LGC - Rooted & Fruitful Part 11

Rooted & Fruitful (Part 11)

Speaker: Woon Hin Swee

INTRODUCTION

In part 10, Ephesians 2:11-18, we learned that before Christ, we were all far away and separated from God without hope. (Ephesians 2:12). We have all sinned against God. But the Father loved us so much that He sent Jesus, who was the fulfilment of the Law, to die for our sins (John 3:16). We are brought near to Him by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13). Jesus took away the barrier between us and God (v14). He reconciled us to the Father, and through Him, to each other (v16). Through Christ, we have access in one Spirit to the Father (v18).

This week, we lean further into comprehending our new unity as Christians. We affirm what our unity is based on and what our unity is purposed for. With Jesus, understood through the teaching provided by the people of God, we are called to be set apart for God to live among us.

DISCUSSION

Looking around our church, are we united?

a. If so, what is the evidence for our unity? And how might we tell what it is based on?

b. If not, what do we expect a united church to look like?
Read Ephesians 2:19-20.

a. Paul uses “citizenship” and “household membership” metaphors to describe the church’s unity. What do these images tell us about how unity should be experienced?

(i) Recall the 1st Christian church, e.g., Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-35. How was unity experienced then?

b. Paul writes that the church’s unity is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets”. What does this mean?

c. From these two verses, how does our church stack up to Paul’s description of unity so far?
Read Ephesians 2:21-22.

a. Paul further writes about Jesus as the “chief cornerstone”. What is a cornerstone, and why is it important?

(i) Notice that Paul emphasises that our unity is built “in Him”. Why do you think Paul here says that our unity is built in Jesus instead of God the Father or the Holy Spirit?

b. Together, we are to be “a holy temple” and “God’s dwelling place”. Some of us might be familiar with thinking of these images as applied to ourselves as individuals. What might this mean for us as a group?

(i) The Holy Spirit is mentioned in v22. What is His role if Jesus is the source of our unity?

c. From the passage, how does our church stack up to Paul’s description of unity?
What can we do as individuals to contribute to the church’s unity? Shall we ask God to give us the right conviction as to what to do and the firm intention to do it?

WHAT WILL YOU DO

Being fitted together reminds me of Psalm 133:1-3:

How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!

It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.

It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

Spend some time by yourself to meditate and reflect on this psalm.

MEMORY VERSE

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. – Ephesians 2:19-20 (NIV)