside us, and speak truth to us in love (Ephesians 4:15).
And other people need what God has given us.
The church grows “as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:16).
That means showing up matters.
Serving matters.
Encouraging someone matters.
Making room for another person matters.
Choosing patience over frustration matters.
Protecting unity matters.
God is forming us together into the mature body of Christ.
Want to Go Deeper?
If you use the YouVersion Bible App, YouVersion also offers a simple 3-day Ephesians reading plan that takes you through the entire letter.
It can be a helpful companion to New City's weekly Rooted readings, especially if you would like to read Ephesians in larger sections and see the whole letter together.
The plan was created by YouVersion and is designed for either individual or group reading.