Embracing Community: The Transformative Power of the Church

Devotional

Day 1: Once Far Off, Now Brought Near by Christ

Without Christ, we are spiritual aliens—estranged, lost, and unable to find our true home. Just as an immigrant arriving in a foreign land feels isolated and unsure, so too are our souls restless and wandering until we are brought near to God. Through the blood of Jesus, those who were once far off are welcomed into God’s presence, given hope, and included in His family. This nearness is not something we achieve on our own, but a gift of grace that transforms our identity and gives us belonging. [09:04]

Ephesians 2:12-13 (ESV)
"Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel distant or restless, and how can you invite Jesus to bring you near to God today?

Day 2: United as One New People in Christ

In Christ, God has created a new humanity—one that transcends all divisions of background, status, or ethnicity. Through Jesus, Jews and Gentiles alike are reconciled to God and to each other, forming a single, unified body. This unity is not just a theological idea but a lived reality, where everyone has equal access to God’s mercy and salvation. The church is called to reflect this unity, living as one people who have been made one through the cross. [11:03]

Ephesians 2:14-17 (ESV)
"For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near."

Reflection: Is there someone in your life or in your church community from whom you feel divided? What step can you take today to pursue unity and reconciliation in Christ?

Day 3: Deep Involvement in the Family of God

The church is not just a gathering or a club—it is the household of God, a true family where we are called to deep, authentic relationships. In this family, there is no hiding; we are invited to share our struggles, joys, and failures, knowing we are loved and accepted. The world is full of people searching for belonging and battling loneliness, but God’s design is for His people to be a family where no one stands alone. We are called to create a culture of transparency, support, and love that reflects the heart of God. [30:35]

Ephesians 2:19 (ESV)
"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God."

Reflection: Who in your church family could you reach out to this week to share honestly or offer support, helping to build deeper, more authentic relationships?

Day 4: Built Together as God’s Holy Temple

The church is described as a holy temple, a spiritual house where God’s presence dwells among His people. Each believer is a living stone, joined together by Christ, the cornerstone, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is in this connectedness—when we serve, love, and grow together—that we most fully experience God’s presence. The church is not just a place we go, but a people among whom God lives and moves, and through whom He reveals Himself to the world. [31:48]

Ephesians 2:20-22 (ESV)
"Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."

Reflection: In what ways can you more fully participate in the life of the church, using your gifts and presence to help build up God’s dwelling place?

Day 5: Making Christ the Cornerstone of Your Life

Jesus is the cornerstone—the essential foundation upon which the church and our lives are built. To make Christ your cornerstone is to trust Him above all else, to let Him shape your identity, your relationships, and your purpose. When you build your life on Jesus, you are included in His family, part of His holy nation, and a living stone in His temple. This is a call to bold commitment: to stand and declare that your life belongs to Him, and to live fully, freely, and transparently as part of His people. [40:00]

1 Peter 2:4-6 (ESV)
"As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.'"

Reflection: What would it look like for you to make Jesus the cornerstone of your life today, and how can you boldly commit to living as part of His church?

Sermon Summary

The Apostles’ Creed declares belief in the “Holy Catholic Church”—not a specific denomination, but the universal, historic body of believers in Jesus Christ, spanning past, present, and future. This is the church: not a building or a weekly event, but a people set apart, called to unity and deep participation. Yet, statistics show that many who claim faith are disengaged, reducing their involvement to occasional attendance. The New Testament makes it clear: God’s powerful work in our lives is inseparable from our participation in the church. True spiritual growth and the fullness of God’s presence are experienced in the context of deep, committed community.

Ephesians 2 paints a vivid picture of who we were—spiritual aliens, estranged from God and one another, lost and without hope. But through Christ, those who were far off have been brought near by his blood. Jesus has created a new humanity, reconciling both Jews and Gentiles into one body. In him, we are no longer strangers, but fellow citizens, members of God’s household, and living stones in a holy temple. This new identity is not just individual; it is profoundly communal. We are called to belong, to participate, to be known and to know others.

The church is described in three powerful images: one nation, one family, one temple. As a nation, we share a bond deeper than any cultural or national identity—a unity rooted in Christ that transcends all boundaries. As a family, we are called to intimacy, transparency, and mutual care, living life together in a way that meets the deep human longing for belonging and love. As a temple, we are being built together as a dwelling place for God’s presence, experiencing him in ways that cannot be replicated in isolation.

This is not a call to mere attendance, but to deep involvement—a life lived together, sharing joys and burdens, growing in faith, and experiencing the transforming presence of God. The church, like a mother, nurtures, protects, and shapes us. Christ is the cornerstone; on him, we build our lives and our community. To make Jesus the cornerstone is to embrace this new identity and to commit to building a culture of unity, love, and transparency in his church.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Work Is Tied to Our Participation in the Church The New Testament consistently teaches that God’s powerful work in our lives is not meant to be experienced in isolation. Spiritual growth, transformation, and the fullness of God’s presence are found in the context of active, committed participation in the body of Christ. To remain on the sidelines is to miss out on the depth of what God intends for us. [02:37]
2. From Alienation to Belonging: The Gospel’s Transforming Power We were all spiritual aliens—estranged from God, lost, and without hope. Through Christ’s sacrifice, we are brought near, reconciled, and given a new identity as part of God’s people. This movement from alienation to belonging is not just a personal journey, but an invitation into a new community where everyone stands equally in need of mercy and equally welcomed by grace. [09:04]
3. The Church as One Nation: A Bond Deeper Than Culture In Christ, we become fellow citizens of a holy nation, sharing a unity that surpasses any earthly bond. This spiritual nationhood calls us to deep involvement and connection, transcending cultural, ethnic, and social boundaries. The church’s unity is a powerful witness to the world and a source of profound belonging for its members. [16:27]
4. The Church as Family: Intimacy, Transparency, and Mutual Care The church is not just an organization, but a family—God’s household—where we are called to live with transparency, vulnerability, and love. True spiritual family means sharing life deeply, supporting one another in struggles and joys, and creating a culture where people can be fully known and fully loved. This is the antidote to the loneliness and isolation so prevalent in our world. [22:08]
5. The Church as Temple: Experiencing God’s Presence Together We are living stones, being built together into a holy temple where God’s presence dwells uniquely among his people. The fullness of Christ is experienced most deeply in the shared life of the church, as spiritual gifts, love, and grace flow from one member to another. To know Christ fully, we must know him together, not alone. [31:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:54] - The Reality of Church Participation
[02:37] - Can God Work Apart from the Church?
[04:29] - The Blessing of Deep Involvement
[05:50] - Spiritual Alienation and the Need for Home
[08:04] - Finding Our Way Home in God
[09:04] - Brought Near by the Blood of Christ
[11:03] - A New Humanity in Christ
[12:49] - The Experience of Loneliness Without God
[14:37] - Salvation Leads to Involvement
[16:27] - One Nation: The Church’s Deeper Bond
[19:52] - Global Family in Christ
[22:08] - One Family: Intimacy and Transparency
[26:12] - The Search for Belonging
[27:36] - The Church: An Eternal Community
[31:48] - One Temple: God’s Presence Among Us
[34:46] - Knowing Christ Together
[36:29] - The Church as Mother
[38:57] - Christ the Cornerstone
[41:03] - Responding to the Call
[43:10] - Closing Song: Cornerstone

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Church—One Nation, One Family, One Temple

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Bible Reading

Ephesians 2:11–22
*(This was the main text for the sermon. Please read the whole passage together.)*

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Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 2:12–13, what was our spiritual condition before Christ, and what changed because of Him?
In verses 14–16, what does Paul say Jesus accomplished between Jews and Gentiles? What new reality did He create?
What three images does Paul use in verses 19–22 to describe the church?
The sermon described the church as “not a building or a weekly event, but a people set apart, called to unity and deep participation.” What evidence did the pastor give that many Christians are not living this out? [[01:54]]

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Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize that we were “strangers and aliens” before Christ, and how does this shape our understanding of belonging in the church? [[06:56]]
The sermon said, “God’s powerful work in our lives is inseparable from our participation in the church.” Why do you think spiritual growth is so closely tied to being part of a church community? [[02:37]]
What does it mean for the church to be “one nation” and “one family”? How does this challenge the way we think about our relationships with other believers? [[16:27]] [[22:08]]
The church is called a “temple” where God’s presence dwells. What does this mean for how we experience God together, compared to being alone? [[31:48]]

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Application Questions

The sermon mentioned that many people attend church only occasionally and remain on the sidelines. Where do you see yourself—deeply involved, somewhat involved, or mostly on the sidelines? What is one step you could take toward deeper participation? [[01:54]]
Paul says we are “no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens… and members of the household of God.” Have you ever felt like a spiritual outsider? What helped you feel included, or what could help you now? [[06:56]] [[09:04]]
The pastor shared that the church is meant to be a family where we are known and loved, not just an organization. Are there ways you are hiding or holding back from deeper relationships in the church? What would it look like to let others into your real life? [[24:36]]
The sermon described the church as a place where we share joys and burdens, and where loneliness is lessened through involvement. Is there a burden or joy you could share with someone in this group or in the church this week? [[28:39]]
The church is called to be a “holy temple” where God’s presence is experienced together. When have you most clearly sensed God’s presence in community? What made that possible? [[31:48]]
The pastor said, “To make Jesus the cornerstone is to embrace this new identity and to commit to building a culture of unity, love, and transparency in his church.” What is one practical way you can help build this kind of culture in our church or small group? [[38:57]]
The sermon compared the church to a mother who nurtures, protects, and shapes us. In what ways has the church “mothered” you? Is there someone you could nurture or encourage in the church this month? [[38:00]]

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*Close in prayer, asking God to help each person move from the sidelines into deeper participation, unity, and love in His church.*

Sermon Clips

You cannot know Jesus Christ by yourself alone. You will know him most fully. This is the blessing of the church. It's the goodness of the church. It's why I love the church. We are called to a deep friendship with one another, but we're also called to a deep friendship with Jesus Christ. [00:36:00] (17 seconds)

Can God be powerfully at work in your life apart from your participation in the church? Well, hey, spoiler alert. According to the New Testament, the answer is a resounding, consistent no. That God will not be powerfully at work in your life apart from your participation in the church. [00:03:36] (23 seconds)

By the blood of Jesus, through the cross, we're brought near. Those who are far from God are brought near through Jesus. Christ died for you. He died for me alike. He died for us. And by the blood of Jesus, we are brought near. We are included. We are reconnected to God. And this is important. We're reconnected to one another. [00:14:37] (24 seconds)

We think of church as somewhere we go. No, no. It's the holy temple of God, his presence. And when you're part of the church of Jesus Christ, you will experience his presence in a way that really nothing else in this life can deliver. [00:32:57] (20 seconds)

It literally means that God has created through Jesus Christ from Jews and Gentiles a new human race. That's what it literally means. A new human race. And that new human race are the Christians. Those who trust in Christ. This is big. [00:11:20] (18 seconds)

All of those kind of fellowships, all those kind of clubs, there's going to come a day when all that will burn up and amount to a pile of ashes. There is a fellowship. There is a community that is eternal, that will last forever. And that community is the church of Jesus Christ. [00:27:47] (26 seconds)

Because in the church, there is to be a sense of belonging that runs deeper than our bonds as Americans or Pittsburghers. Jesus' picture of the church is this. You were far off and now you're brought near. And you're a new human race. You belong to a country. You're a nation. You belong to a country that has a king with a capital K. [00:21:13] (26 seconds)

You know, cornerstone is the fundamental rock on which everything else depends. That's a cornerstone. You, you know the picture. And if you desire Jesus Christ to be your cornerstone, the cornerstone of your life today, if you desire that, then I want to help you make a move towards God. Jesus. Jesus is the cornerstone of those who believe. And you know what? He becomes a stumbling block for those who reject him. Don't reject him. [00:39:26] (34 seconds)

Your heart and soul are only at home in God. The early church father, Augustine, said this. He said, our hearts are restless until they find their home in you. Our hearts are restless until they find their home in you, God. You'll be restless. [00:08:56] (25 seconds)