In this season of studying Ephesians together, Pastor Jackson is leading us deeper into the heart of Paul’s message—a message rooted in the life-changing encounter Paul had with Jesus in Acts 9. That moment shaped everything about Paul’s ministry, and it echoes throughout Ephesians as a call to live in the grace and power of Christ. As we meditate on Ephesians 3:6, we see how the Gospel reshapes our identity as co-heirs, members of one body, and partakers in the promise—realities that are meant to shape how we live today. To call ourselves “prisoners of Christ Jesus” (Eph. 3:1) is to understand that victory in God’s kingdom is found not in the absence of suffering but in the midst of it. Reading 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 alongside Ephesians 3 challenges us to resist the world’s obsession with strength and success, instead embracing the path of weakness and humility where God’s grace is most evident. Do we truly grasp the boundless riches of Christ given to us through grace? As a church, we are invited to experience these riches in everyday life—through shared meals, time in nature, rest, quiet reflection, and the simple, slow way of Jesus. These practices open our eyes to the goodness of God and help us live as a people marked by grace.

1. Read Paul’s revelation of Jesus from Acts 9, how did this encounter shape his entire ministry and specifically the letter of Ephesians?

2. Take some time this week to meditate on Ephesians 3:6. How do these identity markers play out in our lives today? What does this verse mean for our understanding of what the Gospel is?

3. Do we consider ourselves “prisoners of Christ Jesus”? How does knowing that "the victory of God is found in the midst of suffering, not in the absence of it” change our view on hardship?

4. Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 in light of Ephesians 3. How do we resist the temptation to value power and strength rather than weakness and humility?

5. Do we know the boundless riches of Christ given to us through grace? How have we experienced those riches as a church? Take some time this week to explore God’s goodness towards us. Some suggestions: go for a hike, make a good meal and eat with friends, take a nap, have a long cry, read through one of the Gospels, sit in silence, embrace the slow, small, quiet way of Jesus.

Watch this sermon on YouTube!!!

As Pastor Jackson continues to bring us through the book of Ephesians, we are reminded of the transformative power of Scripture and its relevance in shaping the life of a believer. We are challenged to avoid reducing biblical truths to empty cliches by treating God’s Word as living, active, and practical—meant to guide our daily lives with purpose. Comparing passages like Hebrews 10:11-22 and Ephesians 2:13-22 reveals how Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice brings us near to God, breaking down barriers and forming a new, unified people. Distinguishing between exclusivity (which rejects others) and distinctiveness (which maintains God’s call to holiness without creating division) helps us remain set apart while welcoming all into God’s family. Isaiah 56:1-8 calls us to embrace God’s vision for inclusion and justice, informing our understanding of Ephesians’ radical message: through Jesus, all have equal access to the Father (Eph. 2:18). This truth transforms how we see ourselves—not as isolated individuals, but as fellow citizens, members of God’s household, and living stones in His temple, where heaven and earth meet. These identities compel us to live politically and socially in ways that reflect God’s kingdom, seeking justice, peace, and hospitality in our communities.

Discussion Questions

1. What are some ways we can avoid turning the Bible’s words into cliches? Why does it matter that the words of scripture are living, active, and practical?

2. What is the connection between Hebrews 10:11-22 and Ephesians 2:13-22?

3. What is the difference between exclusivity and distinctiveness? How do we avoid being exclusionary while remaining holy (set apart)?

4. Meditate on Isaiah 56:1-8. How should this passage inform our reading of Ephesians?

5. What is the radical nature of Ephesians 2:18? Why is this statement so important?

6. What does it mean to be fellow citizens, members of God’s household, and part of a growing temple? How do each of these new identities impact the way we practically live both politically and socially? 

7. As part of God’s temple we are the place where heaven and earth meet. What does that mean for our everyday life?

   
   

   Watch this sermon on YouTube!!!!

In Ephesians 2:11–12, Paul urges the Gentile believers to remember their past—when they were excluded from the covenant promises, labeled "uncircumcised" by the Jews, and alienated from God and His people. This reminder highlights the deep socio-cultural and spiritual divide that circumcision represented, rooted in Genesis 17:9–10, 14, where it symbolized God's covenant with Abraham’s descendants. In the Greco-Roman world, such practices intensified divisions between Jews and Gentiles, similar to the way race, language, economic class, and religion create divisions in our modern communities. Paul describes the Gentiles' former condition with five significant points: they were separated from Christ, excluded from Israel, foreigners to the covenants, without hope, and without God—highlighting their spiritual lostness. However, God, through Christ, broke down these barriers by reconciling both groups through the cross, making peace and creating one new humanity. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, not only reconciles us to God but also to one another. To experience God’s peace in our personal, family, and church life, we must embrace forgiveness, live in humility, and seek unity. By doing so, we become ambassadors of peace, reflecting Christ's reconciling love in a divided world.

Discussion Questions

1. What is Paul asking the Ephesians to remember? Why? Discuss Eph 2:11 – 12.

2. Why is circumcision important for the Jews? Read Genesis 17:9–10, 14. Do you think Circumcision created a socio-cultural divide in the Greco-Roman world? List a few main things that cause socio-cultural divide in our world and the community we are a part of today?

3. How will you describe the former condition of the Gentile Christians Paul is addressing? Discuss the spiritual significance of the five points Paul mentions in verse 12.

4. What did God do to break the barriers of oneness? Explain in your own words how Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

5. How can we experience God’s Peace in our personal, family, and corporate lives? What are the ways we can become ambassadors of His peace?

Watch this sermon on YouTube!!!

Living as a Community of Grace

To be a “Community of Grace” in light of Ephesians 2:1–10 is to recognize that we are all recipients of God’s unearned, incongruous grace—once dead in sin but made alive through Christ’s mercy and love. This grace transforms how we view one another: not by status, merit, or worthiness, but as fellow recipients of a divine gift, each uniquely crafted by God as his workmanship. Seeing each other as gifts means honoring the value God has placed on every person and nurturing relationships rooted in humility, gratitude, and mutual upbuilding. The fact that God’s grace is “unconditioned”—given freely without prerequisite—but not “unconditional”—still calling us into new life and good works—challenges us to live responsibly within that grace, allowing it to shape our actions and community dynamics. Unlike modern gift-giving, which often comes with expectations or reciprocity, the early church understood grace and generosity as rooted in conventional relationships and mutual flourishing. This week, as we meditate on being God’s handiwork, we are called to embody grace by engaging in the good works God has already prepared for us—acts of love, service, and reconciliation that reflect the beauty of the gospel.

Discussion Questions

1. What does it mean to be a “Community of Grace” in light of Ephesians 2:1-10? How does the grace described in these verses change the way we should see and treat each other? What does it mean to see each other as gifts?
2. Why does it matter that the grace of God is “incongruous,” meaning we can do nothing to earn or deserve it? What does this reality mean for the way we relate to one another, knowing that we were all dead before being made alive in Christ?
3. Preferably in community, talk about the claim that “the grace of God is unconditioned but not unconditional.” How do you feel about this statement? How does our idea of gift-giving differ from the early church’s context and why does it matter?
4. Meditate on Ephesians 2:8-10. We are God’s handiwork, his work of poetry and beauty. How can we convey grace this week in the good works prepared for us?

Watch this sermon on YouTube!!!!

This week Pastor Jackson takes us further thru The New Testament book of Ephesians. This changes how we think about the “Day of the Lord.” Instead of seeing it only as something coming in the future, Ephesians shows that God’s kingdom has already begun through Jesus, even though it’s not fully complete yet. This idea—that God’s work has started now but will be fully finished later—helps us understand what it means to follow Jesus today. Ephesians 2:1–7 reminds us that even though we were once spiritually dead, we’ve already been made alive with Christ and given a new life with Him, even while we still live in a broken world. This shows us how to live with both hope and purpose in the present. John the Baptist’s story encourages and challenges us too: he prepared the way for Jesus and stayed faithful, even when things were hard. Like him, we’re called to trust God and live for Him as we wait for the day when everything is made right.

Discussion Questions

1. How is the New Testament (specifically Ephesians) challenging the traditional “Day of the Lord” expectation?

2. Why is the concept of “Inaugurated Eschatology” important for our understanding of the Bible and what it means to live as Jesus followers today?

3. Read through and meditate on Ephesians 2:1-7. What does this section of scripture say to us about living in the “now and not yet”?

4. How is John the Baptist’s story both an encouragement and a challenge to us today as we both look forward to the age to come while still live in the present evil age? 

   
   

   Watch this sermon on YouTube!!!!

John’s emphasis on Mary mistaking Jesus for the gardener is deeply symbolic, connecting the resurrection to the original creation in Genesis 2:7-8, where God formed humanity and placed them in a garden. This imagery suggests that Jesus, through his resurrection, is restoring and fulfilling God’s original plan for creation, bringing new life where sin once brought death. Clarence Jordan’s perspective aligns with the biblical narrative, emphasizing that Jesus’ resurrection is not merely about an afterlife but about God’s kingdom being established on earth. Romans 8 highlights how Jesus’ victory over death brings personal redemption and cosmic renewal, liberating creation from decay. Practicing resurrection means embodying this hope in daily life—living with justice, love, and restoration, reflecting the reality of heaven on earth. 1 Corinthians 15 reinforces that our present actions have eternal significance, as God’s renewal of creation includes the transformation of all things, ensuring that what is done in faith and love will endure into the new heavens and new earth.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think John draws our attention to the fact that Mary thought the risen Jesus was the gardener? Consider Genesis 2:7-8. What’s the relationship between Jesus’ resurrection and his original plan for creation?
2. Consider this quote from Clarence Jordan: “God raised Jesus, not as an invitation to us to come to heaven when we die, but as a declaration that he himself has now established permanent, eternal residence here on earth." What do you think about this idea? Is it faithful to the story of the Bible?
3. What did Jesus’ resurrection accomplish for us personally and for the universe cosmically? Consider Romans 8
4. How do we “practice resurrection” in our lives today? What would it look like as a community to live on-earth-as-it-is-in-heaven?
5. Take some time to read through 1 Corinthians 15. Do you believe that what we do now can and will last into the new heavens and new earth? How and why?

Watch this sermon on YouTube!!!!

Take time to reflect on the story of the death of Jesus Christ and hear from different readers and Pastor Jackson tell the story of Jesus Christ.

Watch this Sermon on Youtube!!!!

Pastor Paramal helps reflect on Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, a pivotal moment that fulfills Old Testament prophecy and reveals his identity as the Messiah. The gospel, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 15:1–5, centers on Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, which the Gospel writers portray through narratives that emphasize his divine mission and human compassion. Jesus' deliberate orchestration of his entry on a colt, as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9, contrasts with his earlier, quieter visits to Jerusalem (John 2:13; 5:1; 7:10, 14), symbolizing peace and humility rather than conquest. The crowd's shouts of "Hosanna" and their laying of palm branches reflect their hope for deliverance, though their understanding of his kingship was limited. The sermon challenges believers to see Jesus as the Savior who willingly laid down his life and to respond with faith, worship, and a renewed commitment to live out the gospel, especially during the Easter season.

Discussion Questions Palm Sunday

Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:28–40, John 12:12–19

1. What exactly is the gospel? Refer to 1 Corinthians 15:1–5 for clarity. Explore how the gospel writers portray Jesus throughout their narratives.
2. 
   
3. How does Jesus orchestrate his entry into Jerusalem for his fourth visit? Compare this to his earlier visits as seen in John 2:13; 5:1; and 7:10, 14.
4. 
   
5. Examine how the story of “Jesus’ Triumphal Entry” unfolds in all four Gospel writings, pinpointing the individuals and groups involved, Jesus’ actions, and the people's reactions.
6. 
   
7. What motivated Jesus to enter Jerusalem on a colt? Why did the crowd greet him with shouts of “Hosanna”?
8. 
   
9. How do you perceive Jesus in your life today? What are the appropriate ways of responding to him this Easter season?

Watch this sermon on YouTube!!!!

Paul's claim that all things are placed under Jesus' feet (Eph. 1:22-23) speaks to the inaugurated kingdom of God—a reign that has begun but is not yet fully realized. The tension between "this age" and "the age to come," as understood through Paul's and Jesus' teachings, reflects the present reality of a broken world alongside the promised renewal through Christ. The Old Testament's "Day of the Lord" (Joel 2, Isaiah 13, Malachi 4) initially conveyed the expectation of a swift and catastrophic intervention by God. Yet the New Testament reframes this, revealing a gradual unfolding of redemption and victory through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. The church, as God's outpost in the current evil age, embodies the values and hope of the age to come—serving as a living model of new creation and a tangible expression of God's kingdom amidst adversity. This dual identity challenges the church to live faithfully and courageously, demonstrating God's transformative power even in enemy territory.

Discussion Questions

To read the Bible as “good tourists,” we must approach it with humility and curiosity, seeking to understand its original context and meaning, just as Jesus and Paul would have read it—with reverence for God’s divine narrative. Deuteronomy 32:8-9 reveals how humanity was divided among the “sons of God” after the Tower of Babel, highlighting rulers and authorities that Paul later refers to in Ephesians. However, this division also underscores the rebellion and corruption of these spiritual powers over humanity, as explained by Michael Heiser. Jesus came to confront and disarm these powers through His victory on the cross, as described in Colossians 2:8-15, restoring humanity’s relationship with God and reclaiming authority over all creation. Today, we recognize and resist dark spiritual forces not by accepting societal corruption as “normal,” as Timothy Gombis warns, but by actively living out the truth of God's kingdom—embracing justice, love, and faithfulness in opposition to evil. Through Christ, we find hope, strength, and a call to stand firm against spiritual deception.

Discussion Questions

1) Why is it important to read the Bible as “good tourists”? How can we begin to read the Bible as Jesus or Paul would have read and understood it?- Read Deuteronomy 32:8-9 in several different Bible translations (NIV, NRSV, ESV, NASB, etc.). Why are they different and what is being communicated in these verses about the rulers and authorities Paul refers to in Ephesians? Consider this quote from Michael Heiser for reference, "In response to the tower of Babel God divided humanity by languages and geographical destiny. By doing so, God allotted them according to the number of the sons of God. God assigned the rule of his human children to other members of his heavenly family. Humanity didn’t want him as their king, so he obliged. Over the course of time the Bible tells us that these sons of God became corrupt, enslaving and abusing their populations. These were the gods worshiped by the peoples of the earth.”

2) Watch the following video on the Divine Council and talk about it in community: Learn About the Hidden Forces Guiding the World • Spiritual Beings (Ep. 3)

3) What did Jesus come to accomplish in relation to the powers and authorities? Consider Colossians 2:8-15.

4) In what ways do we recognize and resist the dark spiritual forces of evil? Consider the following quote from Timothy Gombis, “the most deceptive part of all this is that one of the strategies of the powers is to make it seem that destructive corruptions of society are normal, that its just the way things are.” 

Watch this sermon on YouTube!!!