1. A Study: Part IV

2. Horizontal 5.83” Vertical 4.67” Placeholder for picture in picture Building the Abundant Life Ephesians 2:11-22 – This Jew versus Gentile issue was a large issue in the early church. Romans 10:12 1 Corinthians 12:13 Galatians 3:26-29

3. Horizontal 5.83” Vertical 4.67” Placeholder for picture in picture Building the Abundant Life We assume we know people because of how they dress, their age, their culture, their race, etc... We think we know what a Christian looks like.

4. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Saint or Sinner?

5. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Saint or Sinner?

6. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Saint or Sinner?

7. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Saint or Sinner?

8. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Saint or Sinner?

9. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Saint or Sinner?

10. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Saint or Sinner?

11. Horizontal 5.83” Vertical 4.67” Placeholder for picture in picture Building the Abundant Life Barriers: Race, religion, gender, age, country of origin or culture, wealth, education, profession, personality, appearance, language

12. Horizontal 5.83” Vertical 4.67” Placeholder for picture in picture Building the Abundant Life I. Destroy All Barriers (verses 11-18) A Remember the past Ephesians 2 11&12 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.

13. Horizontal 5.83” Vertical 4.67” Placeholder for picture in picture Building the Abundant Life I. Destroy All Barriers (verses 11-18) A. Remember the past 1.Ignorant Genesis 4:2-5 Acts 10:1-6 & 34-48

14. Horizontal 5.83” Vertical 4.67” Placeholder for picture in picture Building the Abundant Life I. Destroy All Barriers (verses 11-18) A. Remember the past 2.Defiant Isaiah 55:8-9 Tower of Babel – Genesis 11 Genesis 11:3,4 Pride comes before a fall. Proverbs 11:2

15. Horizontal 5.83” Vertical 4.67” Placeholder for picture in picture Building the Abundant Life I. Destroy All Barriers (verses 11-18) A. Remember the past 2.Defiant I Peter 5:5 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (James 4:6 NIV) He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. (Proverbs 3:34 NIV)

16. Horizontal 5.83” Vertical 4.67” Placeholder for picture in picture Building the Abundant Life I. Destroy All Barriers (verses 11-18) A. Remember the past 3.Misguided – other religion. The Temple I Kings 6 I Kings 18:25-29 Romans 2:28-29 God's people were to be a blessing. Isaiah 42:6,7

17. Horizontal 5.83” Vertical 4.67” Placeholder for picture in picture Building the Abundant Life I. Destroy All Barriers (verses 11-18) B. Receive Christ Ephesians 2:14 Luke 4:18-19 WE should remember that we all have come from a past. There are barriers that need to be destroyed. That is why Christ has come. Christ came to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8b

18. Horizontal 5.83” Vertical 4.67” Placeholder for picture in picture Building the Abundant Life II. Build New Connections (vs 19-22) A. We belong to God Ephesians 2:19 What is the Difference between a stranger and a foreigner? We may tolerate a foreigner in our country, before we invite a stranger in our home.

19. Horizontal 5.83” Vertical 4.67” Placeholder for picture in picture Building the Abundant Life II. Build New Connections (vs 19-22) A. We belong to God We are citizens. Part of a God household. God dwells in people. Acts 17:24-27

20. Horizontal 5.83” Vertical 4.67” Placeholder for picture in picture Building the Abundant Life II. Build New Connections (vs 19-22) B. We are the dwelling We need to start looking beyond the barriers. Ephesians 4:29-32 1.Talk – 2.Think - II Corinthains10:4-5 3.Act -

21. Horizontal 5.83” Vertical 4.67” Placeholder for picture in picture Building the Abundant Life II. Build New Connections (vs 19-22) B. We are the dwelling When we talk, think and act in this way we will start to build a church with Christ as the cornerstone. Let's start to build that church....

22. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” SCRIPTURES (NIV) PART IV

23. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Ephesians 11 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)— 12 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.

24. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Ephesians 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 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,

25. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Ephesians 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,

26. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Ephesians 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

27. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,

28. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” I Corinthians 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

29. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Galatians 3:26-29 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

30. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Genesis 4:2-5 Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

31. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Acts 10:1-6, 34-48 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

32. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Acts 10:1-6, 34-48 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

33. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Acts 10:1-6, 34-48 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

34. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Acts 10:1-6, 34-48 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

35. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

36. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Genesis 11:3, 4 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

37. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

38. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” 1 Peter 5:5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

39. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” 1 Kings 18:25-29 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. At noon Elijah began to taunt them.

40. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” 1 Kings 18:25-29 “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

41. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Romans 2:28-29 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

42. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Isaiah 42:6, 7 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

43. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,

44. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Luke 4:18, 19 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

45. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,

46. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Acts 17:24-27 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

47. Horizontal 6.17” Vertical 4.00” Ephesians 4:29-32 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.