How To Use This Guide:
listen
Listen to the weekly sermon and read through the main passages(s)
reflect
Prayerfully answer the questions below
discuss
Meet with your group to discuss
respond
Apply the truth of God’s word to your life
How To Use This Guide:
listen
Listen to the weekly sermon and read through the main passages(s)
reflect
Prayerfully answer the questions below
discuss
Meet with your group to discuss
respond
Apply the truth of God’s word to your life
latest message
background
In Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul illustrates how the blessings of salvation extend beyond our personal walk with Christ to encompass a renewed relationship with others. In this passage, those who were once “far off” are now “brought near by the blood of Christ.” Jesus has torn down the dividing wall of hostility and created one new humanity. Together, we become fellow citizens, members of God’s household, and a holy temple where God dwells through his Spirit.
Our faith is deeply personal, but it was never meant to be private. At its core, the gospel is both individual and communal. Each of us must have a personal relationship with Christ, but we are also called to be part of a larger community with other believers. The church isn’t optional; it’s a vital part of God’s plan, where those who don’t know Christ become part of a family, and those who were once divided are united in him. As his Church, our mission is driven by love—love for those who have yet to meet our Savior and Lord.
Our faith is deeply personal, but it was never meant to be private. At its core, the gospel is both individual and communal. Each of us must have a personal relationship with Christ, but we are also called to be part of a larger community with other believers. The church isn’t optional; it’s a vital part of God’s plan, where those who don’t know Christ become part of a family, and those who were once divided are united in him. As his Church, our mission is driven by love—love for those who have yet to meet our Savior and Lord.
open
1. Share a time when you went from feeling like an outsider to feeling like you belonged. What was the turning point that changed how you felt?
reflect
2. Read Ephesians 2:11-12. How does Paul describe the Ephesians’ condition before they were “in Christ?” Why do you think he tells them to “remember” these things?
3. Read Ephesians 2:13-18. What has the cross accomplished in our relationships vertically (with God) and horizontally (with one another)? How does Jesus’ sacrifice change the way we relate to others?
apply
4. Read Ephesians 2:19-22. According to Paul, what are the characteristics of the Church? What privileges come with our new identity in Christ—access, citizenship, and family?
5. Our habits can erode the unity that Jesus’ sacrifice purchased for us. What personal preferences might hinder our ability to welcome those outside the “household of God?” What are some things that make you feel like you belong at church that you would like to see others experience?
6. How should being “in Christ” affect the way we relate to people who are different from us (ethnically, socio-economically, politically, generationally, etc.)? What practical steps could we take to break down one of these “dividing walls?”
7. Space serves people, not the other way around. How can we steward our resources to create an inviting environment for those God is “bringing near” in the season ahead? As a church, how can we demonstrate hospitality to those outside our church family?
resources
We ask every Home Group participant to commit to the Four Essentials of a Healthy Group outlined in our Home Group Commitment. These essentials help ensure that every group stays healthy, welcoming, and spiritually meaningful for everyone involved. You can review those here.
If you have any questions or would like more information about Home Groups, please contact Doug Barnwell at dbarnwell@fellowshipjackson.com.
If you have any questions or would like more information about Home Groups, please contact Doug Barnwell at dbarnwell@fellowshipjackson.com.