Communities Under Development start next week! They will be using these sermon prep study guides for discussion, but all are welcome to make use of this resource. To sign up for a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday group [meeting at 7:30] email zoefaithreyes@gmail.com.
Ephesians 2.11-13: Brought near by Christ’s Blood
Getting to Know you: Share about a memorable move you’ve made, were you moving to be closer to something or someone? Further from something or someone?
Day 1:
Getting to know the Bible: Read Ephesians 2:11-13
What are your initial impressions?
Vs. 12 says these Gentiles were strangers to the covenants of promise. God made many covenants with his people. To learn which covenant circumcision symbolized, read Genesis 17.
How do I apply myself to this message?
Day 2:
Getting to know the Bible: Read Exodus 12:1-27
What are your initial impressions?
Who would the Jews have considered their king in this time?
Vs. 19 says one consequence of disobeying these instructions is being "cut off" from the congregation of Israel. In your spiritual experience, have you ever or do you feel cut off from the people of God? How have you reacted to the feeling of being cut off?
How do I apply myself to this message?
Day 3:
Getting to know the Bible: Read John 19
Who would the Jews have considered their king in this time?
Who does Pilate say Jesus is? How many times?
Jesus seems to be wrapping up several final loose ends in this scene, then He cries out, “It is finished,” and only because it is so clear that He is already dead, He is pierced and His blood flows. If His death had not been so apparent, His blood would not have been spilt. What is the “it” that is finished here?
How do I apply myself to this message?
If Jesus asked you, "Who do you say that I am?" How would you answer?
Day 4:
Getting to know the Bible: Re-Read Ephesians 2:11-13
What does Christ say is the new covenant? (Hint: see Luke 22:20)
How does this fit with vs. 13?
How do these verses in Ephesians connect the passages in Exodus and John?
How do I apply myself to this message? In last week’s sermon, we learned that We were dead in our relationships to everything because we were living apart from God. BUT God made us alive together (with each other) with Christ. Who is it hard to accept as someone you’ve been made alive with? (perhaps someone at church, a relative, a prominent Christian who lives or speaks in ways that embarrass you?) Another way of asking this is, (Vs. 13) To whom has the blood of Christ brought you near? How does that make you feel? What are the implications for your life with that person (or those people)?