Crosstalk – July 26th, 2009
Current series: “Ephesians – A Spiritual Stimulus Package”
This week’s scripture focus: Ephesians 2:11-22
Review:
Ephesians is one of the letters (or “epistles”) written by Paul. Ephesus, located in modern day Turkey, was a major city in the Roman Empire’s Asian province. Paul spent three years establishing the Church there – more than any other place he visited. His work was so succesful there that worship of the chief diety of the city, the goddess Diana, began to decline, and merchants who profited from her worship eventually forced Paul out of town. The Apostle John eventually settled in Ephesus, and possibly oversaw the church there until his death.
Paul wrote Epheisians from his Roman imprisonment. Unlike most of Paul’s other letters, it wasn’t written to combat false teaching or settle disputes, but to encourage the Church to be faithful and remain united.
Background:
In Ephesians 2, Paul encourages his readers to remember who they once were, and how far they’ve come. Most of the Christians in Ephesus would have been gentiles. In fact, by the end of the first century, Jewish believers were becoming a minority in the Church. Paul reminds the Ephesians to show gratitude for their Jewish roots.
Paul paints a picture of complete isolation from God. The temple in Jerusalem included a “Court of the Gentiles”, but a stone wall separated it from the inner courts. Gentiles were forbidden from going past that wall, under penalty of death! Ephesians reminds us that Christ obliterated that wall, and, instead, made the Jews and Gentiles (“circumcized” and “uncircumcized”) into one new house of God.
Today’s sermon encouraged us to remember who we were apart from God’s grace, and how we find our place in His house because of it.
Five Questions:
1. What happened in your life since last Sunday?
2. How many days this week did you read your Bible and pray?
3. Can you think of a time that you felt “without God”?
4. The new testament Temple had separate courts for gentiles, women, ordinary Jews, and priests. What kind of “walls” do we put up in the Church today?
5. What is one thing you will do this week to remind yourself of how God has blessed you?
Crosstalk – July 19th, 2009
Current series: “Ephesians – A Spiritual Stimulus Package”
This week’s scripture focus: Ephesians 1:3-14
Background:
Ephesians is one of the letters (or “epistles”) written by Paul. Ephesus, located in modern day Turkey, was a major city in the Roman Empire’s Asian province. Paul spent three years establishing the Church there – more than any other place he visited. His work was so succesful there that worship of the chief diety of the city, the goddess Diana, began to decline, and merchants who profited from her worship eventually forced Paul out of town. The Apostle John eventually settled in Ephesus, and possibly oversaw the church there until his death.
Paul wrote Epheisians from his Roman imprisonment. Unlike most of Paul’s other letters, it wasn’t written to combat false teaching or settle disputes, but to encourage the Church to be faithful and remain united.
Chapter one is a beautiful song of praise to God for the spirtual blessing He pours out on all of His children, made possible through Jesus. God’s plan all along has been to bring glory to Himself as He blesses those who love Him.
Today’s sermon focused on these glorious blessings. Let’s spend some time discussing them together.
Five Questions:
1. What happened in your life since last Sunday?
2. How many days this week did you read your Bible and pray?
3. When was the last time you felt really blessed by God? Does your spiritual life need “stimulating” right now?
4. Today’s sermon mentioned three hindrances to receiving God’s blessings: 1) fear of personal failure, 2) fighting in the church, and 3) falling in love with the world. Which of these do you think is our biggest obstacle right now?
5. What is one thing you will do to make sure you receive all the blessings God has for you this week?