One New Man Study #3
From Hostility to Peace (in Him)
Ephesians 2:11-18
Any wall, depending on its placement and purpose, may have a variety of functions. Walls define the spaces found on either side. Walls can protect, or imprison. Walls can include or exclude. A wall can be the physical symbol of enduring, generations-long hostilities. In Ephesians 2, Paul speaks of the work of Christ who broke down, who abolished in his flesh, “the dividing wall of hostility.” One can easily recall that when the Berlin Wall fell (November 1991), the hostile separation of divided peoples also crumbled, allowing the wonderful freedom of new, uninhibited relationships. So also the dismantling work of Jesus, breaking down a wall that separated us from God, and from one other. This week’s teaching idea —
The objective of this group study: Focus on living in and sharing with others the PEACE we have together in Christ.
GETTING STARTED: For a few minutes, talk about fences and walls. How would you describe the purpose behind each of the following?
* the Great Wall of China * the fence between your yard and your neighbor * the wall that divides Jerusalem
* the “railroad tracks” (in some towns) delineating where whites could live vs. where blacks could live
* the wall under current construction along the Mexico border * the “division” between Jews and Samaritans/Gentiles
Why are we human beings so prone to building walls? Do you think “skin color” and “culture” are walls which divide today?
Why do walls tend to encourage hostility?
How would you describe the “wall” that exists between human beings and God?
IN THE WORD: Instead of walls and barriers, we are offered something vastly different in Christ. We are offered RECONCILIATION and PEACE – with God and with one another.
What did God do to make reconciliation and peace for us possible? Romans 5:1-11
- How would define “peace” with God? What about “reconciliation”?
- Talk about how reconciliation and peace go hand in hand. Can you give an example from real life (e.g., a reconciled marriage)
What kind of “peace” does the Lord Jesus expect to exist within Christians and the Body of Christ?
- Personal peace comes from where? Romans 8:5-7, Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 4:7-8
- Relational peace comes from where? Romans 12:17-19, 15:13-14, Ephesians 4:1-3
- Body of Christ peace happens how? Colossians 3:14-16, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14, 2 Thess 5:16
(what do you take from the fact that almost every N.T. letter begins with an apostle say, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father…”?)
Evaluation Question: Do you think that the believers in the Body of Christ are at peace with one another?
What’s behind your answer? If not, why not? If so…where do you see peace evidenced?
INTO LIFE: From these passages, and the call to oneness in Christ (i.e., “one new man” Eph. 2:14-15), how aware are we of the insignificant “walls” that our spiritual Enemy uses in attempting to divide us? More personally, are you sensing the Spirit’s call in your life to retool any attitudes or perspectives that could divide our church body, or distance you from any others in God’s family? Discuss, then pray about these things. What is the Spirit saying to you?
Hebrews 12:14 “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”