From Outsiders to Owners: Joining the Church's Mission

Sep 13, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Barbarians at the Table of Grace

The church gathers those once considered outsiders—people dismissed as uncultured, unworthy, or enemies. Just as Gentile "barbarians" were brought near through Christ’s blood, the church today unites those the world deems irreconcilable. This unity isn’t earned but given, a gift from the God who paints blue-faced rebels with dignity. When cultural pride or personal history tempts superiority, believers remember their shared origin: all were strangers until grace intervened. The church exists not for the comfortable but for the broken still swinging from trees. [05:36]

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

Reflection: What personal or cultural barriers have you subtly believed made you “superior” to others in God’s family? How might your story of being an outsider equip you to welcome someone new?

Day 2: Stones in the Shaking Apartment

The church isn’t a static building but living stones stacked on Christ, the cornerstone. Like a rented apartment rattled by trains, superficial faith shakes when life’s chaos comes. Ownership—investing in repair, sacrifice, and responsibility—transforms spectators into builders. Each stone’s jagged edges fit perfectly into God’s design, not despite their flaws but through them. To withhold your unique shape is to leave the temple incomplete. [23:38]

“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.”
(1 Corinthians 12:12–13, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you been content to let others “fix the leaks” in God’s house? What rough edge in your character might actually be a gift to the body?

Day 3: Blue Faces and Common Ground

Lydia, the slave girl, and the Roman guard—three unlikely converts—prove shared faith dismantles worldly hierarchies. The early church baffled Romans because fishermen feasted with centurions. Cultural contempt (like the Jews’ prayer thanking God they weren’t Gentiles) melts when grace rewires hearts. Unity isn’t uniformity but recognizing every blue-faced soul matters equally to Christ. The church thrives when enemies become family. [07:15]

“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.”
(Galatians 3:28, ESV)

Reflection: Which relationship in your life feels most “irreconcilable” right now? How might seeing that person as a potential stone in Christ’s temple change your posture?

Day 4: Dancing in Nagaland, Silent in Norway

Persecution fuels the church’s fire. While Western pews thin, Kenyan congregations swell. China’s underground churches multiply despite oppression. Comfort breeds complacency, but sacrifice births revival. The global church isn’t a Western export—it’s a wildfire lit in Jerusalem, spreading to every tribe. To join the dance means embracing discomfort: missions, service, or forgiving those who’ve hurt you. [21:22]

“And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”
(Acts 2:44–45, ESV)

Reflection: What convenient excuse (“I’m too busy,” “They’re different”) keeps you from engaging God’s global mission? How could one uncomfortable “yes” align you with persecuted believers?

Day 5: Red Shirts and Unanswered Questions

Wearing Christ’s colors means expecting interruptions. Like the pastor mistaken for a Target employee, believers ready to serve attract questions. Renters avoid eye contact; owners lean in. The church isn’t a service to consume but a movement to join—answering “Where’s hope?” with messy, personal investment. Your availability, not ability, writes the next chapter. [24:33]

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”
(Romans 12:4–5, ESV)

Reflection: When has someone’s need inconvenienced you recently? What would it look like to wear your “red shirt” of ownership in that situation?

Sermon Summary

Paul calls Gentile believers to remember where they came from. The outsiders were once far from God, without hope, excluded, and divided from the people of God. Grace changes that whole status. God brings outsiders near through the blood of Christ, so insiders never get to become comfortable, superior, or only concerned with themselves.

Christ breaks down the wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles. The cross creates one new people, not a church built on ethnicity, status, education, money, jobs, or personal preference. Jesus becomes the cornerstone, and when Jesus is the foundation, there are no irreconcilable differences. Conflict may still show up because the church is full of imperfect people, but Christ gives the church a better way through rupture and repair, grace and forgiveness.

The church is not a building that people come and sit in. The church is a gathering of people who share life, carry burdens, meet needs, and help people find and follow Jesus. The body of Christ needs every part. Painful experiences, addictions, needs, testimonies, gifts, and callings are not meant to be carried alone. God chooses to move in the world through a body, not through isolated Christians trying to follow Jesus on their own.

The gospel is for all people, all times, all locations, and all cultures. The church is not a Western idea. God is moving across Africa, Asia, China, South America, and places where following Jesus costs something. The unreached still matter, including thousands of people groups without an active gospel witness. The church cannot settle into comfort while so many people remain far from Christ.

The contrast between renting and owning presses the question of commitment. Renters call when something is broken and expect someone else to fix it. Owners see a need and step in because they are invested. The church calls people out of the stands and into the movement of God. Christ has made believers citizens, family members, and living stones in a holy temple where God lives by His Spirit.

Key Takeaways

1. Outsiders become insiders for others. Grace does not merely rescue people from judgment. Grace gives them a new place among God’s people and a new concern for those still far away. The church drifts when insiders make everything about their own comfort, preferences, and needs. God’s heart keeps looking toward the empty seats. [03:37]
2. Jesus removes every status barrier. Christ does not unite people because they naturally agree or share the same background. Christ unites people by making Himself the cornerstone beneath every relationship. Ethnicity, wealth, education, politics, and personal history lose their power to divide when Jesus is held as the foundation. Unity is not sameness, but shared surrender to Christ. [08:24]
3. The church is not spectator space. The body of Christ is not made for fans sitting in the stands while a few exhausted people do the work. God saves, adopts, and calls believers so that their lives become part of His work in the world. Every follower of Jesus has something to offer, including testimony, pain, gifts, experience, service, and compassion. Participation is where much of the transformational life change happens. [15:00]
4. Ownership means seeing needs and acting. The difference between renting and owning is responsibility. Church ownership means refusing to treat ministry needs as somebody else’s problem. God can use a burden for veterans, unwed mothers, homeless neighbors, schools, or unreached peoples as the beginning of faithful service. The church is strongest when people recognize that they are not merely attending it, but are part of it. [24:58]
5. Rupture and repair reflect the gospel. Church hurt is real because people are real, broken, and sometimes careless with one another. Yet conflict does not automatically mean that commitment should end. The gospel creates a pattern of moving toward rupture with truth, grace, forgiveness, and repair. Christ’s family will outlast earthly family, and that reality calls for deep patience with one another.

## [29:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:32] - Outsiders and Insiders
[02:23] - The Church Exists for Outsiders
[05:08] - Jews, Gentiles, and Old Hostility
[07:15] - A Church Built from Opposites
[08:24] - Jesus Ends Irreconcilable Differences
[10:43] - The Church as the Hope of the World
[11:50] - The Gospel for Every People Group
[14:04] - Fans in the Stands
[16:02] - Christ Breaks Down Walls
[18:14] - The Body of Christ Needs Every Part
[21:10] - God Is Moving Around the World
[23:38] - Renters or Owners in Church
[26:22] - Citizens, Family, and Living Stones
[29:35] - Rupture, Repair, and Commitment

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ephesians 2:11-22
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—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. [01:32]

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [05:08]

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. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. [08:24]

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 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. [26:22]

1 Corinthians 12:12-27
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. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require.

But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. [19:20]

Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. [29:26]

Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. [17:33]

Observation questions

According to Ephesians 2:11-12, what words describe the Gentiles’ former condition before Christ brought them near?
What did Christ do to the “dividing wall of hostility,” and what new reality did He create in Himself according to Ephesians 2:14-16? [16:02]
In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, what examples does Paul use to show that no member of the body can dismiss either himself or another person as unnecessary?
What practices marked the first church in Acts 2:42-47, especially when someone in the community had a need? [17:33]

Interpretation questions

Why does Paul tell Gentile believers to remember that they were once far from God? How could remembering grace protect a believer from feeling superior to others? [03:37]
Ephesians 2 says that Jesus Himself is our peace and that He makes divided people into one new people. What does this mean for believers who differ in ethnicity, income, education, politics, personality, or personal history? [08:24]
If every believer is a necessary part of Christ’s body, what kinds of loss can a local church experience when people treat church as a place to watch rather than a people with whom to serve and share life? [15:00]
The early church met needs, shared life, and saw people come to faith. Why might practical care, generosity, and genuine fellowship make the gospel more visible to outsiders? [13:39]

Application questions

Remembering that each believer was once far from God changes how they see outsiders. Who is one person in your life who may feel far from God, and what could it look like to show that person grace, welcome, or a genuine invitation this week? [03:12]
Comparison can create feelings of superiority or inferiority over jobs, education, money, homes, or background. Where are you most tempted to compare yourself with others in the church, and how can Jesus as the cornerstone reshape that attitude? [16:44]
The church is a gathering of people who share life, not merely a building people attend. What burden, struggle, experience, testimony, gift, or skill has God given you that you may need to bring more honestly into the body of Christ? [17:37]
The body of Christ is called to suffer and rejoice together. Is there a need, hardship, addiction, grief, or major decision that you have been trying to carry alone? What would be a wise next step toward letting trusted believers walk with you? [20:18]
Ownership means seeing a need and acting rather than assuming somebody else will take care of it. What need in your church, neighborhood, school, workplace, or among a group such as veterans, unhoused neighbors, or single mothers has caught your attention? What is one small faithful response you could take? [25:34]
Church hurt is real, but the gospel gives a pattern of rupture and repair through truth, grace, forgiveness, and moving toward one another. Is there a strained relationship with another believer that calls for a prayerful conversation, an apology, forgiveness, or a check-in? [29:53]
Jesus commands His people to make disciples of all nations, and many people still have little or no access to the gospel. How can your group become more engaged with God’s work beyond its immediate circle—through prayer, giving, hospitality, local outreach, or going? [12:51]

Sermon Clips

30s

#ChurchIsPeople

“You are needed. You are invited to get out of the stands to be parts be part the movement of God. Again, it is not a building. We've turned this word ekklesia, which is a Greek word, which just simply meant gathering. It just simply meant gathering. Now we use the word as a environment. Are you going to church today? Like, we're going to this building. And, yes, buildings are necessary, but the church is not a building. It's a gathering of people.”

24s

#ReachTheOutsiders

“That's that's the movement of the church. Outsiders become insiders who reach outsiders. But the challenge for most churches, including ours, is that insiders do not get so comfortable that all we think about are insiders. And all we do is make decisions about insiders. And what do insiders wanna do? Because then we'll become a church with no outsiders. That is the drift of every church.”

39s

#OwnYourChurch

“And so your relationship status today with the church, let me just ask you, are you an owner? Are you a renter within the church? Now there's ways we can determine what that is. Membership is one way. We don't talk a lot about membership, but that's an opportunity for you to just make a commitment to your local body. And it's what that means is I'm not gonna leave when I don't agree with something unless it's truth. But if somebody hurts my feelings, I'm not gonna leave the church. I'm committed. I'm an owner in this place. It means when there's a need and I see a need, I'm gonna meet that need.”

42s

#RuptureAndRepair

“What's your relationship status with the church? Listen. Some of us have church hurt. Me too. It doesn't mean that the church is still not the greatest movement in the world. As long as there's people in the church, there's gonna be problems in the church. There's gonna be conflict. But here's what I would say to that. Rupture and repair. That's the gospel. Rupture and repair in your relationships with people in the church. Move toward conflict. Extend grace. Extend forgiveness. Check-in with each other, especially those who you're in small groups with and you're serving together with. So”

29s

#LoveLikeGrace

“Why we exist as a church is to think about the person who isn't here today. There's a few empty seats in the room, and I'm thinking and praying about the people who aren't here who don't know Jesus. They're outsiders. And Paul's saying, don't forget that you've been saved by grace. That was you. You were an outsider. And only by God's grace have you been saved to become an insider. And so this first verse, we're to treat others as God has treated us.”

33s

#StopBeingAFan

“And may I say, at times, that's a picture of the church. You are not asked, you are not called by Paul, by the Holy Spirit to be a fan of the church. That is not what God has called you to. That's not why he saved you, redeemed you, adopted you, called you by a new name, and gave you a new work so you can go sit in the stands and watch. And this isn't what I want for you. This is what God wants for you.”

31s

#ChurchIsHope

“The church, my friends, is the hope of the world as it preaches the gospel. The church, the local church is the hope of the world of is the hope of Northeast Mesa. It's the hope of the state of Arizona. It's the hope of The United States. It's the hope of every person on the planet. The local church is the greatest hope for this world as it preaches the gospel. The gospel is for all people, all times, all locations, and all cultures. That's the gospel.”

26s

#BeTheMinistry

“If you see something that needs to be done, you you do it. If you have a passion and a heart to meet unwed mothers' needs or veterans or homeless or another group within our community that you have a passion and a longing. You don't need the church to start a ministry. You can start that ministry as part of the church. Go and do it would be my encouragement to you because you are the church.”

Ask a question about this sermon

Boulder Mountain Community Church This sermon · AI assistant

What defines insider versus outsider in Christianity?

How does Christ remove walls between believers?

How should Christians balance cultural methods and unchanging truth?