A Multicultural look at Ephesians--Introduction

The book of Ephesians reads more like a sermon than a pastoral letter; there is an impersonal and indirect quality about it...possibly like many Christian blogs today. A united church of Jews and Gentiles ...together... finding their true place...it just impacts the author, probably Paul...makes him praise God in liturgy...makes him pray. No barriers of race, culture, social status.. because of Christ. Powerful stuff.

I suspect, Ephesians was meant to be read out loud to different believing communities; you may like to do the same in your groups and Youtube your efforts.

On campus there are students from all races, cultures and backgrounds; in Christ that diversity is our strength. This study is written so that the words of the Ephesians will touch our hearts, challenge our minds and change our lives. Ephesians shows how it is in God's nature to mysteriously unite/synergise/cohere/bind the diversity of gifts/people/lives.

In 2013, I found the study too difficult to use on Wintec campus and modified it into a 4 part series called Seeing the World. I retained the original study to use as a resource if necessary. The studies  will be reused on campus in 2014. Look out for posters.

Written specifically for multicultural groups, each study ends examining very briefly the different cultural approaches to Value Continuums such as time and person orientation, communication skills, approaches to crisis, thinking and status.
(Taken from Lingenfelter, Sherwood G. and Marvin K Mayers R. Ministering Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for Personal Relationships. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1986. A summary can be found http://mmm.moody.edu/genmoody/Media/MediaLibrary/Ministering%20Cross-Culturally.pdf)



Fundamentally, regardless of race, as humans we need the same things-- God's love.

Casting Crowns says it in song:

As you read aloud Ephesians, some verses may stand out and you may like to pause over them and wonder why. Like the maker of this video has done: