06/21/2026
Week 4 – A New Multi-Ethnic Family
June 21, 2026
Ephesians 2:11-22
Ephesus was one of the most vibrant and diverse melting pots of the Roman world. Because it was a crossroads of cultures, languages, and backgrounds, Ephesus was the perfect place for Paul to unveil the grand, global scale of the Gospel—a message of reconciliation that is open to absolutely everyone.Think about the last time you became friends with or had a long conversation with someone who comes from a completely different background, culture, or neighborhood than you. What did you learn from them, and how did it change the way you see things?
Our world is full of arguments, cliques, and divisions based on race, politics, or where people come from. How does Jesus dying on the cross bring Christians from every single background together and give them the exact same starting point?
Read Ephesians 2:17–18. How would you explain verse 18 to a friend using your own words? Why is this reality of equal access so critical for the health of a local church?
Read Ephesians 2:19–22. Paul is describing a huge shift: God isn't living inside a physical building made of stone bricks anymore. Instead, He is building a "living temple" out of a diverse group of people—the church. Why would this idea blow the minds of the people living back then, and why does it still matter to us today?
How might God be pushing you to step out of your comfort zone to talk to people who are different from you, knowing that Jesus loves and connects you both?