"Going from Far to Near" sermon questions

On March 6 Pastor Perry preached from Ephesians 2:11-13. Here are some questions for personal application.

1. Read Ephesians 2:12. Why do we find it so easy to isolate ourselves? Why do we find it easy to exclude others?

2. Read 1 Cor. 9:19-23 – How does this translate into today’s world? How can we break down the walls in our neighborhoods, work, families?

3. What are some tall barriers to reaching our friends and neighbors for Christ?

4. Israel was to be a light to the world sharing God’s love and pointing the way to Him. What happened? What is the warning from Romans 11:17-20?

5.Pastor Perry mentioned that we ought to be “funnels” for God’s blessing and not “buckets” that hoard blessing for ourselves. When is it tempting to behave like a “bucket?” What are some ways in which we can become more like funnels?

6. Pastor Perry cited two ways that we can become ineffective for Christ: an attitude of legalism and an attitude of license. He defined “legalism” as thinking that “my choices, preferences and life actions make me a better Christian than others.” In what ways have you struggled with legalism? What would you say to a legalist? (Read Eph. 1.7-8, 2.6-9, and Rom. 2.1-4)

7. “License” could be defined as living too “feely” since you know that you’ve been forgiven. In what ways have you struggled with license in your life? What would you say to someone who struggles with this? (Read 1 Cor. 6.20; Rm. 6.1-7)