Live_2025-11-16_1115am.docx

of the Sermon:**

Today’s sermon, “Jesus is the Cornerstone,” explored the profound truth that Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which God is building His new people—the Church. We began by recalling our former alienation from God, separated by sin, by the law, and by the walls humanity has built—whether racial, gender-based, or denominational. Through Christ, God tore down every dividing wall, reconciling both Jew and Gentile, and forming one new family by His grace. Jesus didn’t just bring us peace; He is our peace, bridging the chasm between us and God through the cross. Now, as fellow citizens and members of God’s household, we have direct access to the Father, a privilege too often neglected. The call is to live as one family, anchored on Christ the Cornerstone, refusing to rebuild the walls that grace has already demolished.

**K

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The Walls We Build, God Destroys: Humanity is skilled at building walls—of race, gender, denomination, and self-righteousness. But God, in Christ, has decisively torn down every barrier that separates us from Him and from each other. The cross is not just a symbol of forgiveness, but of radical inclusion, where all are invited to draw near. We must be vigilant not to reconstruct the walls that grace has already demolished, whether in our hearts or in our communities.
• 2. Peace Is a Person, Not a Feeling: Jesus doesn’t merely offer us peace as a gift; He Himself is our peace. True reconciliation with God and with others is not found in religious rituals or moral striving, but in a living relationship with Christ. When chaos or division creeps back into our lives, the answer is not to try harder, but to return to the Person who is our peace, letting Him anchor our hearts and relationships.
• 3. The Cross Is the Only Bridge: No amount of good works, religious heritage, or personal effort can span the chasm between us and God. The cross of Christ is God’s bridge—solid, sufficient, and available to all. Our task is not to build our own way to God, but to trust the bridge He has already provided, humbly receiving the reconciliation offered through Jesus.
• 4. Prayer Is a Privilege, Not a Chore: Because of Christ, we have direct access to the Father by the Spirit—a privilege that should astound us. Yet, we often neglect this access, treating prayer as a last resort or a rote obligation. The God who sustains the universe invites us to bring our needs, our fears, and our hopes to Him. Let us not squander this privilege, but cultivate a life of real, honest, and expectant prayer.
• 5. Live as One Family, Not as Competitors: In Christ, there is no room for rivalry, prejudice, or exclusion. The church is not a club for the like-minded, but a blood-bought family where every member comes the same way—by grace. Our unity is not in our sameness, but in our shared foundation: Jesus, the Cornerstone. Let us live out this unity, embracing one another across every line the world draws, and showing the world what the family of God truly looks like.

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Jesus is the Cornerstone"**

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### Bible Reading

**Ephesians 2:14-22 (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. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 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.

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### Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 2:14-16, what specific barriers did Jesus break down between people and between people and God?
2. In the sermon, what examples were given of the “walls” that separated people in the temple during Jesus’ time?
3. What does Paul say is the foundation and cornerstone of the church in Ephesians 2:20?
4. How does the passage describe our new identity and relationship with God because of Jesus?

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon described Jesus as not just bringing peace, but being our peace. What does it mean for Jesus to be our peace, rather than just giving us peaceful feelings or circumstances?
2. The dividing walls mentioned in the passage and sermon included race, gender, and denomination. Why do you think Paul (and the pastor) emphasize that these walls have no place in the church?
3. The sermon said that prayer is a privilege, not a chore, and that we often neglect it. Why do you think Christians sometimes treat prayer as a last resort or obligation instead of a privilege?
4. The cross is described as the only bridge to God. What are some ways people try to build their own bridges to God, and why are these attempts insufficient according to the passage and sermon?

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### Application Questions

1. The pastor warned against rebuilding walls that Jesus has already torn down. Are there any “walls” (like prejudice, rivalry, or unforgiveness) in your own heart or in our church community that need to come down? What would it look like to let Jesus tear them down?
2. When chaos or division creeps into your life, do you tend to try harder to fix things yourself, or do you return to Jesus as your peace? Can you share a recent example, and what might it look like to let Jesus anchor your heart in those moments?
3. The sermon talked about the privilege of prayer and how easy it is to neglect it. What keeps you from praying honestly and expectantly? Is there a specific step you can take this week to make prayer a more central part of your daily life?
4. The church is described as a family, not a club for the like-minded. Are there people in our church or in your life that you find hard to accept or include? What is one practical way you can reach out to someone different from you this week?
5. The pastor said our unity is not in our sameness, but in our shared foundation—Jesus. How can we celebrate our differences while still living as one family? Can you think of a time when you saw this kind of unity in action?
6. The cross is the only bridge to God, not our good works or religious background. Are there ways you still try to “earn” God’s acceptance or compare yourself to others? How can you remind yourself to trust in what Jesus has already done?
7. The sermon mentioned that everyone comes to Jesus the same way—by grace. How does this truth affect the way you view yourself and others in the church? Is there someone you need to forgive or welcome because of this?

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