Welcome to Week Three of our Ephesians for Families Bible Study: United in Christ. Last week Paul showed us that God makes us alive in Christ by His grace. This week, Paul shows us how Jesus brings peace and unity, tearing down walls that once divided people and making us one family in God’s household. If you are just joining us, Week 1 covers Paul’s background and why he wrote this letter.
Note for Parents: Read the Bible passage and the devotional thoughts on your own first, and feel free to highlight and make notes as you go. Then gather your family for the questions, activity, and prayer.
Bible Focus
Read the whole passage out loud if your kids are ready. With younger kids, read verses 13-14 and 19-20, and use your notes from the devotional thoughts to explain the rest.
Bible Passage: 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.
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.
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.”
Devotional Thoughts
Big Idea: Jesus’ gift of salvation brings us peace with God and brings us into God’s family.
Paul continues his excellent explanation of the gospel in this passage. In the first half of chapter 2, which we studied last week, Paul shows how God takes us from dead in sin to alive in Christ. Verse 11 begins a new thought. This salvation reconciles us to God and reconciles us to one another. The cross tears down barriers and unites us as one family of God’s people.
Before Jesus: Separated and Without Hope
It’s good to remember what our lives would look like apart from Jesus’ redeeming work, and Paul reminds the Gentile believers in Ephesians of exactly that. Before Jesus, they stood outside God’s people, the Israelites. They had no hope and no relationship with God. These verses highlight a truth for all of us: everyone who lives apart from Jesus’ redeeming work is far away from God.
In Christ: Brought Near and Made One
The good news arrives in verse 13. In Christ Jesus, the blood of Christ brings near the people who once stood far off.
The cross changes everything. Jesus is our peace. He brings peace where a wall of hostility once separated us from God and from God’s people. Jesus removed the wall that divided Jews and Gentiles. These verses give us a picture of reconciliation centered on the gospel. No one has to stand on the outside looking in anymore. Jesus’ work and the work of the Holy Spirit give all of us access to the Father.
A New Identity
Followers of Jesus have a brand new identity. We no longer live as strangers and aliens. We are fellow citizens with God’s people and members of His household. We make up a spiritual temple that rests on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Himself is the cornerstone, the most important part of the structure, and He holds everything together.
Family Questions
These questions are meant to start a real conversation. Feel free to reword them for younger kids, let older ones sit with the harder ones a little longer, and give everyone room to ask their own questions.
What does Paul say Jesus did for people who were far away?
How does Jesus make peace between people?
What does it mean to be part of God’s household (family)?
How can we live like one family in Christ this week?
Family Life Application: The Wall and the Cross
Gather a few building blocks (LEGO, Duplo, or Jenga work well) or use stacks of paper or books. Work together as a family to stack the blocks into a wall. Talk about how walls separate people, just as sin and our differences can separate us.
Then remove the blocks one at a time. As you take each one away, say something Jesus did to bring peace, such as Jesus forgives our sins, Jesus loves everyone, and Jesus makes us one family. When the wall is gone, place a cross in the center. You can draw one quickly or build one out of blocks. Then say together: Jesus tore down the wall and brought us together as one family in Him.
Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for bringing us into Your family through Jesus. Thank You that He is our peace and our cornerstone. Help us live together in love, remembering that we are all one family in Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Explore More Ephesians Bible Studies
Week 4 – Mystery of the Gospel
Week 8 – Put On the Armor of God
Discipleship Cliff Bible Studies Hub
Continue Your Discipleship Journey
Bible study is one way to point your kids to Jesus. For simple ways to do it in the middle of an ordinary day, read Everyday Ways to Point Your Kids to Jesus. Looking for more Bible studies, devotionals, and practical tools? Browse Family Resources at Discipleship Cliff.
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