In Ephesians 2:11-23, Paul tells the Ephesians to remember where they came from. They had been on the outside, looking in when God’s grace had reached out to include them. Now the good works God calls them to revolve around doing the same for others. God calls Believers to build a community that has diversity without hostility, a community where God’s gracious embrace extends to all.

But the church is often a place of uniformity. How can we cultivate this diversity without hostility? We can trivialize diversity or we can form cliques. And when that doesn’t work, our natural response is to eradicate diversity through domination. But Jesus’ shows us a different way: to foster unity through self-giving love. If we give ourselves in loving service to others, especially those on the outside, then God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven. This is even more important when we are in positions of power.

Questions For Reflection

1. Have I ever been in a group where unity was difficult? What made it so hard?
2. Who do I know who is on the outside? Is there something I could o to make them feel more included?
3. Do I have power (formal or informal) over others? If so, how could I use it for their benefit?
4. Who are the people around me who are unlike me that I have an opportunity to serve

See More sermons from this series

1. Blessed and Adopted (Ephesians 1:3-14)
2. Understanding the Authority of Jesus (Ephesians 1:15-23)
3. From Death To Life (Ephesians 2:1-10)