WEEK FIVE –BELONGING TO HIS FAMILY
‘Therefore, remember thatformerlyyouwhoare Gentiles by birth and called“uncircumcised” bythosewhocallthemselves “the circumcision”(that done inthe body bythehands ofmen) –rememberthatatthattimeyou wereseparatefromChrist,excludedfrom citizenship in Israel and foreigners tothe covenantsof the promise,without hopeand withoutGod intheworld. Butnow inChristJesus youwho once were farawayhave been brought near throughthebloodof Christ. For hehimselfis our peace,who hasmade the two one andhasdestroyed the barrier,the dividingwall ofhostility, byabolishinginhis fleshthelawwithitscommandments and regulations. His purpose was to create inhimself one new man out ofthetwo, thus making peace,and inthis one bodytoreconcileboth of them toGodthroughthecross,bywhich he puttodeaththeirhostility. He cameand preachedpeace toyouwho werefarawayand peace tothosewhowere near. ForthroughhimwebothhaveaccesstotheFatherby oneSpirit. Consequently,youareno longerforeigners andaliens,butfellow citizenswithGod’speople andmembersof God’shousehold, builtonthe foundationoftheapostlesandprophets, with Christ Jesus himself as thechiefcornerstone.Inhimthewholebuildingisjoined together and risestobecome a holytempleintheLord.Andinhimyou tooarebeing builttogether tobecomea dwellinginwhichGodlivesby his Spirit.’
EPHESIANS2:11–22
WELCOME
PlayagamesuchasJengathathighlightsbeingconnectedtogether.OruseLegoorotherbuildingblockstomakeanimpressive,creativestructure,inwhicheveryparthasaplace.Havingdonetheactivity, werethereany lessons you could drawfromit?
Alternatively,shareanystoriesofbeinggivenspecialaccesstoaplaceora person.
Isthereanythinganyonewantstoshareonreflectionoflast week’s study?
PraythattheHolySpiritwouldbringeachofusarevelationthis week ofwhyand where wecantrulybelong.
WATCHTHEVIDEO
In Christ, we who were...... havebeen......
‘ButnowinChristJesusyouwhooncewerefarawayhavebeen brought near through the blood of Christ.’ (Ephesians 2:13)
In Christ, wenowhave...... to the Fatherby the Spirit
‘ForthroughhimwebothhaveaccesstotheFatherbyoneSpirit.’(2:18)
WearecitizensofGod’s ......
‘Consequently,youarenolongerforeignersandstrangers, but fellowcitizenswith God’s people’ (2:19)
WearemembersofGod’s ......
‘membersof God’s household.’ (2:19)
Weare a partofGod’s ......
‘Builtonthefoundationoftheapostlesandprophets,withChristJesushimselfasthechiefcornerstone.Inhimthewholebuildingisjoinedtogetherandrisestobecomea holytempleintheLord. Andinhimyoutooarebeingbuilt togethertobecomeadwellinginwhichGodlivesbyhisSpirit.’(2:20–22)
‘Andinhimyoutooarebeingbuilttogethertobecomea dwelling in which Godlivesby his Spirit.’(2:22)
WORD
Sharehowyouhavefeltwhencominghometofriendsor family after havingbeenawayfor some time.
Readverse18anddiscusstogetherwhatJesushasdoneto makeit possible for us todrawneartoFatherGod.
The Transformed Life bookgivesthreeexamplesfromthepassageaboutwhatit meanstobelong.Whatwerethey?Whatdotheseconveyabout being in churchlife together?
Whatarethedifferentbenefitsofbelongingtotheglobal Churchandalsotothelocalchurch?Whathavebeenpeople’svarious experiences?
Whyis (or is not) citizenshipimportantto us as human beings?
WORSHIP
Read Ephesians 2:13–18. If appropriate in your church stream/denomination, consider taking Communion together.
ThankGodthatJesus’bodywasbrokenthatwemaybemade whole,notjustasindividuals,butjoinedtogetherinthecommunityof His church, the bodyof Christ.
ThankJesusforgivingHisbloodforusthatwewhowerefaraway havebeen brought nearandhave free access toFatherGod.
StandtogetherinacircleandthankGodthat Heisdwellinginourmidst.Haveeachpersonprayforthepersonontheirleft(alltogether)thattheywouldknowanincreasingsenseofbelonging toGodandto His family the church.
WITNESS
Prayforthoseinourworldwhoaren’tneartoGod,butarefaroff.ThankGodthatJesusshedHisbloodanddiedforthem.Prayforindividualsbyname,thattheymaysenseGod’scalltocomeneartoHim.
Considertogetherwhatyoucoulddotohelpothersfindasenseof belonginginyour local church.Thendecidewhatyouwillpersonally do this week.
ACTIONSTEPS
LookatthelistofdeclarationsonDay50underSection2,‘Belonging’.
Consider what decision youwanttomakeaboutbeing connected to your local church.
Thinkabouthowyoucanpracticallygetmoreinvolvedbothin andthroughyour small group andthrough weekend services.