Ephesians 2:11-22

 

[Grace and Peace] EPHESIANS_

 

[Activity] Spend some time exploring the logical flow of Ephesians 2:11-22…

 

When have you tried (or wanted to) join a new group… an new circle of friends or a new job or club. Describe your experience…

 

[Read Ephesians 2:11-16]

 

Spiritually, Paul tells us that we become part of a new group too.
In verses 11-13, how does Paul describe the Gentiles before they became part of this new group?

 

The word that Paul uses, in verse 12, to describe them as having no god is the word we get our modern word ‘atheists’. This is ironic because this is the same word that Gentiles used to refer to Jews (and then later Christians) because they refused to acknowledge the Gentile’s pantheon of gods and goddesses.

What did Jesus do specifically for the Gentiles on the one hand (verses 12-14) and for the Jewish people on the other (verses 14-15)?

 

How might the original audience of this letter reacted to these verses?
How easy or difficult do you think it was for them to live out this kind of oneness that they were called to?

 

In verse 16, why did God do all of this?

 

Church life today may not face the same issues of how to integrate Jews and Gentiles… but if there are any kind of divides between racial or cultural differences, Paul would say that our gospel, our very grasp of the meaning of Jesus’ death, is called into question…

What challenges often come up when groups of people, who used to be separate, come together to form one group?

 

How can looking back to Ephesians 2:1-3 and looking forward to Ephesians 4:17-24 help us to tell the “differences” that we’re supposed to disregard within the church… and the “differences” which are still important?

 

[Read Ephesians 2:17-22]

 

In verses 17-18, how did Jesus’ life and death bring peace for both Jews and Gentiles?

 

In what ways, in your life, have you experienced this peace?

 

In verses 19-22, Paul describes our equality in Jesus, using three images; citizens, family, and building. How are each of these descriptions of people before and after they become Christians?

 

For Paul, one of the central themes here (as well as in his other letters) is the Jerusalem Temple… it is not just the religious centre/heart of the nation and a place of pilgrimage… it was also the political, social, musical, and cultural heart of Jerusalem… as well as a place of celebration and feasting… and the place where heaven and earth met.
But here, Paul is declaring that God is construction a new Temple… it’s the idea that a community, rather than a building, might be the place where God would really and truly take up residence.

Looking again at those three images – citizens, family members, and a building…

What are the implications of being a citizen of God’s Kingdom?

 

How should our interactions with each other be different because we are members of God’s family?

 

How can seeing ourselves as part of what God is building change the way we see and act in the world?