Planting 2.0: Ephesians 2.11-15. The Church

To the Gentles:

Leaderless

Landless

Lawless

Hopeless

Far away ones are brought near

How?

Peace

Jesus is peace

Jesus makes peace

Jesus preached peace to those who were outcasts and those who were already ‘in’.

Peace= union in Christ through one Spirit to the Father

Result?

No longer

Hopeless!

Strangers, and aliens

But now identify as:

Fellow citizens

Saints

Members of the household God

Built on:

foundation: Apostles and Prophets

Cornerstone: Jesus

Culmination of Unity: Temple!

Human pyramid

Whole structure, being joined together, grows!

Holy Temple in the Lord

In him you are also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Wall of Hostility

- Court of Gentiles from the rest of the Temple: Latin and Greek: 1871 and 1934 excavations: “No foreigner may enter within the barricade which surrounds the sanctuary and enclose. Anyone who is caught doing so will have himself to blame for his ensuring death.”

Comparing Buildings

Comparing Buildings

Why is the church important?

The Temple of the Spirit

Strangers, but now fellow citizens

Proximity and Peace

: Gospel of Peace

Access: Bouncer Stay Out!

The Law was a Bouncer

All access:

House:

Aliens: Paroikoi

Members of God’s household (oikeioi)

‘Built on’ (epiokodementhentes) a sure foundation

“Building” (oidodome)

“Build together) synoikodomeisthe: Build with domestication.

Coming Home: Full access

Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in. -Robert Frost

Cornerstones: “load-bearing stones the determined the lines of the building”

Palestine: 570 tons

Incredible Privilege

Privilege can be Abused

Snodgrass: “Privilege should lead to thanksgiving, not arrogance. Once again a sense of grace is the key. Grace excludes pride and extends itself to others in need.”

If we do not show the same love and grace as the One into whose family we have been brought, we betray that we do not really belong in the home. We are still estranged from God while performing religious acts.

Privilege should lead to thanksgiving, not arrogance. Once again a sense of grace is the key. Grace excludes pride and extends itself to others in need.”

Church Should be Family!

Committed, confront, sustain, honest.

Worship is like having dinner together. To address and be addressed.

No Outsiders Allowed!

He is Our Peace

Barriers really did exist: Jew and Gentile was an ontological spiritual different.

Today, we create barriers: “Races, nations, religions, gender, social, economic classes, denominations, schools, communities, teams, and families. Differentiation is necessary for identity, but the human tendency to create barriers is a distortion and a sin. Distinction and uniqueness do not have a lead to division. The erection of barriers results from the ways we attribute value, that is, by devaluing those who are different.

United, not uniform

The NIV Application Commentary: Ephesians Contemporary Significance

To focus on unity has nothing to do with being weak on doctrine. Unity is itself a theological necessity. Christians cannot sacrifice the essence of the gospel to attain unity, for that would not be Christian unity. Most of our divisions, however, occurred without justification and were usually accompanied by non-Christian attitudes and acts. We must be ready to tolerate disagreement as we enjoy unity. Obviously central tenets of the faith—such as the authority of Scriptures, the deity of Christ, and the death and resurrection of Christ—should not be diminished, for without these central features we no longer have a Christian church.

The NIV Application Commentary: Ephesians Contemporary Significance

Why do the so-called defenders of orthodoxy have such a difficult time showing grace? Is it impossible to be both orthodox and magnanimous at the same time? Orthodoxy ought to make people gracious. The key is in seeing that both the content of belief and the conduct of belief are determined by Christ.

Reason why we support Excel Kids

Reason why we hang out with Higher Calling Ministries

Reason why We Preach Christ

Peace! Snodgrass: “The sociological dimensions of this text rule out any division of evangelism and social justice. Such a dichotomy should never have been allowed. Neither can evangelism be viewed as anxiety-driven speech-persuading decisions.”

The sociological dimensions of this text rule out any division of evangelism and social justice. Such a dichotomy should never have been allowed. Neither can evangelism be viewed as anxiety-driven speech-persuading decisions.

SkyDome

“Church”

Belonging. We all belong to a team! Incredible how allegiances change when you’re getting paid!

What it means to belong to the Church

Body:

Who is Christ? Our Peace

He made us one

broke the divide

How did he accomplish peace?

In himself, he made one new man in place of two

In himself, he made one new man in place of two

Reconcile us both to God through the cross.

Christ Preached Peace

Green Card

Aliens: Life on the Outside

Geographical Shift

‘the ‘uncircumcision’, separated from Christ

Alienated from the common-wealth of Israel

Strangers to the covenants of promise

Having no hope

Without God.

Built On Christ

Built On Christ

Household: Life on the Inside

Built on the Past with Christ as the Director

Built On Christ:

Built On Christ:

vs. 21: An Oikodome Being Joined Together

People coming from different places

Higher Calling Ministries

Men’s Softball Team

Temple= Temple building (naos) ‘in the Lord’

vs. 22: A Residence Being Build Together

People growing together

vs. 22: Being Build Together

“Of God in the Spirit”

What is your oikodome?

Finding hope in the church and not in a wall...

No such things as a dead church

Being ‘In’ Doesn’t mean We Act Out

The organic nature to the church out to eradicate the following:

Holier Than Thou Syndrome

I’m reformed. I think I’m right.

Division

TrueCity: Humble Orthodoxy

b

If you have something you are concerned about, doesn’t vote with your feet. Choose the harder route and communicate.

Snodgrass: “If we do not show the same love and grace as the One into whose family we have been brought, we betray that we do not really belong in the home. We are still estranged from God while performing religious acts.”

Snodgrass: “To focus on unity has nothing to do with being weak on doctrine. Unity is itself a theological necessity. Christians cannot sacrifice the essence of the gospel to attain unity, for that would not be Christian unity. Most of our divisions, however, occurred without justification and were usually accompanied by non-Christian attitudes and acts. We must be ready to tolerate disagreement as we enjoy unity. Obviously central tenets of the faith—such as the authority of Scriptures, the deity of Christ, and the death and resurrection of Christ—should not be diminished, for without these central features we no longer have a Christian church.”

Barrier Disorder

We attribute value to someone, thereby devaluing others.

Bounded sets vs. Centered Sets

No one is our target. Same will attract same, but that doesn’t mean we’re targeting ‘same’

Church has a boundary- it’s made of those who are in Christ!

Today, we create barriers: “Races, nations, religions, gender, social, economic classes, denominations, schools, communities, teams, and families. Differentiation is necessary for identity, but the human tendency to create barriers is a distortion and a sin. Distinction and uniqueness do not have a lead to division. The erection of barriers results from the ways we attribute value, that is, by devaluing those who are different.

Tribalitis: I’m in, you’re out

Tribalitis: I’m in, you’re out

Tribes are a good thing. Church is made up of distinction

Tribalism: I’m in, you’re out

SkyDome: ‘Church’. This is my building.

“We the North”

“Leaf Nation”

United vs. Uniform

We can be welcoming, but not enfolding.

Cordial, but not caring.

Inviting, but not including.

Orthodoxism

Being right is more important than relationships