Christ is on mission in this world: to redeem all of His creation. We are invited and masterfully crafted into this incredible mission where we live, work, learn, and play. Trusting who and what we are in Christ (beloved and saved), God continues His artful work in us here in community to be His masterpiece and display the loving purposes He has uniquely created for us. Friends, we are made to be more. Let's get to work!

Ephesians 2:1-10.

By Grace Through Faith

2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience -  3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved -  6 and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

For Adult Homes and Groups

1. As in the previous lesson, pretend you’ve never experienced church and that what you read in Ephesians 2 is your first and only exposure to the characteristics of it. What conclusions or assumptions would you make?

2. Read Ephesians 2:10 again. Is this a promise for the Church at large or for each individual follower of Jesus? 

3. Ephesians 2:10 is said to be the promise of a “sweet spot of personal calling.” Every sweet spot in nature (and there are thousands) has a design, a purpose, and a position. The intersection of these three dimensions is a sweet spot. People also have sweet spots of personal calling. We ask, “Who am I created to BE?” (a design question), “What am I made to DO?” (a purpose question), and “Where am I to GO to do it?” (a position question). How does Ephesians 2:10 reflect these three dimensions of BE-DO-GO?

4. Every follower of Jesus is made to BE the unique masterpiece God designed them to be within the context of a healthy, biblical community of faith. If you were turning Ephesians 2:10 into a mission statement for mobilizing people at Faith, how would you word it?

For Families with Kids

1. Plan out and take a trip as a family to the Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park. Find Claude Monet’s painting “Water Lilies”. Take time to gaze at its colors, textures, and unique features. Why would people consider this a masterpiece? Do you? Why or why not?

2. As a family, take time to consider each other’s unique giftings Encourage one another by writing them down and sharing them during the week.

3. Read and memorize Ephesians 2:10. As you do, replace the word “workmanship” with “masterpiece.” Our God is our greatest Artist, and He has painted your life with many beautiful gifts. Pray for Jesus to help you see His masterful gifts at work in you and to put them on display for His glory where you live, work, learn, and play.