The Purpose of Walls
Jeff Strite
Ephesians 2:4-2:16
Once upon a time, there were three little pigs.
(You’ve heard this one, haven’t you?)
The first little piggy built his house of straw, and the big bad wolf came and huffed and puffed and blew that house down.
The second piggy built his house of sticks, and the big bad wolf came and huffed and puffed and blew that house down.
But the third built his house and bricks, and the big bad wolf came and huffed and puffed and huffed and puffed and huffed and puffed and could not bring down that house…
Because he had built with the right stuff.
God has built His church.
And when God built his church, he built it with the right stuff.
But, if you were to look at the building material He used for his church, you might wonder if He’d actually used the RIGHT stuff.
When Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, he told them:
‘‘As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved.’’ Ephesians 2:1-5
Did you notice WHAT God built His church with?
That’s right - sinners!
We were dead in our sins and transgression.
We were objects of wrath.
God didn’t save us because we deserved to be saved but because He loved us.
So when God built His church, He built it with… losers.
ILLUS: In the 3rd-century there was a debate between a Pagan and a Christian,
The pagan (Celsus) declared ‘‘When most teachers go forth to teach, they cry, ‘Come to me, you who are clean and worthy,’ and they are f ...
Jeff Strite
Ephesians 2:4-2:16
Once upon a time, there were three little pigs.
(You’ve heard this one, haven’t you?)
The first little piggy built his house of straw, and the big bad wolf came and huffed and puffed and blew that house down.
The second piggy built his house of sticks, and the big bad wolf came and huffed and puffed and blew that house down.
But the third built his house and bricks, and the big bad wolf came and huffed and puffed and huffed and puffed and huffed and puffed and could not bring down that house…
Because he had built with the right stuff.
God has built His church.
And when God built his church, he built it with the right stuff.
But, if you were to look at the building material He used for his church, you might wonder if He’d actually used the RIGHT stuff.
When Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, he told them:
‘‘As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved.’’ Ephesians 2:1-5
Did you notice WHAT God built His church with?
That’s right - sinners!
We were dead in our sins and transgression.
We were objects of wrath.
God didn’t save us because we deserved to be saved but because He loved us.
So when God built His church, He built it with… losers.
ILLUS: In the 3rd-century there was a debate between a Pagan and a Christian,
The pagan (Celsus) declared ‘‘When most teachers go forth to teach, they cry, ‘Come to me, you who are clean and worthy,’ and they are f ...
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