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Love

Teaching Text: Ephesians 2:11-18

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Themes

Consider these themes and ask your group what else they see in the passage:

He Himself is our Peace

Presence

Watch or listen to the sermon. Then take a moment of silence and think about these questions:

Ask God to open your heart and mind to understand Ephesians anew as we start this season.
Thank Him for the blessings He has given you already, even those you might be unaware of.
“For he himself is our peace.” (Ephesians 2:14)
Take two minutes of quiet (it helps to set a timer) and think about the idea that if you have Jesus you have peace. It cannot be taken away because Jesus can’t be taken away and what He had done for us in giving us peace cannot be undone.
Perhaps use the phrase “Thank you Jesus that You are my peace” as a repeated prayer to focus your attention.

Formation

Thoughts and notes you can use for discussion:

Theologian Walter Brueggeman says “In order to have vision we must have memory”
Paul is reminding us as we tend to forget:
- The Apostle Paul is writing from jail to help some wildly different groups of people see that they have become one - They have become unified in the family of Messiah Jesus.
  - and to do that He wants them all to remember
One of the primary things that the Apostle Paul is doing in this letter is announcing and seeking to realize the reconciliation between the Jewish followers of Jesus and Gentile followers of Jesus in these new communities across the Roman Empire.
Question: what do these two groups being united in the ancient near east 2000 years ago have to do with us or anything going on in my life today?
It matters because these rival groups were brought into unity because the same miracle happened in both sets of their lives
- And that the same miracle can and does happen to us now
It makes family out of strangers
- And that couldn’t be more relevant.
  - In a divided world this is the power for understanding, forgiveness, oneness
  - In the face of rising antisemitism - this is a reminder of God’s unifying love and power
  - In the face of an uptick in violent threats around our elections this is another way to live
  - For the rifts in our marriages - this is a pathway to peace
  - For the ache of loneliness this is a call to true belonging
  - In a world of deep fracture along almost every line this is shalom - peace
You were separate
You were excluded
You were foreigners
You were without hope
You were without God
Now you are brought near
Now you are included
Now you are citizens
Now you have peace
Now you are family
How?
- In Christ
- Access to The Father
- By The Spirit
Peace - Shalom
“[The concept of Shalom in the Hebrew scriptures] covers wholeness, physical well-being, prosperity, security, good relations, and integrity. Shalom is much more positive than the absence of conflict. It refers to the way life should be and is a gift from God that is received only in his presence.” – Klyne Snodgrass
How does Jesus make peace?
- Opens the kingdom - translates the Kingdom for us
- Makes God near - extends friendship
- Gives hope - put us in family - family inheritance
Unites the story
Unites us to the promise
Unites us to God’s future
A primary way God does this is through Jesus on the Cross
How The Cross makes reconciliation (brings near what was far apart)
- “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” (Ephesians 2 v 13-16)
He put to death hostility by receiving it Himself
- Shedding of blood - dealing with the death problem
- Destroying the barrier - taking away what made us separate
- Disarming the Powers - putting to death the hostility
“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2 v 13-15)
He put to death the hostility - the very thing that gave the division its power
Is there any hostility between you and God?
God wants to remind you He did all that is needed to get rid of any barriers between Him and us.
Will you receive the person of Peace? He himself is our peace.

Love

Read these notes and discuss the questions below:

Jesus out to death hostility. He gives us the same Spirit.
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”
We share one spirit (we can be peace-filled peace-makers)
“as though God were making his appeal through us”
What hostility can you identify in your life?
What can you do to break down this hostility?