Unity and Growth: The Church as God's Temple

Devotional

Day 1: Christ as the Cornerstone of Unity

The unity of the church is founded on Christ, the cornerstone, and the teachings of the apostles and prophets. This foundation is essential for the church to be a dwelling place for God, emphasizing the importance of sound doctrine and Christ-centered teaching. The cornerstone is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, and all other stones are set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure. In the same way, Christ is the cornerstone of the church, providing the essential reference point for all believers. This foundation ensures that the church remains aligned with God's purposes and is a place where His presence can dwell. [01:37]

Ephesians 2:20-21 (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."

Reflection: In what ways can you ensure that Christ remains the cornerstone of your life, guiding your decisions and actions today?

Day 2: The Church as a Living Temple

The church is a living temple, growing and being built together in Christ. This growth is both structural and organic, highlighting the dynamic nature of the church as a community of believers. The imagery of a living temple suggests that the church is not a static institution but a vibrant, evolving community. As believers, we are called to contribute to this growth by using our spiritual gifts and fostering relationships within the church. This dynamic growth reflects the life-giving presence of Christ, who empowers and sustains the church. [05:02]

1 Peter 2:4-5 (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."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in the growth of your church community, using your unique gifts and talents?

Day 3: Unity Beyond Ethnic and Cultural Divisions

Unity in the church transcends ethnic and cultural divisions. In Christ, all believers are brought together into one body, emphasizing the inclusivity and diversity of the church. This unity is a powerful testimony to the reconciling work of Christ, who has broken down the barriers that once separated people. The church is called to be a place where all are welcome, regardless of their background, and where diversity is celebrated as a reflection of God's creativity and love. [04:05]

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: Is there someone from a different background or culture in your church whom you can reach out to and build a relationship with this week?

Day 4: Experiencing God in Community

The corporate experience of God's presence in the church is unique and cannot be replicated in isolation. It is in the community of believers that God is most fully experienced, as each part contributes to the whole. The church is a place where believers can encounter God's presence in a powerful way, through worship, fellowship, and the sharing of spiritual gifts. This communal experience is essential for spiritual growth and transformation, as it provides opportunities for encouragement, accountability, and mutual support. [10:08]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: How can you prioritize and deepen your involvement in your church community to experience God's presence more fully?

Day 5: The Church as a Foretaste of God's Eternal Dwelling

The church, as a dwelling place for God, is a foretaste of the ultimate reality of God's presence with His people, as seen in Revelation 21. This vision of the church as a temple points to the future hope of God's eternal dwelling with humanity. The church is a glimpse of what is to come, where God's presence will be fully realized, and His people will dwell with Him forever. This future hope inspires believers to live with purpose and anticipation, knowing that their lives are part of a greater story that God is unfolding. [11:43]

Revelation 21:3-4 (ESV): "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'"

Reflection: How does the hope of God's eternal dwelling with His people influence the way you live your life today?

Sermon Summary

In Ephesians 2:19-22, Paul presents a profound vision of unity and reconciliation through Christ. Gentiles, once strangers and aliens to the covenants of Israel, are now fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household. This transformation is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. The imagery shifts to a temple, symbolizing the church, where believers are joined together, growing into a holy temple in the Lord. This growth is not just structural but organic, akin to a living body or plant, emphasizing the dynamic and interconnected nature of the church.

Paul's metaphor of the church as a building that grows highlights the unity and diversity within the body of Christ. The church is not divided by ethnicity or background; rather, it is a unified dwelling place for God, where all believers, regardless of their heritage, are brought together. This unity is made possible through Christ, who has removed the dividing wall of hostility, creating one new humanity. The church, therefore, is a living temple, a place where God's presence dwells among His people.

The passage underscores the importance of being joined together in Christ. It is through this connection that the church grows and functions as a dwelling place for God. The unity of the church is not just a theological concept but a lived reality, where believers are called to relate to one another in love, using their spiritual gifts to build each other up. This corporate experience of God's presence is unique and cannot be replicated in isolation. It is in the community of believers that God is most fully experienced, as each part contributes to the whole.

Key Takeaways

1. The unity of the church is founded on Christ, the cornerstone, and the teachings of the apostles and prophets. This foundation is essential for the church to be a dwelling place for God, emphasizing the importance of sound doctrine and Christ-centered teaching. [01:37]
2. The church is a living temple, growing and being built together in Christ. This growth is both structural and organic, highlighting the dynamic nature of the church as a community of believers. [05:02]
3. Unity in the church transcends ethnic and cultural divisions. In Christ, all believers are brought together into one body, emphasizing the inclusivity and diversity of the church. [04:05]
4. The corporate experience of God's presence in the church is unique and cannot be replicated in isolation. It is in the community of believers that God is most fully experienced, as each part contributes to the whole. [10:08]
5. The church, as a dwelling place for God, is a foretaste of the ultimate reality of God's presence with His people, as seen in Revelation 21. This vision of the church as a temple points to the future hope of God's eternal dwelling with humanity. [11:43]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - Introduction to Ephesians 2:19-22
[00:35] - Gentiles as Fellow Citizens
[00:52] - Members of God's Household
[01:10] - Foundation of Apostles and Prophets
[01:37] - Christ as the Cornerstone
[02:06] - Unity in the Temple
[02:31] - The Church as a Growing Temple
[03:04] - Togetherness in Christ
[03:47] - One Building, One Temple
[04:47] - Mixed Metaphors: Growth and Building
[05:42] - Christ as the Agent of Growth
[06:16] - Joined and Held Together
[07:21] - Growth Through Connection
[08:10] - Essential Union with Christ
[09:10] - Corporate and Individual Temples
[10:08] - Experiencing God in Community
[11:43] - Foretaste of God's Eternal Dwelling
[12:41] - Conclusion: Built Together for God

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:19-22
- 1 Corinthians 6:18-20
- Revelation 21:3

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Observation Questions:

What does Paul mean when he refers to Gentiles as "fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household"? How does this change their status? [00:35]
How does Paul describe the foundation of the church, and what role does Christ play in this foundation? [01:37]
What metaphors does Paul use to describe the church, and how do these metaphors illustrate the nature of the church? [04:47]
How does Paul emphasize the unity of the church in Ephesians 2:19-22, and what imagery does he use to convey this message? [03:47]

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Interpretation Questions:

In what ways does the metaphor of the church as a "living temple" challenge or expand our understanding of what it means to be part of a church community? [05:02]
How does the removal of the "dividing wall of hostility" through Christ impact the relationships between different ethnic and cultural groups within the church? [03:32]
What does it mean for the church to be a "dwelling place for God," and how does this concept influence the way believers should interact with one another? [08:48]
How does the vision of the church as a foretaste of God's eternal dwelling with humanity, as seen in Revelation 21, shape our hope and expectations for the future? [11:43]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your own church experience. How have you seen the unity and diversity of the church lived out in your community? Are there areas where you feel this could be improved? [04:05]
Consider the metaphor of the church as a "living temple." How can you contribute to the growth and health of your church community, both structurally and organically? [05:02]
In what ways can you actively work to remove any "dividing walls" in your own life that may hinder unity within your church or community? [03:32]
How can you use your spiritual gifts to build up others in your church, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose? [10:26]
Reflect on the idea that the corporate experience of God's presence is unique and cannot be replicated in isolation. How can you prioritize community in your spiritual life? [10:08]
How does the vision of the church as a foretaste of God's eternal dwelling inspire you to live out your faith in the present? What practical steps can you take to align your life with this vision? [11:43]
Think about a specific relationship within your church that could benefit from reconciliation or deeper connection. What steps can you take this week to foster unity in that relationship? [03:47]

Sermon Clips

Paul now says you gentiles are no longer strangers and aliens meaning strangers to the covenants of promised made to israel no longer aliens from the commonwealth of israel but now you are fellow citizens with all the rest of the christians the saints in the fellowship of the redeemed remnant of the children of abraham and members of the household of god. [00:00:23]

In whom that is in jesus christ the cornerstone in him the whole building being joined together grows into a holy temple in the lord so the building is becoming temple in the lord in whom so here in whom here in the lord here in whom paul just cannot say enough in christ's because it's all owing to our union and our connection with him. [00:02:09]

Jew and gentile amazingly are no longer split up by this dividing wall created by the law and all of the impossibility of getting to god but now a new way to god a new way of reconciliation with god together has removed that dividing wall and we are one and so here he's stressing that this building now he's picturing the church as a as a building. [00:03:21]

This building this temple this dwelling place is together together so there's not a building for jews and a building for gentiles it's certainly not a building for whites and blacks and hispanic and asian and arab all those kinds of gentiles are brought together with the jews into one building one temple one dwelling place so that's one clear stress in these verses. [00:03:50]

It grows like a body and a plant and it's built like a building because bodies and plants have one truth to communicate about the process and buildings have another truth to communicate about the process so whenever you see something like this don't say oh paul got confused he didn't get confused he means for us to pause and let our minds run through the implications of growing like a tree. [00:04:58]

Christ is the agent of the growth in him the building grows and it grows being joined together meaning it's not simply flowing directly from christ to some finished product it's flowing from christ through connectedness of of bricks branches with each other we see this confirmed over in chapter four where he says this speaking the truth in love we are to grow. [00:05:38]

It's the joining together of all the parts by which the growth happens it's not so christ and then a finished product is christ in all the parts in between we are growing into a temple in the lord by the way we are fitted together and functioning together i'm not sure why i'm gonna guess why he begins with in whom and ends within the lord it's like repetition isn't it. [00:07:17]

This in whom means to stress the source power of the growth and this in the lord is meant to define the fact that there can be no even conceivable possibility that god almighty the pure infinitely holy god could temple with us except through our connection with the lord so i think he's underlining the absolute essential union with christ for us to be a place where god can dwell as the temple. [00:08:00]

There is a unique experience of the dwelling of god in the corporate reality of the church as we are joined together and built together when each part is relating to the other parts by the spirit with all the spiritual gifts and all the spiritual graces enabling us to flow into one another's lives with all the love and joy and peace and helpfulness that he intends for the parts of the body to have. [00:10:08]

God is experienced in a way he he has not experienced any other way than in that corporate reality and it becomes all the more beautiful when we realize how diverse that building really is here's a picture of it over in second corinthians 6 16. what agreement has the temple of god with idols for we are the temple of the living god this is the reality of ephesians 2 22. [00:10:46]

Behold the dwelling place of god is with man he will dwell with them and they will be his people and god himself will be with them as their god so in conclusion in whom christ the whole building the church as it is knit together by the spirit by the spirit grows from him the head into a holy temple in the lord only by union with the lord can we hope to have god this near to us and among us. [00:11:48]

In the lord you are being built together into a dwelling place for god that's the meaning of the word temple dwelling place of god by the spirit so the text ends on the presence of god among this new people the new israel jew and gentile built together into a temple for his pleasant fellowship with us. [00:12:39]

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Unity and Growth: The Church as God's Temple

Devotional

Day 1: Christ as the Cornerstone of Unity

Day 2: The Church as a Living Temple

Day 3: Unity Beyond Ethnic and Cultural Divisions

Day 4: Experiencing God in Community

Day 5: The Church as a Foretaste of God's Eternal Dwelling

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Unity and Growth: The Church as God's Temple

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