House Builders (Eph. 2:11-22)

Hook

Have 2-3 kids sit on the couch, and tell the rest to sit on the floor with no cushions.

Now, let’s take a look at what we’ve got here. There are three of you sitting on the nice, comfortable, cozy couch, and then the rest of you are sitting on the floor. The people on the couch are the ones that I chose to be the people who have the benefit of sitting there. The rest of you are outside of this chosen group, therefore, you get the floor.

It’s not about what’s fair or not, but, maybe this is just the way it is. But, it kinda sucks, doesn’t it? While they get the comfort of the couch, you guys get the hard, uncomfortable floor. Being separated in this kind of way is no fun. In fact, it really sucks.

Have kids sit back down where they were.

As I said, being separated off from a group can really be lame. I have a friend at school who once told me he was really feeling separated. He said it never seemed like he got invited out to eat, or to movie nights, or to game nights, and stuff like that. He was having a really hard time and feeling secluded from pretty much everyone. He didn’t feel like he had many friends or had much going for him at the time. He felt like he was an outsider. I’m sure we’ve all felt this way, where we feel separated and cut off from a group.

Now let me give you an even bigger example. In the early 1900s, African Americans in the United States were highly separated. During this time, there were certain laws that made it so African Americans could not use the same bathrooms, public transportation, theatres, parks, and even drinking fountains as white people did. This must have been awful. Any African American person was horribly cut off and separated from the rest of American society during that time. They were completely cut off from the other group and did not have the same benefits. They were outsider.

Divided People

Here’s my point in bringing all this outsider stuff up. Last week we learned what? (…) We learned that everyone at some point is dead. Well I have another fun fact for you tonight. Tonight I’m going to tell you that we are all outsiders at some point. Outsiders from what you might ask? Well, let’s jump into the book of Ephesians.

Now, what have I been saying the book of Ephesians is about?

(…)

The main point of Ephesians is to find out who we are or who we can be in Christ! Jesus makes all things new, so when we follow Him, we have a new identity. Tonight we are going to continue to look at who we can be in Christ.

Here’s what Paul writes first.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.

History lesson

Okay, before we get too deep into this, we need a quick history lesson to understand what’s going on in this passage. Paul mentions both Gentiles and Jews, and we need to understand what these two groups are.

A Jew is a part of the group that God had originally chose to be His people. They were to show God’s love to the rest of the world. Eventually they became so disobedient that God told them they wouldn’t exclusively be His people anymore. They were and still are His chosen people that He made promises too, but they lost the right to being the only ones.

A Gentile is anyone who is not a Jew. So I don’t think any of us are Jewish, so, you and I are all Gentiles. Being a Gentile simply means you are not a born Israeli, and you do not follow the Jewish religion.

As we read this passage and talk about it, remember that you are a Gentile. So let’s see what Paul says about Gentiles.

Divided People

As we read this passage and talk about it, remember that you are a Gentile. So let’s see what Paul says about Gentiles. Let’s point out some facts of what is significant about Gentiles (you and me).

New Living Translation Chapter 2

11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.

What does Paul says about Gentiles?

First, Gentiles were outsiders. You and I were outsiders. This means they were not in the “club” of Israel. They were separate from this group, and didn’t get the benefits of it.

Second, Gentiles were called “uncircumcised heathens” by Jews. Basically they were calling Gentiles names. They thought they were all that, when really, they weren’t acting like God’s people.

Let’s keep going.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.

What does Paul say is true about Gentiles here?

First, he says that Gentiles were living apart from Christ. They didn’t really know much about Jesus, and were separate from Him. They weren’t learning about Him, following Him, obeying Him, or anything like that.

Second, Gentiles were excluded from citizenship in Israel. This means that they were excluded from becoming a part of this nation. They were out on their own and weren’t able to join Israel. They could not become citizens of God’s people.

Third, Gentiles didn’t know God’s promises for Israel. This means that they did not understand them, and were separated from the promises. They didn’t get the benefit of having amazing promises from God.

Finally, Paul says that Gentiles did not have God, and they did not have hope. They did not have the benefit of knowing God and His blessings, therefore, they were completely hopeless.

So overall, it sounds pretty bad to be a Gentile. No God, no hope, separated from Israel, outsiders, all really lame stuff! It sucks. And the fact is, we are all Gentiles. This is the state we are in, and honestly, it seems pretty hopeless.

But wait! Paul doesn’t stop there! Let’s look at what he says next.

Jesus the Peacemaker

New Living Translation Chapter 2

13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

Jesus has now caused a massive change. Whoever turns to follow Jesus has now been brought near to God! Both Jew and Gentile! Jesus brought peace between the two groups and made them into one new group. He broke down any walls dividing the people. He made it so anyone who followed Him wouldn’t have to fight and be hostile towards each other anymore. His death made it so that anyone can come to God. No barriers stop them, no system, no laws, no crazy details. He laid the path clear, and anyone can come to God. This is a part of who you can be in Christ. He closes this thought with this...

Jesus brought peace between the two groups. Out of these two groups, Jesus created a whole new group! Through His death, He allowed access to God for anyone who would turn to Him. Jesus broke down all the walls that divided people from each other and from God.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

Jesus also brought peace. There’s not always much peace between Jews and Gentiles. Now Jesus has brought spiritual peace, and out of the two groups, He made one new group!!! Jews and Gentiles combine to become God’s people. I love what it says here. It says that He broke down the walls of hostility. Both groups were hostile towards each other, and set up “walls” between them. Jesus broke it all down! So how did He do that? Let’s read!

New Living Translation Chapter 2

15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.

What do you think it means that Jesus ended the system of the law?

What this means is that no one had to go through all of the nitty gritty, detailed and at times overbearing law that made it very difficult to get to God. Jewish leaders had added even more laws and traditions, and now Jesus set up a new way to get to God! After this, He made one new group out of both Gentiles and Jews.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near.

Paul continues on as he talks about it. He keeps pushing this idea that those who choose to follow Jesus from these two groups are now one new people. All of the Jesus-followers are brought together, and there is no more hostility or fighting between them.

Paul

New Living Translation Chapter 2

18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Paul finishes this part with one great, finalizing statement that puts it all in perspective. He says that EVERYONE who believes and follows Jesus can come to God, no exceptions. This is because He gave the Holy Spirit, who lives in all Christians. All of this is because Jesus Christ died for the sins of all people. Anyone who turns to Him is saved and can be united with God! There’s no more groups, gangs, or cliques. One people that can come to God with each other. No more separation. No one has to be an outsider.

One in Christ

Paul closes His thoughts here with some final statements of identity. He’s basically saying to the church, “now that I told you what Jesus did, this is who you are because of that! So listen up!”

New Living Translation Chapter 2

19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

Now that Jesus has brought peace between everyone that follows God, there are now facts about those people! Jesus-followers are...

Not strangers anymore

Not foreigners anymore

Citizens

Apart of God’s family

A house and a temple for God

Jesus has completely changed everything. There was once a massive wall standing between Jews and Gentiles, and now Jesus has knocked it down so everyone can have access to God together. Everyone has the chance to be citizens of God’s nation. Everyone has the chance to be a part of God’s family. And everyone has the chance to be a part of the house of God.

Let’s Build a House

Now this is something interesting. Paul says that everyone who follows Jesus is now being made into a house for God. That’s kind of an odd picture, but let’s work with it for a minute.

What is one thing you can use to build a house? Bricks! Now let’s imagine we’re building a brick house. First, we need a cornerstone to get started. Paul says that the cornerstone is Jesus. He is the foundation of it all. After this you need more bricks to keep the foundation going. Paul says that the next part of the foundation are the apostles and prophets. These are the men that God used to spread His good news to everyone. They are a central part of the foundation. And then the rest of the brick house is built by all other Jesus-followers. Those of us who follow God today and those from the past, we all make up God’s house, where He chooses to live.

Have the students each come and get a Jenga block and write their names on it. Then complete the house structure.

This is what it’s like guys. When you choose to believe and accept what Jesus has done, and you choose to do a change in your life to follow Him, you become a part of God’s house. Everyone in God’s house is essential and helpful. Every piece needs to work together to function properly. There’s no separation among all the parts.

For those of you I know have made this decision, you are a part of God’s house! You need to make sure you act like it! Paul says that we are united because of Jesus. I see a lot of fighting among Christians over really stupid stuff. I see people who refuse to get along and work with one another. We need to act like a community! That means you show love to people even if you may not like it. You find solutions to differences. You work with one another. God wants to use us all for amazing stuff, and we need to be together and united to do this!

I want you to think hard here for a second. Relationships can be tough, and there can be nasty stuff that happens between us, but we need to act like a family or we’re never gonna make it. Think about the relationships in your life. Who do you have bitterness against right now? Did you do something hurtful towards someone? Is there someone you haven’t had peace with recently? Maybe it’s even someone in this group. Go and talk to them this next week. Solve your problems. Remember, as a Christian you have been so forgiven, and God has made peace with you. Pass that on. Make peace with your friends, your family, and maybe even your enemies.

I know how frustrating and awful it can feel to be an outsider. There’s some of you here who are living like that. You might be living like outsiders from God. God wants to bring you into His family!!! He’s made the path so clear for you, all you have to do is walk through it. The Bible says that you need to believe in Jesus and what He did, and follow Him. It’s that simple. You can make that decision here tonight, and become a part of God’s house and family! Don’t hesitate. Please talk to me if you want to do this.

Let’s pray.

I want you to think hard here for a second. Relationships can be tough, and there can be nasty stuff that happens between us, but we need to act like a family or we’re never gonna make it. Think about the relationships in your life. Who do you have bitterness against right now? Did you do something hurtful towards someone? Is there someone you haven’t had peace with recently? Maybe it’s even someone in this group. Go and talk to them this next week. Solve your problems. Remember, as a Christian you have been so forgiven, and God has made peace with you. Pass that on. Make peace with your friends, your family, and maybe even your enemies.