Unity in Christ: Breaking Down Barriers Together

Devotional

Day 1: Christ Tears Down the Walls That Divide Us

In a world marked by deep divisions—whether political, racial, generational, or economic—Jesus offers a radically different vision for community. Through His sacrifice, He dismantled the barriers that once separated people, both from God and from each other. No longer do we need to let our differences define us or keep us apart; instead, we are invited to experience true unity and belonging as part of God’s family. The cross is the great equalizer, reminding us that all are welcome and all are in need of grace. [06:02]

Ephesians 2:13-16 (ESV)
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 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.

Reflection: What is one barrier—whether of attitude, tradition, or preference—that you have built up between yourself and others? How can you take a step today to tear it down in the name of Christ’s unity?

Day 2: We All Have Direct Access to God

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the old system of separation is gone. The tearing of the temple veil symbolizes that every believer now has direct access to God—no intermediaries required. This access is not based on our background, performance, or religious pedigree, but solely on what Christ has accomplished. You are invited to approach God boldly, knowing that nothing stands between you and His presence. [16:31]

Matthew 27:51 (ESV)
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

Reflection: When was the last time you approached God with confidence, knowing you have direct access to Him? What keeps you from coming to Him freely, and how can you embrace this privilege today?

Day 3: The Cross Brings True Peace and Reconciliation

Jesus didn’t just make peace; He is our peace. Through His death, He reconciled people who were once hostile toward each other, making it possible for us to live in genuine harmony. The cross puts to death our hostility and self-righteousness, calling us to a new way of relating—one marked by forgiveness, humility, and love. In Christ, both the “rebel” and the “religious” find themselves equally in need of grace and equally welcomed. [25:02]

Ephesians 2:17-18 (ESV)
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.

Reflection: Is there someone you view as an “outsider” or fundamentally different from you? How can you seek reconciliation and peace with them, following the example of Christ?

Day 4: We Are One Family in Christ

No matter your background, ethnicity, or past, you are invited to belong to God’s family. In Christ, you are no longer a stranger or outsider—you are a citizen, a member of God’s household, and a living stone in His temple. This new identity brings safety, belonging, and a sense of purpose. You have a seat at the table, and you are called to extend that same welcome to others, living out the reality that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. [33:02]

Ephesians 2:19-22 (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, 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: Who in your church or community might feel like an outsider? What is one practical way you can help them feel like they truly belong in God’s family?

Day 5: United in Christ for a Greater Purpose

The mystery revealed in Christ is that all who believe—regardless of background—share equally in God’s promises and blessings. We are called to focus on what unites us, not what divides us, and to work together for the cause of Christ. This unity is not just for our benefit, but so that the world may see the love and hope of Jesus through us. As members of God’s family, we are invited to live differently, to resist building new walls, and to be agents of reconciliation and transformation in our world. [34:57]

Ephesians 3:6 (ESV)
This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Reflection: What is one way you can actively pursue unity with other believers this week, especially those who are different from you, so that together you can reflect Christ’s love to the world?

Sermon Summary

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, grandmas, and spiritual mentors who pour out Christ’s love in everyday life. Today is a reminder that we all long for connection, appreciation, and belonging—a longing that is ultimately fulfilled in the family God creates through Jesus. As we continue in Ephesians, we see that God’s vision for His people is radically different from the divided world we live in. Our culture is marked by deep divisions—political, racial, generational, economic, and ideological. But this is not new; even in Paul’s day, society was fractured by walls of ethnicity, religion, and status. Yet, the gospel proclaims that in Christ, those walls are torn down.

Paul writes to a diverse church in Ephesus, reminding Gentiles that they were once outsiders, excluded from God’s promises. The temple itself was built to reinforce separation, with literal walls keeping people apart. But Jesus, through His death, broke down every barrier—between us and God, and between each other. The tearing of the temple veil at Christ’s crucifixion signified that all now have direct access to God. No longer do we need intermediaries or rituals to draw near; Jesus is our peace, reconciling us to God and to one another.

This unity is not just theoretical. It’s a call to live differently, to resist the world’s urge to build new walls—whether through pride, prejudice, or legalism. The cross brings together people from every background, making us one family. In Christ, our identity is no longer defined by our past, our politics, or our pedigree, but by our belonging to God’s household. This new family offers safety, identity, and belonging. We are citizens of a new kingdom, members of God’s household, and living stones in His temple.

The mystery revealed in Christ is that all who believe—Jew or Gentile, near or far—share equally in God’s promises. The church is called to embody this unity, to be a witness to the world of God’s reconciling love. We must focus on what unites us in Christ, not on secondary differences. The invitation is open: to join this family, to lay down our walls, and to live as one in Christ, showing the world a new way of being human together.

Key Takeaways

1. The world’s divisions are not new, but the gospel offers a radical alternative. In Christ, the walls that separate us—whether social, racial, or religious—are torn down. The church is called to be a living demonstration that unity is possible, not by ignoring differences, but by finding our deepest identity in Jesus. [06:02]
2. The tearing of the temple veil at Christ’s death is more than a symbol; it is the reality that every believer now has direct access to God. No one is an outsider in God’s family. This access is not earned by effort or heritage, but is a gift of grace, inviting us to approach God with confidence and humility. [16:31]
3. The cross not only reconciles us to God but also to each other. Hostility and suspicion are put to death in Christ, making peace possible where there was once enmity. The church must resist the temptation to rebuild walls—whether through legalism, prejudice, or pride—and instead be a place where all are welcomed and transformed. [19:43]
4. Our new identity in Christ redefines our sense of belonging. No longer strangers or outsiders, we are citizens, family members, and living stones in God’s temple. This belonging brings safety, shapes our identity, and gives us a seat at the table—reminding us that the church is not a club for the like-minded, but a home for the reconciled. [33:02]
5. The mystery of the gospel is that all who believe—regardless of background—share equally in God’s promises. The church’s unity is not uniformity, but a Spirit-empowered oneness that transcends secondary differences. Our witness to the world depends on living out this unity, showing that in Christ, reconciliation is not just possible, but real. [34:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Honoring Mothers and Spiritual Mentors
[02:30] - Longing for Connection and Belonging
[03:45] - Introducing Ephesians and Today’s Theme
[04:29] - The Reality of Division in Our World
[06:02] - Paul’s Radical Message of Unity
[07:11] - Gentiles as Outsiders: The Temple’s Dividing Walls
[12:00] - Division in Today’s Society and the Church
[16:31] - Christ Tears Down the Barriers
[19:43] - The Cross Dismantles Every Wall
[23:20] - The Cross Cancels Our Debt and Unites Us
[26:04] - Living as One Family: The “Get Along Shirt”
[28:24] - No Longer Strangers: Our New Identity
[33:02] - The Privileges of God’s Family
[34:57] - The Mystery Revealed: All Are Included
[38:00] - Living Out Unity in a Divided World
[42:36] - Invitation to Join God’s Family and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ephesians 2:11-22 — (Paul explains how Christ has broken down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles, making one new humanity and giving all believers access to God.)

- Matthew 27:51
(“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom…”—symbolizing direct access to God through Jesus.)

- Galatians 3:28
(“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”)

Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 2:11-13, what was the status of Gentiles before Christ, and what changed because of Jesus?
What physical structures in the temple symbolized separation between people and God, and how did Jesus’ death change that?
In Ephesians 2:19-22, what three images does Paul use to describe the new identity of believers in Christ?
What does Galatians 3:28 say about the differences that used to divide people?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul spends so much time reminding Gentile believers that they were once outsiders? How might that shape their attitude toward others?
The sermon mentions that the tearing of the temple veil means we have direct access to God. How does this change the way believers relate to God and to each other?
The pastor said, “If Jesus spent his life and his death tearing down walls, why are we so bent on creating new ones?” What are some modern “walls” that Christians might build, even unintentionally?
Paul describes the church as a family, a household, and a temple. What do these metaphors teach us about how we should treat one another in the church?

Application Questions

The world is deeply divided along lines of race, politics, economics, and more. Where do you see these divisions most clearly in your own life or community? How have you seen them affect relationships—even in the church?
The sermon challenged us not to rebuild walls of pride, prejudice, or legalism. Are there any attitudes or habits in your life that might be keeping others at a distance—especially those who are different from you? What would it look like to lay those down?
The pastor described the church as a place where “all are welcomed and transformed.” Is there someone you know who might feel like an outsider in church? What is one practical step you could take this week to help them feel included?
Paul says our identity is now found in Christ, not in our background, politics, or family. Are there old labels or sources of identity you still cling to? How might letting go of those change the way you see yourself and others?
The sermon mentioned that being part of God’s family brings safety, identity, and belonging. Which of these do you most need right now? How can your small group help provide that for each other?
The “mystery” of the gospel is that all who believe—regardless of background—share equally in God’s promises. How can our group better reflect this unity in Christ, especially when we disagree on secondary issues?
The invitation is open to join God’s family and live as one in Christ. If you have not yet made that decision, what questions or barriers are holding you back? If you have, what is one way you can invite others into this family this week?

Sermon Clips

We live in this world that is so deeply divided, and I'm here to tell you that that's not something new. We look in biblical times, and we see that there were a lot of cultural and religious walls that were built up that separated people. And you look in Paul's day, there were ethnic, there were cultural, there were religious boundaries that shaped how people looked at each other and how they saw each other and how they treated each other. [00:05:07] (29 seconds) Edit Clip

Christ tears down the walls that divides us that divide us I love this as we keep going Paul makes this beautiful shift he's kind of said this is what he's already said for you Gentiles you were separated you were unclean you were in a mess you you didn't have access but now listen to this but now verse 13 you have been united with Christ Jesus once you were far away from God but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. [00:14:04] (34 seconds) Edit Clip

When the veil was torn, what it signified is now we have direct access to the God who created us. The sacrificial system was, in effect, we didn't need it any longer because Jesus was our final sacrifice for our sins, and so when we look at this, the barrier that kept people away from God was torn down, showing that we can go to God directly, and that wasn't the only barrier that Jesus tore down. [00:17:31] (35 seconds) Edit Clip

We are called to live differently because we are the church. And I'm just telling you, right? We live, Galax is this very unique place. We live in a very diverse city, very diverse for Appalachia, right? And so a lot of the issues we see are ethnic problems, racial problems, because we don't get along. Let's just be honest, right? There's prejudices, there's these beliefs, there's things that have been, you know, passed down from generation to generation. And we as the church have to stand up and say, we're called to live differently. We're called to be different. [00:27:16] (36 seconds) Edit Clip

And this is God's plan both Gentiles and Jews who believe the good news who believe the gospel share equally in the riches inherited by God's children both are part of the same body and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. [00:36:45] (18 seconds) Edit Clip

Jesus didn't he didn't die to create spectators he died to create sons and daughters brothers and sisters citizens and saints who are working together for the kingdom of god he came to bring us make us united through peace and through the cross so that we can be effective evangelist so we can go out into the world and make disciples and teach people what it looks like to follow after jesus with all of our heart soul mind and strength this is the new type of community this is a new type of family that he's inviting us to be part of and and i want to invite you to be part of that as well. [00:40:19] (37 seconds) Edit Clip

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