Skip to main content

Ephesians Study 5 One new house Ephesians 2:11–22

5 One new house Ephesians 2:11–22


Purpose: To see that Christ's death not only reconciled us to God but also to each other, and to consider the implications of this.





1.  Read Ephesians 2:11–22. Paul uses analogies and metaphors imagery in this passage. What are some of these?




What are they intended to communicate?




2.  How does verse 11 emphasize the ill feeling between the Jews and the Gentiles?





3.  What similar issues do we encounter today?




4.  Besides some superficial differences between Jews and Gentiles, there were also some very real divisions. What are some of the things that divided Gentiles from Jews (v. 12)?




5.  How does the bond we have in the blood (death) of Christ supersede all that divides us from other Christians (v. 13)?




6.  According to 2:14–18, what two reconciliations does Christ achieve?

How are they related?



7.  There was a literal “dividing wall of hostility” (2:14) in Jerusalem. The Court of the Gentiles was separated from the Temple proper by a stone wall. This wall had a sign on it forbidding entrance to any foreigner on pain of death. Paul says Christ destroyed this barrier “by abolishing in his flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in the ordinances” (2:15). In what sense did the cross abolish the enmity?


What rules and requirements do we enforce which might cause enmity between Christians or between believers and unbelievers?





8.  We still see divisions among Christians today even though Christ himself is our peace (vv. 14–18). How can those who are united in Christ still be divided?





9.  How do the images Paul uses in 2:19–22 emphasize the unity Christians have with one another?






10.  How is the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles to each other and to God (2:11–22) one fulfillment of God's will and purpose in Christ (1:9–10)?





11.  What practical first step toward unity can you take in the next week to promote greater unity within this group and the larger body of Christ?
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Recommended reading for young adults

Here is a list of books that I recommend to young adults:   The Pressure’s Off   by Larry Crab – a deeply personal and spiritual look at the how knowing Christ frees us from the old way of living to make life work. Twenty Someone by Craig Dunham and Doug Serven – a broad discussion of how to handle young adulthood from a Biblical and Gospel-driven perspective. Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper – a passionate plea to young adults to embrace a God-centered vision for your life.   Radical by David Platt – a challenge to American church mentality and invitation to live differently in light of the desperate needs of our world.   Strengths Finder by Tom Rath – a helpful tool to discover your personal and vocation strengths. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren - a clear helpful explanation of the basics of faith in Christ and how that applies to our lives. Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller – Keller’s compelling message about idols of the heart and how the Gospe...
Post a Comment
Read more

New resources for ministry

Parkside Journals and  Parkside Mission INC Parkside Journals is the new website for Emily's ongoing development of resources to help you connect neighbors to a better knowledge of God and his word.  The heartbeat of our mission remains the same, bringing the truth and love of Christ to neighborhoods through creating resources and training leaders. Much of this ministry is done in partnership with the church planting mission, Dunwoody Presbyterian Church. Parkside Mission is funded completely by the donations of individuals and churches that partner with this ministry. Thanks, Trent and Emily McEntyre
Post a Comment
Read more

Living on mission during transition - support material - seasons of life

When I began preparing for these talks I immediately thought of some the insights I heard from David English. Here is a background essay on the seasons of life we all go through.    I was in my early 40’s and something was happening to me emotionally. For twenty years I had been involved in Christian ministry and loved what I was doing. College students were a joy to me and I had worked with them in various positions of responsibility locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. I had a wonderful wife and four beautiful children. Outwardly everything seemed to be going great. But inwardly something was wrong. Something was missing. It was the same feeling that I had before I had become a Christian at age 19. Emotionally life was not making sense and I felt that it should because, after all, I had committed my life to Christ and I was serving Him with all my heart. There were two circumstances that I was faced with that added to my confusion. Campus Crusade was in the m...
Post a Comment
Read more