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June 2, 2024 – lesson 40

Ephesians

Focal Verses:  Ephesians 2:11-22
One in Jesus Christ
Adversaries sometimes long for ways to come together. The writer of Ephesians proclaims that it is in Christ that we, once dead through our trespasses, are brought alive in Christ and He is the one who breaks down all dividing walls and  brings us together as one.

Keep in Mind
“In whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord.” (Ephesians 2:21, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will:  EVALUATE Paul’s explanation of Jews and Gentiles becoming on in Christ; EXPRESS pain and sorrow over the divisions within Christ’s church and joy when divisions are broken down; and BECOME acquainted with church-unifying and church-dividing issues in order to devise strategies for addressing them.

Focal Verses: Ephesians 2:11-22
¹¹ Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 
¹² that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 
¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 
¹⁵ having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 
¹⁶ and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 
¹⁷ And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 
¹⁸ For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
¹⁹ Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 
²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 
²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 
²² in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Malachi 1-4
TUESDAY:  Matthew 1-4
WEDNESDAY: Matthew 5-6
THURSDAY:  Matthew 7-8
FRIDAY: Matthew 9-10
SATURDAY: Matthew 11-12
SUNDAY:  Matthew 13-14