Seeing a world of people (Ephesians 2,3)

Seeing a World of People (Part 2)

Bring a live plant and a dead leaf
1. What makes something alive and what makes something dead?
2. Ephesians 2 talks about what is dead or alive in Christ.
3. Think about what life/death means to your own life and those around you.

Bring pictures of countries (flags), families and buildings.
1 What binds these together?
2. Jesus talks about uniting 2 cultural groups in Ephesians--Jews and Gentiles.
How do you think this works?
3. How do you feel about God loving the world regardless of race, gender, class and nationality?

What do you find mysterious?
1. What is Paul's relationship to mystery?
2. What is yours?

Pray this for your group
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
 
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Ephesians Chapter 2-3
Being with Christ

One of the people I really feel one in Christ with, even though I have never met him is Vinoth Ramachandra from Sri Lanka. He is the Secretary for Dialogue & Social Engagement for the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. (TSCF in NZ is part of this family) This is his story http://vinothramachandra.wordpress.com/about/ and here he is talking about Christ at the Veritas Forums. These are university events that engage students and faculty in discussions about life's hardest questions and the relevance of Jesus Christ to all of life.

Ice breaker: Talk about someone who is very different from you but you feel that you are one in Christ with.

1)) This paragraph describes the movement from the 5 fold alienation or loneliness of human beings (Christless, Stateless, Friendless, Hopeless, Godless) to being God’s workmanship (or in the Greek; God’s artwork/masterpiece). What do you think being God’s workmanship means?

2) How has God changed your life? Share with the group if you feel comfortable or pass if it is too hard to share. If no one shares you may want to listen to Nick Vujicic's story.

 

3) Jesus created a third race (R Kent Hughes 1990, pg 92) of people that had no racial, cultural, social—economic or gender walls separating them. In 2:11-22, Paul talked to the Jews and the Gentiles who hated one another.

The Jews would say, “Gentiles are created to fuel the fires of Hell”

The Gentiles would say “any-non Greek is an enemy.”

How would you bring two cultures of people (traditional enemies) together if you were Jesus?

4) What did Jesus do? (2:14-18) Why?

Note: Circumcision is an outward sign of a promised relationship God made to his people.

i)

ii)

iii)

5) The result of this is a common city, family and building. What do these picture words tell you about our relationship with each other Christ?

i) City

ii) Family

iii) Buildings

(Note: A cornerstone gives the building stability and alightment)

6) Chapter 3:6 talks about all of us as:

i) fellow heirs of the same blessings

ii) being fellow members of the same body

iii) fellow partakers of the same promise

and Paul works and suffers to make it happen.

Do you think this job of racial reconciliation through Christ is important? (Be honest)

What priority should it be given?

What would happen if no ones does it?
Does your perspective change knowing that Christ has already created unity and we are to preserve it?

7) Pray for each other using your own version of Ephesians 3:14-21


Discussion for a multicultural group
Communication styles can often affect how your group makes decisions or has discussions. Some cultures avoid confrontation and emotions while others express themselves freely. These videos explain only two aspects of this difference.
Cultural Dimension: Display of emotions

Direct or indirect communicator

Other aspects you may discover to be different as you continue to make friends with the people in your group are that some cultures share their story easily and are more emotionally vulnerable than others. It maybe more important to remind yourself to suspend judgement than to try and change the communication style of the others in your group. After a while you may appreciate the way other people communicate and be able to vary your own style to fit different people; making you a skilled cross-cultural communicator.

Like Paul, you may like to end this section with another prayer.