Breaking Down Barriers

Human beings tend to form groups, drawing close to people who think like us, act like us, or look like us. It gives us a sense of safety and belonging. But this also means we tend to build barriers. We place ourselves into categories based on culture, language, race.

Throughout history, religion—our practiced efforts to please God—has included some and shut out others. The results have been awful, because…

This is not the way of Jesus.

Before Jesus walked the earth, God chose the people of Israel to uniquely demonstrate His goodness to the nations. Outsiders could and did follow God, yet there was still a clear line of distinction between Israel and the other nations.

The book of Ephesians is the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. They’re struggling with issues of division and exclusivity. Paul explains that the division between the Hebrew people and the rest of the nations changed when Jesus came.

Jesus broke down the barrier that separated humanity ...