Equipped for Unity: Living Out God's Grace

Devotional

Day 1: Equipped for Every Good Work

Description: Many Christians struggle in their spiritual lives because they are not properly equipped with the Word of God. Understanding and applying Scripture is crucial for bearing fruit and fulfilling God's work. The Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, ensuring we are thoroughly equipped for every good work. Just as using the dull side of a razor blade is ineffective, so is trying to live a Christian life without a deep understanding of Scripture. By immersing ourselves in the Word, we become better prepared to face life's challenges and fulfill the tasks God has set before us. [04:42]

Bible Passage: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your understanding of Scripture and better equip yourself for the work God has for you?

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Day 2: Exegesis Over Eisegesis

Description: Properly understanding the Bible involves exegesis—drawing out the meaning of the text—rather than eisegesis, which projects personal biases onto Scripture. This distinction is vital for living a fruitful Christian life, as it ensures we are aligned with God's truth rather than our own interpretations. When we approach the Bible with an open heart and mind, seeking to understand its true meaning, we allow God's Word to transform us. This transformation equips us to live according to His will and bear fruit in our lives. [06:08]

Bible Passage: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, ESV)

Reflection: How can you ensure that you are practicing exegesis rather than eisegesis in your personal Bible study? What resources or methods can help you in this process?

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Day 3: Unity in Christ

Description: Through Jesus, the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles has been broken down, creating one new humanity. This unity transcends all social, racial, and cultural barriers, making us all equal members of God's household. Our primary identity is as children of God, and we are called to reflect this in our actions and relationships. By embracing this unity, we can build a community that mirrors the inclusive love of Christ, breaking down barriers and fostering genuine connections. [30:13]

Bible Passage: "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility." (Ephesians 2:14, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively promote unity and break down barriers within your community? How can you reflect the inclusive love of Christ in your daily interactions?

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Day 4: Living with Urgency

Description: The belief that Jesus is coming back soon should instill a sense of urgency in our lives. Christians who have made the most impact historically are those who lived with a constant awareness of eternity. This mindset encourages us to live fruitful lives, focused on advancing God's kingdom here and now. By living with this urgency, we prioritize what truly matters and make the most of the time we have to serve God and others. [18:11]

Bible Passage: "Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed." (Romans 13:11, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a sense of urgency in your spiritual life? What changes can you make to ensure you are living with an eternal perspective?

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Day 5: Grace and Good Works

Description: Salvation is a gift from God, not an achievement to be earned. We are saved by grace through faith, and this grace should lead us to good works that God has prepared in advance for us. Our lives should be a response to God's grace, not an attempt to earn it. By recognizing that our good works are a result of God's grace, we can live in gratitude and purpose, fulfilling the good works He has set before us. [18:42]

Bible Passage: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you respond to God's grace in your daily life? What good works has God prepared for you to walk in, and how can you actively pursue them?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the importance of being properly equipped for the work God has set out for us. Using the analogy of scraping glue with the dull side of a razor blade, we discussed how many Christians struggle in their spiritual lives because they are not properly equipped with the Word of God. Jesus' parable of the sower in Matthew highlights the difference between hearing and understanding the Word, which is crucial for bearing fruit in our lives. We delved into the significance of exegesis (drawing out the meaning of the text) versus eisegesis (projecting our own biases onto the text), emphasizing that proper understanding of Scripture equips us for every good work.

We then transitioned into an exegetical journey through Ephesians, focusing on how Paul addresses the early church. Paul reminds us that we were once spiritually dead but have been made alive in Christ. This transformation is not by our works but by God's grace. We are God's handiwork, created for good works that He prepared in advance for us. Paul also addresses the division between Jews and Gentiles, explaining that through Christ, the dividing wall of hostility has been broken down, creating one new humanity. This unity in Christ transcends all social, racial, and cultural barriers, making us all equal members of God's household.

Finally, we are encouraged to live out this unity by loving and understanding those who are different from us. Our primary identity is as children of God, and we are called to reflect this in our actions and relationships. The chapter concludes with a reminder that we have direct access to God through Jesus Christ, without the need for intermediaries or specific locations.

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Key Takeaways

1. Proper Equipping through Scripture: Many Christians struggle in their spiritual lives because they are not properly equipped with the Word of God. Understanding and applying Scripture is crucial for bearing fruit and fulfilling God's work. The Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, ensuring we are thoroughly equipped for every good work. [04:42]
2. **Exegesis vs. Eisegesis**: Properly understanding the Bible involves exegesis—drawing out the meaning of the text—rather than eisegesis, which projects personal biases onto Scripture. This distinction is vital for living a fruitful Christian life, as it ensures we are aligned with God's truth rather than our own interpretations. [06:08]
3. Unity in Christ: Through Jesus, the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles has been broken down, creating one new humanity. This unity transcends all social, racial, and cultural barriers, making us all equal members of God's household. Our primary identity is as children of God, and we are called to reflect this in our actions and relationships. [30:13]
4. Living with Urgency: The belief that Jesus is coming back soon should instill a sense of urgency in our lives. Christians who have made the most impact historically are those who lived with a constant awareness of eternity. This mindset encourages us to live fruitful lives, focused on advancing God's kingdom here and now. [18:11]
5. Grace and Good Works: Salvation is a gift from God, not an achievement to be earned. We are saved by grace through faith, and this grace should lead us to good works that God has prepared in advance for us. Our lives should be a response to God's grace, not an attempt to earn it. [18:42]
### [18:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:43] - Update on New Lease Space
[02:11] - Struggling with the Razor Blade
[03:55] - The Parable of the Sower
[04:42] - Equipping through Scripture
[06:08] - Exegesis vs. Eisegesis
[08:22] - Misinterpretations of Scripture
[10:16] - Introduction to Ephesians
[11:24] - Spiritual Death and Life in Christ
[14:00] - Pushing Back the Kingdom of Darkness
[16:23] - Made Alive in Christ
[18:11] - Living with Urgency
[18:42] - Grace and Good Works
[23:14] - God's Handiwork
[24:26] - Jews and Gentiles United
[30:13] - Breaking Down the Dividing Wall
[32:19] - Equal Access to God
[34:01] - Becoming a Church that Looks Like Heaven
[35:40] - Access to God through Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Ephesians 2:1-10 say about our spiritual state before and after knowing Christ?
According to Matthew 13:23, what is the key difference between the seed that produces fruit and the seed that does not?
What are the four uses of Scripture mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:16-17? [04:42]
How does Paul describe the unity between Jews and Gentiles in Ephesians 2? [30:13]

Interpretation Questions

How does understanding and applying Scripture equip Christians for good works, according to 2 Timothy 3:16-17? [04:42]
What does the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:23 teach us about the importance of understanding God's Word? [03:55]
In Ephesians 2, Paul talks about being made alive in Christ. What does this transformation signify for believers? [11:24]
How does the breaking down of the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles in Ephesians 2:14-16 apply to modern social, racial, and cultural barriers? [30:13]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you feel spiritually frustrated or unfruitful? How might a deeper understanding of Scripture help you in these areas? [03:10]
Think about a time when you might have projected your own biases onto a Bible passage (eisegesis). How can you practice exegesis to better understand God's Word? [06:08]
How can you actively work towards unity in your community, especially with those who are different from you? What steps can you take this week to break down social, racial, or cultural barriers? [30:13]
The sermon emphasized living with a sense of urgency because Jesus is coming back soon. How can this mindset change the way you live your daily life? [18:11]
Salvation is described as a gift from God, not something earned by works. How does this understanding affect your motivation for doing good works? [18:42]
Identify one specific good work that you feel God has prepared for you to do. How can you take a step towards fulfilling this task this week? [23:48]
How can you show love and understanding to someone who has different views or comes from a different background than you? What practical actions can you take to reflect your identity as a child of God? [34:39]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "The difference in you being fruitful in your life is are you hearing and are you understanding the word of God? Or, are you hearing it and not understanding it and you're shaving with the dull side of a razor blade? Ill-equipped." [04:42] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "It is hearing and it is understanding the word of God that equips you for the work that God has set out for you to do. And way too many Christians in this world are not effective because they're not hearing. And they're not understanding the word of God. And so they're going out into the world not equipped correctly for what God wants them to do." [05:26] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The answer is not trying to love yourself more. The answer is receiving God's love and realizing that you are already so loved in him. Receiving God's love and out of the overflow of that, live your life. It's not about I need to love myself more. That's not the purpose of that passage." [10:16] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith. It's not from yourselves. It is the gift of God, not by work so that no one can boast. So this tells us that salvation is not an achievement to be earned. It is a gift to be received." [18:42] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "You were not saved by good works. You were saved for good works. There is stuff that God has created in advance that you need to do, and you need to be thoroughly equipped for that." [23:48] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "There's a huge problem in the world today when it comes to understanding the word of God. Theologians call this exegesis versus eisegesis. This is two opposite approaches to reading the Bible. If you've been around church for a while, you've probably heard the word exegete or exegesis or exegetical. It means to draw out. So when you draw out, you're not going to be able to understand the word of God. If you look at the Bible and you exegete the Bible, it means you try to understand who said it, who was it to, what did they say, what did they mean? You pull out the meaning. And when you discover the meaning of the text, then you apply that to your life." [06:08] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The biggest mistake I hear today in exegesis is from Mark 12, when it's Jesus giving the greatest commandment. He says, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. I hear so many Christians, even pastors read this verse and say the point of this verse is that you can't love others if you don't love yourself. And so you need to love yourself more. That is the entire point of this verse. The entire goal of this verse is love yourself, love yourself, love yourself. The problem with that is that love in the Bible is not a feeling, it is an action." [08:22] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The whole point of this chapter is that you were dead, but God made you alive. And that you now have access to God and you are a special part of God's family. We have a photo of the Western Wall. I went to Jerusalem a number of years ago. This is the Western Wall. The old temple in Jerusalem was leveled by the Romans when they rebelled in 70 AD. So the temple's somewhere on the other side of that wall. So the Jews will go to Jerusalem or they'll go visit and they get as close to the wall as they possibly can to pray. Because they think that they are as close as they can possibly be to where the presence of God was or is. And so they go there thinking, God will hear me more if I'm closer to the temple. have access to God today because of Jesus." [35:40] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The word new in the Greek, the normal, the normal, the normal word is neos, which we got a photo of a minivan. How many of you want to drive that? I didn't see one hand go up. One hand. Jeff. So if you're driving that minivan and you're like, this thing is getting old. I need a new minivan. I need an upgraded model. That's the word neos. It means newer or younger. That's not the word Paul uses though. He uses the word kynos, which means completely fresh in development. Not an existing improvement of the old. It is a brand new. So this would be like, getting a helicopter. You trade your minivan in and you get one of these. It's not an upgrade of the existing. It is a brand new development, an entirely new mode of transportation. God did not come to upgrade Jewish culture or Greek culture. He came to establish kingdom culture, his culture, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." [31:08] (69 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The Jews viewed it as there's the Jews, and then there's the Gentiles. And there's everybody else. The Greeks viewed it as there's the Greeks and the barbarians. It is us versus them. It is me and mine against everybody else. This is the way those two groups viewed the world. It's easy to kind of make fun of them today, but how much do we do this in our culture? Are you vaccinated? Are you unvaccinated? Are you a Republican? Are you a Democrat? It's me against you. It's mine and my ideology. And then we demonize other groups of people. And I'm not saying we shouldn't stand up for biblical values. I'm just saying we shouldn't demonize people who are different than us." [25:30] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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