Sermon Questions
“A Life of Blessing… God’s New Humanity”
February 25, 2017
Main Point
We are looking at Ephesians 2:19-22. As we have seen in the previous part of
the chapter, there was a time when we were separated from Christ by our sins.
This sin estranged us not only from God but from each other. We were far
away, but then God united us with Christ and have been brought near by the
work of Christ on the Cross and rendered all barriers void. Christ is the
ultimate peacemaker. We now have a new humanity and are new members of
God’s community, the church. Today we will look at the three Biblical images
used to describe the church and how we are to see ourselves, and mainly
where God’s presence dwells.
Discussion
What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you
find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or challenging? Explain.
Questions
Read Eph. 2:1-18. Can you sum up the main teaching of this passage in one
sentence?
Read and discuss this concept: Heb. 3:1-6; Phil. 3:20; 1 Tim 3:15; 2 Tim 2:20,
21; Rom. 8:17
Why is it important as a foundation to our identity that we understand we are
children of God?
How does Paul use an architectural picture to describe our new building?
How did the apostles and prophets act as the foundation for the church?
What does it mean that Christ is the cornerstone for the church?
What does it mean that we are being built together and more living stones are
being added?
Where does God’s dwelling abide now on earth?
What is the importance of Revelation 21:3?
Why is it important to have as a foundation to our identity that we are the
temple of God?
How is 2:19-22 a result of the first part of the chapter?
Application
What will you do with what you have learned through the lesson?
What are the 3 images used to describe the church?
Is there a dividing wall of hostility that separates you from God?
In verse 11-12 what was the Gentile’s position prior to Christ?
What keeps you from brining restoration in the relationship with others?
How does Paul use a political picture to describe our new citizenship? Phil.
3:20, Gal. 4:26
How does Christ’s work remove the status of “strangers and aliens”?
How have you allowed the world to influence your understanding of selfimage?
How do you live as a new citizen of God’s kingdom?
Why are the words not “with the Jews”, but “with the saints”?
How do you live as one who belongs to the family of God?
How would some say that the church is the true Israel? I Peter 2:9 and Gal.
3:26-29
How do you live as one in whom God occupies your being by His Spirit?
What is the gospel effect on racial relationships, nationalism, and
individualism?
How can you walk each day in the beauty and reality of the cross event seen
in this chapter?
Why is it important to have as a foundation to our identity that we belong to
God’s kingdom?
How does Paul use a domestic picture to describe our new community?
What are the privileges that come to us as members of the family of God
Himself?
Pray now together that you each would not only see but believe and
experience this chapter.
Memory Verse “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and
strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of
His household,” Ephesians 2:19