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Community as a Reflection of Humanity // Revelation 5:9-10

The church as a community is designed to be a reflection of God’s most treasured creation and possession – humanity. From every tribe, language, people, and nation, the church glorifies God when it reflects the diversity of humanity. It’s the promise of the eternal Kingdom and the present reality we seek to create in Christ Jesus as adopted children of God who belong in His community – the church.

Additional resources mentioned in today’s podcast:
Ephesiology Podcast: Episode 20, The Movement and Ethnic Diversity
Ephesiology Podcast: Episode 21, The Movement and Ethnic Diversity (Part 2)
White Awake by Daniel Hill

Community as a Reflection of Humanity // Revelation 5:9-10 // October 1, 2019

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Community as Family // Mark 3:31-35

Community, like family, shapes our sense of belonging and identity. The story of God’s restorative work is through community that behaves as a tight-knit family: as the true family of God. So how do we learn to be an earthly family that inspires and shapes one another to find our belonging and identity in God’s eternal family? That’s the focus of this week’s podcast and part of our series, “Defining Community: Restoring Life with God and Others”.

Community as Family // Mark 3:31-35 // September 24, 2019
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One Family // Ephesians 5:21-6:9

The gospel brings dignity, worth, and purpose to everyone, starting with our closest relationships: our family and church community. To imitate God and walk in the example of Christ is to mutually serve and sacrifice for one another out of love.

For a more in-depth discussion on the issues surrounding Ephesians 5:21-33, listen to our podcast episode on Authority, Headship, and Gender Roles.

Questions for Discussion:

  1. Read Ephesians 5:21-6:9 through the lens of “mutual submission” that seeks to love and dignify others as valued children of God. What stands out to you in the passage?
  2. By understanding this passage as a means of living out the gospel in your family, church, and as a witness of God’s grace to the world, what are the implications for you personally that you need to change in order to follow the ways of Jesus?
  3. What can we learn by Paul’s approach to applying the gospel to his cultural context? How can we do the same? Provide a real-life example.
One Family // Ephesians 5:21-6:9 // May 27, 2019
[VIDEO]  One Family // Ephesians 5:21-6:9
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One Example // Ephesians 4:17-5:20

Imagine if the church saw its primary job to model, pass on, and point to Jesus Christ “in everything” it does. What might the church look like, do, and reproduce?

Our ultimate loyalties, core beliefs, and fundamental values are shaped by those who we respect, follow, and imitate in this life. So if the very heart of our “oneness” in God, the hope of our restored humanity, and the promise of new life and salvation is contingent on following Jesus, shouldn’t we as believers reflect our One example? The call of the Christian is this: When we follow the ways of Jesus, we reproduce Jesus.

Questions for Reflection:

  1. Prayerfully evaluate your life based on Ephesians 4:17-5:20. What is needed to ensure that you are modeling your life after Jesus?
  2. How should a vision of modeling, passing on, and reproducing the ways of Jesus transform Christian community and the church?
One Example // Ephesians 4:17-5:20 // May 20, 2019
[VIDEO]  One Example // Ephesians 4:17-5:20
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One Body // Ephesians 4:1-16

The church today continues to struggle with the concept and practice of true unity and oneness in Christ. Contextual distinctions aside, with our churches divided socially, racially, and theologically, how will the world know the true witness of Christ – the union of all things in Him for the glory of His name and the salvation of His people? As we learn in this message, the measure of our spiritual unity determines the true health and maturity of the church.

Questions for Reflection:

  1. If you were to make a list of what determined a “healthy & mature” church, what would have been on that list?
  2. How does “spiritual unity” change your understanding and role of the church?
  3. Based on the list in Ephesians 4:11, what do you think your spiritual gift contribution might be in the body of Christ?
One Body // Ephesians 4:1-16 // May 13, 2019
[VIDEO]  One Body // Ephesians 4:1-16
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One Spirit // Ephesians 3:14-22

So who is the Holy Spirit and what’s His role in the unification of the church? This week we learn that just as Jesus Christ is the ‘head’ of the body (the church), the Spirit is the supernatural force that holds it all together. In other words, the Holy Spirit is the very power to our Oneness.

Questions for Reflection:

  1. What crowds out or invades your relationship with the Holy Spirit? What might you need to change in order to prioritize that relationship?
  2. How do you see yourself as a member of the church contributing to the greater unity of the body of Christ and fulfilling the will of God?
One Spirit // Ephesians 3:14-22 // May 6, 2019
[VIDEO]  One Spirit // Ephesians 3:14-22
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Headship, Authority, and Gender Roles

On this special edition of the Restoration Church Podcast, we’ll be looking at the issues surrounding headship, authority, and gender roles as taught in the New Testament. This is a supplemental study to our current series, “ONE”, where we are learning from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

In this episode, Matt has a conversation with an active member of Restoration Church, Dave Leigh. Dave is a retired pastor, author and writer, who holds an MA in Theological Studies from Wheaton College. He has served in a number of house churches and legacy churches, and is along-time advocate of biblical equality in the church, family and society. He lives in the Chicago suburbs with his lovely wife, Dana, and is a proud “grampy” to three amazing grandchilden.

Headship, Authority, and Gender Roles // April 25, 2019
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One New Humanity // Ephesians 2:11-3:13

God’s plan is to unite and restore everyone, everywhere back to Himself, and it’s His intention to use the church to display that plan. But will we join Him?

Questions for Reflection:

  1. Where has the church failed to demonstrate this vision of a restored and unified humanity in Christ?
  2. How can the church move forward in living out its calling and purpose?
  3. What do you believe your role should be in participating in God’s plan to unite and restore everyone, everywhere back to Him?
One New Humanity // Ephesians 2:11-3:13 // April 22, 2019
[VIDEO]  One New Humanity // Ephesians 2:11-3:13
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One Lord // Ephesians 1:15-23

This week we uncover the story of an unstoppable movement grounded in love and its sovereign leader who’s head can’t be severed. This isn’t the tagline for a new movie about a geopolitical uprising, but the very real Kingdom of God and its King who we joyfully serve.

Reflection Questions:

  1. What helped you?
  2. What challenged you?
  3. What implications does this teaching have on my life?
One Lord // Ephesians 1:15-23 // April 3, 2019
[VIDEO] One Lord // Ephesians 1:15-23