But God Acted

In one paragraph

This message came from Ephesians 2:11-16, and Pastor Daniel walked through what it means that Gentiles were once completely separated from God, from Israel, and from any hope, and then brought near by the blood of Christ. The main weight of the sermon fell on what that reconciliation demands of us now, especially when it comes to the racial and cultural walls we quietly keep stacking up. It was a...

Read together

1. Ephesians 2:1-10 recapped as the foundation before moving into the day's text, covering the two spheres of 'in sins' and 'in Christ'
2. Ephesians 2:1-3 read aloud describing the former dead state of walking in trespasses and sins
3. Ephesians 2:4 cited for the turning phrase 'but God' who acted out of rich mercy and great love
4. Ephesians 2:8 quoted twice as 'by grace you have been saved', pre-loaded before verse 8 and again in full
5. Ephesians 2:8-9 quoted to show salvation is through faith, not works, so no one may boast
6. Ephesians 2:10 quoted on believers as God's workmanship created for good works prepared beforehand
7. Ephesians 2:11-16 the main text for the sermon, addressing Gentiles once separated from Christ and the breaking down of the dividing wall
8. Ephesians 2:11-12 quoted to describe Gentiles as separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God
9. Ephesians 2:13 quoted directly: those once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ
10. Ephesians 2:11-22 listed as the full printed text in the bulletin, covering the rest of chapter two
11. Psalm 34 referenced for the theme of 'do good, seek peace' tied to VBS and good works
12. Ephesians 3:17-19 used as the closing benediction about being rooted in love and knowing the breadth, length, height and depth of Christ's love

Talk about it

1. The pastor walked through Ephesians 2:1-3 and described what he called the two spheres: being 'in sins' or being 'in Christ.' Can you remember a time when the difference between those two states felt real and personal to you?
2. The pastor said that Israel was meant to be 'a great light to the nations' but was guilty of hoarding God's blessing, and then turned the question on us: are we doing the same thing today? Where do you think that tendency shows up in your own life or in the church?
3. Harry Ironside told the fortune teller he already knew his past, present, and future from Scripture. How would you put your own past, present, and future into those same three categories from Ephesians 2?
4. The pastor said that when he grew more serious about following God, he found himself caring less and less about a person's background. Have you experienced something like that, and what do you think produced the change?
5. The pastor said the Bible gives no place to hide for anyone holding on to racism or xenophobia, and that Christ died to break down that wall of hostility. Where in your everyday life is that wall hardest for you to let down, and what would it look like practically to start tearing it down?