Elements City Church
Ephesians series - wk2 (2:1-22)
The Apostle Paul wrote Ephesians not to counter any heresy or issues in the church, but to encourage and STRENGTHEN the followers of Jesus. He spent years investing in these people and sending others to do the same. He loves them. He's writing this letter to STRENGTHEN them deeper into their new identity in Christ and living out the calling of the Church in their day. It's still true today for us.
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Thanks for joining us tonight...
Whether you're in the house or joining us online from your house - we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to your soul and that you know you're loved. May God whisper to you and help you in taking your next step with Him.
http://elem.ccNot sure if you have a favorite home improvement show to watch? There are many out there to choose from. I always liked watching Chip and Joanna Gaines in “Fixer Upper”. There are a host of other shows that are similar in genre. (Property Brothers, Flip or Flop, Love it or List it)
=object: Find a home. Tear it a part and then fix it back up…and it’s better than ever!
In Ephesians chapter 2, the Apostle Paul is going to give us a glimpse into the incredible ‘home improvement’ or “life improvement” work that God is doing in and through Jesus that we are benefiting from. He’s changed our very identity (see last week) and now He’s changing us more — so much bigger than a simple ‘improvement’ project for humanity — it’s sort of a divine demolition & renovation project for all of creation!
=object: Find a home. Tear it a part and then fix it back up…and it’s better than ever!
In Ephesians chapter 2, the Apostle Paul is going to give us a glimpse into the incredible ‘home improvement’ or “life improvement” work that God is doing in and through Jesus that we are benefiting from. He’s changed our very identity (see last week) and now He’s changing us more — so much bigger than a simple ‘improvement’ project for humanity — it’s sort of a divine demolition & renovation project for all of creation!
READ EPHESIANS 2:4-5 BUT (We were dead, without hope) NOW MADE ALIVE.
READ EPHESIANS 2:13. BUT NOW (We were separated, w/out peace) NOW RECONCILED.
The Apostle Paul is going to emphasize the reality that through Jesus, God is dealing with our vertical relationship with him (2:1-10) and he’s going to deal with our horizontal relationship issues with one another! (2:11-22)
READ EPHESIANS 2:13. BUT NOW (We were separated, w/out peace) NOW RECONCILED.
The Apostle Paul is going to emphasize the reality that through Jesus, God is dealing with our vertical relationship with him (2:1-10) and he’s going to deal with our horizontal relationship issues with one another! (2:11-22)
Christ comes along and abolishes the barriers.
Q) Are there barriers in our church (or in your heart)? BARRIERS based on race, gender, economics, or status or anything else? We all must continually do a heart-check of our attitudes and actions against Scripture.
==We’re not to put up walls where Christ has torn them down.
WHY?
Because not only has Christ done the demolition work;
he’s doing the renovation work!
Ephesians 2:15-16
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
Q) Are there barriers in our church (or in your heart)? BARRIERS based on race, gender, economics, or status or anything else? We all must continually do a heart-check of our attitudes and actions against Scripture.
==We’re not to put up walls where Christ has torn them down.
WHY?
Because not only has Christ done the demolition work;
he’s doing the renovation work!
Ephesians 2:15-16
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
In Greek there are 2 predominant words for “new”: neos and kainos.
Paul does not use the word neos.
=he uses the word kainos, which speaks of something brand new as it relates to kind, a totally new invention…something unprecedented, something new and fresh!
Paul does not use the word neos.
=he uses the word kainos, which speaks of something brand new as it relates to kind, a totally new invention…something unprecedented, something new and fresh!
In a world that is still dealing with walls of hostility - we need the divine demolition that Christ brings in and through his life, death and resurrection power.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is what ultimately can bring us together.
When the gospel gets ahold of our hearts it creates a longing to love and embrace people who might be different than me, b/c we are now siblings in the family of God!
When the gospel gets ahold of us - we continually seek to do away with the things like prejudice and unjust preferences that keep us divided.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is what ultimately can bring us together.
When the gospel gets ahold of our hearts it creates a longing to love and embrace people who might be different than me, b/c we are now siblings in the family of God!
When the gospel gets ahold of us - we continually seek to do away with the things like prejudice and unjust preferences that keep us divided.
Quote:
The Cross is not just a bridge to get us to God; it's a sledgehammer that breaks down hostile walls that separate us. -Rich Villodas
The Cross is not just a bridge to get us to God; it's a sledgehammer that breaks down hostile walls that separate us. -Rich Villodas
The cross is where we take our cues - it’s the sledgehammer that swings away at the walls that separate us and divide us. The ground is always level at the foot of the cross.
It’s the place where all are welcomed and are given a unifying grace that holds us connected as THE CHURCH, though we might have different backgrounds, nationalities, preferences, priorities, desires, designs, wishes and wants.
It’s the place where all are welcomed and are given a unifying grace that holds us connected as THE CHURCH, though we might have different backgrounds, nationalities, preferences, priorities, desires, designs, wishes and wants.
We’re to display this UNCOMMON unity that cause the world to do a double take!
We're UNITED together through Jesus – to put God’s powerful grace on display in a DIVIDED world.
We're UNITED together through Jesus – to put God’s powerful grace on display in a DIVIDED world.
We are each equipped to play a part in the assembling of the NEW COMMUNITY called the CHURCH!
Q) WHY should you & I be connected, invested and active in the church?
Because it’s there and only there that the power of God is actively doing something - leveraging each of us and shaping each of us and growing each of us through our inter-connectedness into something He alone is building and creating!
It’s in the CHURCH where His power is most acutely active!
We’re not meant to live a Lone Ranger kind of faith. We’re called to live the connected life, not the surrounded life like we say around here...
Parting Questions for us tonight:
-How can you be a part of work of the gospel in some divine demolition and renovation? What might that look like?
-How can you be a part of what God is building and creating in His church?
-What’s your next step?
Q) WHY should you & I be connected, invested and active in the church?
Because it’s there and only there that the power of God is actively doing something - leveraging each of us and shaping each of us and growing each of us through our inter-connectedness into something He alone is building and creating!
It’s in the CHURCH where His power is most acutely active!
We’re not meant to live a Lone Ranger kind of faith. We’re called to live the connected life, not the surrounded life like we say around here...
Parting Questions for us tonight:
-How can you be a part of work of the gospel in some divine demolition and renovation? What might that look like?
-How can you be a part of what God is building and creating in His church?
-What’s your next step?
Thanks for being with us and partnering with us...
Elements family: thank you for being a part of enabling us to BE the Church in our city especially in this moment. Your gifts help fuel the mission and our capacity to share His love with as many as we can. You help us bring the HOPE and LIGHT of Jesus to our city! You can give here, online or via our app.
http://elem.cc/giveHave a blessed week everyone. We're right back here next Sunday at 5pm. In person or online. We love you friends.
Connection Card
If you're NEW, you can fill out a connection card and we'll connect with you to answer any questions and help you feel welcome in our Elements family.
http://elementscitychurch.org/connectioncard