Week 36 — Abiding and Inner Strength | Alex Spry | Ephesians 3:14–21

Tension: External appearance vs. inner strengthening

Formation Outcome: Deepened love and spiritual fullness

Grounding Questions:

•  How do people usually measure strength?

•  What is the difference between looking strong outwardly and being strengthened inwardly?

Expository Teaching:

In Ephesians 3, Paul prays for believers to be strengthened with power through the Spirit in the inner being. This prayer is not focused on external success, comfort, or circumstances. Paul prays for deep internal formation.

He asks that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith and that they would be rooted and grounded in love.

The language is rich. “Rooted” is agricultural. “Grounded” is architectural. Together they communicate stability, depth, and durability. 

This complements the ABIDE theme without duplicating earlier texts because the focus here is specifically on inward strengthening and the expansive love of Christ.

Paul wants believers to comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ’s love. This is not merely intellectual knowledge. It is experiential, formative knowledge that leads to being filled with the fullness of God.

The tension is between external appearance and inward reality. A person may appear spiritually active yet remain inwardly weak. Paul prays for strength where it matters most: the inner being.

Abiding forms the interior life so that believers are not hollow, shallow, or easily shaken.

Group Discussion Questions:

•  What does Paul pray for in this passage?

•  Why does inner strengthening matter for spiritual maturity?

•  What does it mean to be rooted and grounded in love?

•  Where do you need Christ to strengthen your inner life?

MacDonald Ave Church of Christ, Richmond, CA Sunday Morning Bible Class, October 4, 2026 (Revision.1)