STRONGER-Part 6-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 Cornerstone
Main Scripture: Ephesians 2:17-22
Other scripture mentioned: John 4:19-24; Acts 10:44-46; Isaiah 28:16; 1 Peter 2: 4-7; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Hebrews 12:25-29
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:
Last week we learned how we are not strangers or outcasts, instead, we are in the family of God. All believers in Jesus Christ inherit the same blessings and promises as Jewish believers because we are saved through Christ not a system of laws and regulations. Today’s scripture is about unity and Paul affirming once again how the gentiles share in the same inheritance and blessings from God that the Jewish believers are promised. If you are wondering how do you logically unite all nations into one family and then keep peace and harmony at the same time? You would need the most powerful love and clear boundaries or standards to keep the integrity of that community, to keep it together. The answer, once again, is Jesus, who Paul calls The Cornerstone.
Pastor Ryan went deeper into the meaning of the Cornerstone to show us that in Jesus there is an emphasis on being united in Christ means we also need to be aligned with Christ. Paul goes onto use the analogy of a building or temple, but he calls it a holy temple. Pastor Ryan dug deeper to say we should be happy we are made holy because that makes us acceptable to God and part of His family. And with this great privilege, we should be careful to be responsible with our lives by remaining holy as we are a dwelling of our holy God.
Takeaways: This week we are including Pastor Ryan’s teaching notes!
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.
The role of the Holy Spirit carries on what Christ has done for us.
John 4:19-24
Acts 10:44-46
19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.
Paul uses 3 analogies to describe our unity through the redeeming work of Jesus: Citizenship, Family, and a Building. (In verse 16 Paul mentions the body)
20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
What is the foundation of the apostles and the prophets? The work and ministry of Jesus Christ through the apostles and prophets of the new testament.
What is the cornerstone?
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.”
1 Peter 2:4-7 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. 5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.”
CULTURAL: In the East at this time, the cornerstone was even more important than the foundation. The cornerstone was part of and essential to the foundation. It served to hold the whole structure together. From the cornerstone, the rest of the foundation is laid. The cornerstone is a fixed reference point for how the walls would be laid horizontally and vertically. The cornerstone assures that all angles are true and the structure is sound. The cornerstone is pure and immovable, the most solid part of the wall because it wasn’t made up in pieces, it is whole. Names were often inscribed on who the builder was.
Jesus is the center, the cornerstone, the starting, the author, and the perfecter of our faith. Jesus is what brought us together and holds us together. Jesus is pure, solid, and trustworthy. Jesus is immovable and secure, He will not crumble, He remains true, sure, and indestructible. We can absolutely trust Jesus. He’s pure and solid, he’s not going to crumble no matter what is shaking in our world. We have God’s stamp of approval on us, we are claimed as part of God’s house in Christ.
Jesus holds us together, but He also aligns us together in His truth.
We conform to Christ, not Christ conforms to us.
If it doesn’t align with Jesus and if it doesn’t align with God’s Word, it is not something we can accept or unite around.
21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
Gentiles were considered unholy and defiled now they are being called holy. Gentiles were banned from the temple and distant from God, now they are part of the temple where God dwells and lives with them through the Spirit.
The Greek word for “temple” here is not hieron, which is used for the entire temple precinct, but naos, which refers to the inner sanctuary that includes the Holy Place and Most Holy Place (Full Life Bible Commentary, 1048).
Through the washing blood of Jesus Christ, we are a holy and worthy dwelling place for God.
With great privilege comes great responsibility:
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Do we see ourselves as holy?
Do we treat our temples with reverence for God?
I am grieved and burdened
We don’t fit in with the world. We’ve been called out of this world, holy and carefully joined together in Christ. We fit into the spiritual house and family of God!
The coming shaking: Hebrews 12:25-29
The door is open to everyone!
Takeaways:
Jesus holds us together, but He also aligns us together in His truth.
We conform to Christ, not Christ conforms to us.
If it doesn’t align with Jesus and if it doesn’t align with God’s Word, it is not something we can accept or unite around.
Through the washing blood of Jesus Christ, we are a holy and worthy dwelling place for God.
We don’t fit in with the world. We’ve been called out of this world, holy and carefully joined together in Christ. We fit into the spiritual house and family of God!
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?
Why is it important that we live not just in peace with one another but align our lives and thinking with Jesus?
How will you guard against accepting or falling for a worldly philosophy that is not in harmony with the Bible?
We already are and will face even more backlash for aligning ourselves with Jesus so what can we do to help each other in the family of God?
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!