STRONGER-Part 5-AFTER THE SERMON
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or to be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: The Cost of Unity
Main Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-18
Other scripture mentioned: Colossians 2:11; Acts 21:27-32; Hebrews 10:1-10; John 4:23-24 2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 2:14
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Check out this overview of the entire book, especially the first chapters of Ephesians to better understand the depth of Ephesians 1 Ephesians Overview
Summary:
The work of Christ doesn’t stop at uniting and reconciling us to God. The cross also reconciles and unites us into one body, one group, no matter our social class, our race, our knowledge of God, or our past. Paul reminded the gentiles they were included, no longer separated from God. The gentiles inherited by faith in Christ, the same blessings and promises of the Jews. It would take a miracle (or the blood of Jesus) to unite Jews and Gentiles into one new people group or family. The hostility between these two people groups goes very deep. The blood of Jesus accomplished this miracle! The good news is that what once separated has now been demolished. The literal wall near the temple that kept gentiles at bay from entering the temple wasn’t destroyed until 70AD. But spiritually, there was no wall after Christ’s death. The laws and regulations that limited different people groups from experiencing the fullness of all God’s blessings were demolished. All people, of all nations, can come to God and be included in the blessings of His family through Christ and the Holy Spirit. Pastor Ryan challenged us to make sure we perpetuate and continue this unity by welcoming and treating each other as God’s own sons and daughters.
Takeaways: This week we are including Pastor Ryan’s teaching notes!
11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.
Circumcision was a ceremonial law. The ceremonial laws are called hukkim or chuqqah in Hebrew, which literally means “custom of the nation.”
Circumcision was a way to distinguish God’s people from surrounding pagan nations.
“In ancient Jewish beliefs, non-jews could never participate in the fullness of the covenant without circumcision, although they could be saved by keeping some basic commandments. To be circumcised was to be grafted into the community of Israel, to become part of God’s covenant people.” -The IVP Bible Background Commentary
Colossians 2:11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.
12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.
“God's choice of Israel was not favoritism, or for special honor but for special responsibility.” -William Barclay
Unfortunately, like any sinner, we have the potential to corrupt a good thing, and that’s what the Israelites did.
13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
We are children of God. We are not apart from Christ we are one with Him. We are citizens of God’s Kingdom inheriting the same promises and blessings! We have God and we have hope while we live in this world!!
Notice that unity must begin with you and God before it begins with other people.
14-15 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.
Only the blood of Jesus has the power to unite us to God and to one another.
When sin and hostility die in us, sin and hostility will not live through us. Love flows out towards fellow believers because God’s love overflows in us.
“He broke down the wall of hostility”
Paul was writing this letter from prison because he was falsely accused of breaking this law (Acts 21:27-32.
“Ending the system of the law”
Hebrews 10:1-10
“Creating in himself one new people from the two groups.”
Just as each one of us becomes a new creation in Christ, God brings all mankind together to be a new community in Christ. We become something the world has never seen before...a community full of diversity but united by one God, one Lord, and One Spirit.
“The unity which Jesus achieves is not achieved by blotting out all racial characteristics; it is achieved by making all men of all nations into Christians. It may well be that we have something to learn here. The tendency has always been when we send missionaries abroad to produce people who wear English clothes and speak the English language...It is not Jesus' purpose that we should turn all men into one nation, but that there should be Christian Indians and Christian Africans whose unity lies in their Christianity. The oneness in Christ is in Christ and not in any external change.” -William Barclay
V.16-18 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. 17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
Jesus suffered to remove what divides us and be united in Him.
Closing Statements:
In God's family, there are no outsiders or elite, we're all included and equal.
In God's family, we do not have to compete or compare with one another.
The ground is level at the cross.
Mature Christians, let’s be proactive at caring and including new believers into our fellowship.
We can’t let this world influence us to rebuild what Jesus died to tear down. We must keep our faith in and focus on Christ!
Walls of hostility between men are spiritual. Laws won't save, heal or unite hearts, only Jesus can do that. Only the love of Jesus can breakthrough!
We celebrate communion with a new appreciation. You are reconciled and united to Christ individually, but we are united as one body in Christ, corporately. Communion is a reminder that all of us need Jesus and Jesus died for all!
Discussion:
What was one big takeaway for you from this message?
What something new you learned, today?
What scripture verse stuck out to you and why?
What did you sense the Holy Spirit was saying to you during this message?
Pastor Ryan pointed out that unity must begin with God in order to see unity with one another…why is that?
How can we help preserve and strengthen unity in the church?
Did you know God wants you to be in His family no matter your background? Jesus made it possible…
If you are ready to experience salvation and be transformed we encourage you to say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I see who I am without Jesus. Thank you for saving me from my sin, my past, this world, and your judgment. I repent, I turn away from that life and I put my faith and life in Jesus! Amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know!
Pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the blood, the life of Christ! We acknowledge that you demolished the wall that separated us from you and from one another. We commit ourselves to remain united in Christ by keeping our faith in and focus on Him. We love you and praise you for all that you’ve done for us in Christ Jesus, Amen!
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!