Building Bridges: The Power of Relationships in Christ
Summary
In reflecting on the profound insights shared by Pastor Rick Warren, we are reminded of the ultimate significance of relationships in our lives. As he observed, in their final moments, people do not yearn for their achievements or accolades but for the presence of loved ones. This truth extends beyond familial bonds to encompass the broader relationships we cultivate throughout our lives, including those within the body of Christ. Our connections within the church are not meant to be isolated or superficial; rather, they are to be deeply interwoven, reflecting the unity and love that Christ exemplified.
The barriers we face in forming these relationships are numerous—ranging from busyness and social anxieties to cultural and racial divides. These obstacles are not new; they echo the challenges faced by the early church, particularly the tensions between Jews and Gentiles. Yet, as Paul writes in Ephesians 2:14-18, Christ has broken down the dividing walls of hostility, creating a new humanity united in Him. This peace is twofold: a vertical peace with God and a horizontal peace with one another.
Paul's message is clear: the church must actively work to dismantle the walls of division, whether they be racial, cultural, or social. This involves acknowledging and naming the sources of division and oppression, rather than sweeping them under the rug for the sake of a superficial unity. True unity in the church is achieved not through assimilation or conformity but through the celebration of diversity, where each individual's unique identity contributes to the richness of the community.
As followers of Christ, we are called to be agents of reconciliation, building bridges rather than walls. This requires humility, gentleness, patience, and love, as outlined in Ephesians 4. It is a challenging task, but one that is essential for the health and wholeness of the church. Our relationships matter, and how we show up for one another can make a profound impact.
Key Takeaways:
- Relationships are central to our lives and faith. In our final moments, it is the people we love and the relationships we have built that hold the most significance, not our achievements or possessions. This truth calls us to invest deeply in our connections with others, particularly within the body of Christ. [34:02]
- The peace that Christ offers is both vertical and horizontal. Through His sacrifice, Jesus reconciled us to God and to one another, breaking down the walls of hostility that divide us. This dual peace is foundational to our faith and our relationships within the church. [39:05]
- Acknowledging and naming divisions is crucial for reconciliation. Paul demonstrates the importance of identifying and addressing the sources of division within the church, rather than ignoring them for the sake of unity. This honest confrontation is necessary for true healing and unity. [46:05]
- Unity in diversity is a hallmark of the church. Christ's work on the cross creates a new humanity that celebrates diversity rather than demanding conformity. Each person's unique identity enriches the community, reflecting the fullness of God's kingdom. [49:19]
- Building bridges requires intentionality and sacrifice. As followers of Christ, we are called to be agents of reconciliation, actively working to dismantle barriers and foster unity. This work is challenging but essential for the health and wholeness of the church. [52:49]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[34:02] - The Importance of Relationships
[35:04] - Barriers to Connection
[36:36] - Isolation in the Church
[37:31] - Ephesians 2:14-18 Reading
[39:05] - Vertical and Horizontal Peace
[40:32] - The Power of the Gospel
[41:33] - Horizontal Peace in the Church
[42:21] - Tensions Between Jews and Gentiles
[44:35] - Historical Hostility
[46:05] - Naming Divisions
[47:14] - The Dividing Wall of Hostility
[48:30] - Jesus' Work of Reconciliation
[49:19] - Unity in Diversity
[50:36] - Paul's Teachings on Unity
[51:46] - The Call to Build Bridges
[52:49] - The Ministry of Reconciliation
[54:12] - Ephesians 4: Unity Through Love
[55:14] - Reflecting on Barriers
[56:21] - Building Bridges in the Church
[57:09] - The Lord's Table: A Symbol of Unity
[58:16] - Reflecting on the Gospel
[59:51] - Communion
[01:01:40] - The Gift of God
[01:02:58] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:14-18
- Ephesians 4:1-3
Observation Questions:
1. According to Ephesians 2:14-18, what did Christ accomplish through His sacrifice? How does this relate to the concept of peace? [37:31]
2. What are some of the barriers mentioned in the sermon that prevent us from forming deep relationships within the church? [35:04]
3. How does the sermon describe the historical tension between Jews and Gentiles, and what was Paul's response to this division? [44:35]
4. In Ephesians 4:1-3, what qualities does Paul encourage believers to embody to maintain unity? [54:12]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the dual peace (vertical with God and horizontal with others) described in Ephesians 2:14-18 impact our understanding of community within the church? [39:05]
2. Why is it important to acknowledge and name divisions within the church, according to the sermon? How does this practice contribute to reconciliation? [46:05]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the role of diversity in achieving true unity within the church? How does this reflect the new humanity created by Christ? [49:19]
4. How can the qualities listed in Ephesians 4:1-3 (humility, gentleness, patience, love) be practically applied to dismantle barriers and foster unity in the church? [54:12]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current relationships within the church. Are there any barriers you need to address to foster deeper connections? What steps can you take to overcome these barriers? [35:04]
2. Consider a time when you felt isolated or excluded within a church setting. How can your experience inform your efforts to create a more inclusive community? [36:36]
3. Identify a specific division or tension you have observed within your church community. How can you actively participate in addressing and healing this division? [46:05]
4. How can you celebrate and embrace diversity within your church community, ensuring that each person's unique identity is valued and contributes to the richness of the community? [49:19]
5. Think of a relationship within the church that requires reconciliation. What practical steps can you take to initiate healing and restoration in that relationship? [52:49]
6. Reflect on the qualities of humility, gentleness, patience, and love. Which of these do you find most challenging to embody, and how can you work on developing this quality in your interactions with others? [54:12]
7. How can you intentionally build bridges and foster unity within your church community this week? Identify one specific action you can take to be an agent of reconciliation. [52:49]
Devotional
Day 1: The Eternal Value of Relationships
In the final moments of life, achievements and possessions fade into insignificance, leaving relationships as the true measure of a life well-lived. This truth calls for a deep investment in the connections we form, particularly within the body of Christ. Relationships are not merely social constructs but are central to our spiritual journey, reflecting the love and unity that Christ exemplified. The church is a community where these bonds should be nurtured and cherished, transcending superficial interactions to become deeply interwoven connections. [34:02]
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
Reflection: Who in your life do you need to invest more time and love into today? How can you intentionally strengthen that relationship this week?
Day 2: Christ's Dual Peace
The peace that Christ offers is both vertical, reconciling us to God, and horizontal, uniting us with one another. Through His sacrifice, Jesus dismantled the walls of hostility that divide us, creating a new humanity united in Him. This dual peace is foundational to our faith and our relationships within the church. It calls us to live in harmony with God and with each other, embracing the peace that surpasses understanding and extends beyond personal boundaries. [39:05]
Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV): "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
Reflection: In what ways can you actively pursue peace with someone you have been in conflict with? How can you embody Christ's peace in your interactions today?
Day 3: Confronting Divisions for True Unity
Acknowledging and naming divisions is crucial for reconciliation within the church. Paul emphasizes the importance of identifying and addressing the sources of division, rather than ignoring them for the sake of superficial unity. This honest confrontation is necessary for true healing and unity, as it allows the church to move beyond mere tolerance to genuine acceptance and love. By confronting these issues, the church can become a place where diversity is celebrated, and each individual's unique identity is valued. [46:05]
Galatians 3:28 (ESV): "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: What divisions or biases do you need to confront in your own heart? How can you take a step towards reconciliation and unity within your community today?
Day 4: Celebrating Unity in Diversity
Unity in diversity is a hallmark of the church, reflecting the fullness of God's kingdom. Christ's work on the cross creates a new humanity that celebrates diversity rather than demanding conformity. Each person's unique identity enriches the community, contributing to the richness of the body of Christ. This unity in diversity is not about erasing differences but about embracing them as a testament to God's creativity and love. [49:19]
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (ESV): "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many."
Reflection: How can you celebrate and honor the diversity within your church community? What steps can you take to ensure that everyone feels valued and included?
Day 5: Building Bridges of Reconciliation
As followers of Christ, we are called to be agents of reconciliation, actively working to dismantle barriers and foster unity. This work requires intentionality, sacrifice, humility, gentleness, patience, and love. Building bridges is a challenging but essential task for the health and wholeness of the church. By committing to this ministry of reconciliation, we reflect Christ's love and contribute to a community that embodies His peace and unity. [52:49]
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (ESV): "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to build a bridge with someone who is different from you? How can you embody the ministry of reconciliation in your daily life?
Quotes
So what if I told you that our relationships matter? That the relationships that you build with one another and the relationships that you foster in your life matters. That the connections that you have with the body of Christ makes a lasting impact. That we're not meant to show up to church isolated, sitting around the room, but we are to be interconnected and interwoven together as the church. Investing our time, our resources, our lives to build these relationships because they matter. [00:34:27] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
You see, in this passage, Paul highlights two major aspects of peace, of Christ that is available to us and how we relate to one another, right? A peace that is made between us and God is the first peace that God gives us. And the second is a peace that is made between the people of God, all of us. You see, we have this vertical peace between us and God, and yet we also have this horizontal peace between us and one another and how we relate to each other. [00:39:35] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
But I think that Paul does this to not only remind the church of the power of the gospel and the good news, but to show the extent that Christ had to go through to bridge that chasm and that divide between us and God, right? This was the first act of the gospel. This was the first act of peace that Jesus has done with his body. The first reconciliation that was done is between us and God. And Paul talks about this in verse 16 of how in Christ, Jesus had made peace through his body, through the cross, reconciling us to God. [00:43:35] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And it is only by naming the walls of a hostility can the dividing wall be torn down. Amen? It is only by acknowledging the places of oppression can we bring the wall down, church. And this is what it means for us to build relationships. We acknowledge the pain, right? We acknowledge the frustration. We acknowledge the tears, the weariness, the suffering, the injustice. We acknowledge just how tired we are, right? All of it. All of it. We acknowledge all of it. It doesn't get swept under the rug for the name of unity. [00:46:05] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Jesus took all of that division, and he puts it upon himself, right? Jesus takes all of that and bears it on the cross, and he lets all of that die. And said, hey, we're not going to have that anymore. We're leaving it there. We're leaving it buried in the ground. It is done. It's gone. And it is through the resurrection that Jesus creates in himself a new humanity, something new out of the two. [00:48:50] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And what's beautiful about this is that Jesus didn't make the Gentiles assimilate and become Jews, right? Nor the other way around, he didn't say, hey, Jews, and you have to become Gentiles. Nor did he say, Gentiles, you all need to become Jews in order to be a part of this new thing. There is no assimilation or conformity that is asked from the church. There's just no notion that we have to all think alike. We all have to be alike and be all the same. [00:49:59] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
We can hold on to all of these things and still belong because we have been united by something much bigger than what we hold together as our identity, right? It's the answer. It wraps us holistically. All of who we are, Christ wraps all of that. And we are brought together in Jesus. You see, church, Jesus not only brought peace that we have with God, but a relationship with God that we never could have deserved on our own, but he brings peace between one another. [00:51:06] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Jesus loves you so much that not only did he die for you, but Jesus also died to bring us into a relationship with one another, to bring fullness and the wholeness of the church together. Under and united in himself, because that is how much Jesus loves relationships, that he's willing to bridge the relationship between us and him, and also bridge the relationship between us and others, that he's willing to die for that. [00:52:49] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And as followers of Jesus, we must ask ourselves, are we building up the church through the intentionality of relationships, unifying the body, being a bridge, right, between one another, or are we actively building walls of hostility and barriers and division into the church? Are we pursuing the ministry of division, or are we pursuing the ministry of reconciliation and unity and wholeness? That is the question, church. [00:54:29] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
We are called to build bridges, to bring unity, and as we act as bridges to reconciliation, we realize that bridges get walked on. That makes it difficult and painful, and it is hard work. But church, it is worth it because our relationships matter. And I want to close our time together by bringing us to the Lord's table. Because at the Lord's table, it is a symbol and a reminder of Jesus's work of unity. Unity, that through his body, we are all welcome to the table because of what he has done between us and God, but also because of what he has done between each other. [01:00:03] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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