Week 4 | Friday
Friday – The Church
Written by Joshua Lester (Pickerington Campus)
Ephesians 2:19-22
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
Have you ever tried to build something on your own? Just recently, I built a deck behind my house. For every board that I cut, it had to be carefully measured and precisely cut. One board too long or too short could have thrown the entire structure off. That process gave me a clear picture of what Paul is showing us in Ephesians 2:19-22. God is building something beautiful, and every piece matters.
What God is building is the Church. Not a church building or physical structure, but a Church: an ekklesia. This is a Greek word used throughout the New Testament to describe a group of people who are called out to call out the Kingdom of God. That’s what the Church is. And here’s the stunning part: you and I are the materials God is using. Ordinary people are being joined together into something extraordinary. Paul says this Church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, but the cornerstone, the one who holds it all together, is Jesus Christ.
This means three things:
- The Church is beautifully and purposefully arranged by God.
- The Church is a dwelling place where God lives right now.
- The Church is holy, set apart for God’s purposes in the world.
And the best part? God doesn’t make mistakes in what He builds. You’re not a leftover board. You’re not miscut or misplaced. You are intentionally part of God’s design for His Church
Reflection Questions:
- What does it mean to you that God chose to build His Church using people like you?
- Have you ever felt like you didn’t “fit” in God’s plan? How does knowing Jesus is the cornerstone change that?
- Are you a part of the church, or do you just attend church?
- What’s one way you can contribute to building up the Church this week with your time, talents, and treasure?
Prayer Prompt:
“God, thank You for calling us out and building us together. Help us, the Church, see our value, our place, and Your purpose in forming us into something beautiful.”