And You Were Dead in Sins

In one paragraph

Robert and Adrian Lillo, missionaries serving in Nigeria with Global Scholars Mission, visited First B to give an update on their work and to preach. Robert closed the service with a brief look at the connection between Ephesians chapters one and two, focusing on a single word that ties the two chapters together. The congregation also took a special offering for the Lillos' ministry in Nigeria....

Read together

1. 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 Read by elder Mike Mayer during the covenant membership ceremony to illustrate the body of Christ having many members
2. Romans 12:4-8 Read by Mike Mayer at the close of the covenant ceremony as a second body-of-Christ passage
3. Ephesians 1:20-23 Robert Lillo referenced the Father seating Jesus at his right hand in the heavenly places and Jesus being head over all things to the church
4. Ephesians 2:1 Robert Lillo quoted 'you were dead in the trespasses and sins' to contrast the mountaintop blessings of chapter one with the valley of human lostness
5. Ephesians 2:4 Robert Lillo quoted 'but God, being rich in mercy' as the great turning point after the description of being dead in sins
6. Ephesians 2:6 Robert Lillo referenced God raising believers up to be with Christ in the heavenlies, echoing the raising of Jesus in chapter one
7. Philippians 4:13 Adrian Lillo described Nigerian children reciting 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' in a remedial reading class

Talk about it

1. Robert described how God 'morphed' their ministry in Nigeria in ways they never anticipated when they arrived in 2005. Can you think of a time when God redirected something in your own life toward a purpose you hadn't planned for?
2. Robert talked about investing in the young man who knocked on their door asking to wash their car, and watching him eventually teach the same courses Robert once taught. What does that kind of long-term investment in a person require from the one doing the investing?
3. Adrian described sitting in a remedial reading class where children recited 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' together. What does it mean to you that a curriculum built around literacy was also built around that kind of faith?
4. Robert pointed out that Paul writes 'and you were dead' rather than 'but you were dead' before saving that 'but' for 'but God who is rich in mercy.' Why do you think it matters that we hold both our exalted status in Christ and our former condition as dead in sin in mind at the same time?
5. Robert closed by saying 'it's the valley that makes the mountaintop, and that's how we appreciate these marvelous riches that God has given us.' Where have you seen that to be true in your own experience of faith?