Sermon Recap
This Sunday, guest teacher, Pastor Guy Mason from City on a Hill church in Australia, continued our Fall sermon series, Formed, and explored the doctrine of regeneration as outlined in Ephesians 2. In this letter, the apostle Paul states that we were all once dead in our trespasses, and our hearts were bent away from God towards sin. Pastor Guy explained that, like Lazarus in the tomb, we were completely dead and incapable of saving ourselves. However, if we believe in Jesus, we are made alive through Him; the Holy Spirit takes what is decaying and breathes new life into our spiritual deadness. This renewal fulfills our deep hunger for true life—significance, peace, and belonging—which can only be satisfied in Christ. 

The work of regeneration not only revives us, but reorders our desires, shifting our focus from worldly pursuits to a deeper relationship with Christ, as the Holy Spirit God redeems and restores our thoughts and aspirations. This kind of heart transformation was clearly evident in the early church’s radical generosity, and it should be our prayer that the Lord continues to do a similar work in us, that we would want less of this world and more of Christ. 

Regeneration also brings us hope as we look forward to God’s ultimate renewal of all things. Even amid present struggles, we can be assured that God will use all brokenness and disruptions to weave back into His beautiful melody for His glory. Pastor Guy closed by outlining the outward work of regeneration God is doing by rekindling the mission of the church. We are called to remember our regeneration in Jesus is not just for ourselves, but go out with a sense of urgency and joy to share the life Christ offers with the world. 

If you missed this talk, you can watch it here today.

Discussion Questions

Connect

1. How do you make space for creating/creativity in your life? Do you have any hobbies or practices that express creativity on a regular basis?

Character

Ask someone to read Ephesians 2:4-6 aloud. Then, ask the following questions:

1. What words, images, or phrases stand out to you in this passage?

2. Paul describes God as gracious and kind as He “makes us alive.” What other characteristics of Himself does God reveal to us through bringing us to life in Christ?

Consider

1. Pastor Guy described two different words for life, bios meaning biological life, and zoe meaning divine, spiritual life. Being made alive in God, how have you experienced zoe life?

2. Regeneration from God reorders our desires. In Acts, the early church experienced this through outpourings of the Holy Spirit which birthed a radically counter-cultural community. How do you see God reordering desires in your life or community?

3. Paul makes it clear that the gift of regeneration is meant to be shared with others, saying that we should “show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” If you could share the good news with someone right now, what would you say? How would you display God’s grace in your life?

4. Pastor Guy ended his message with the question, “What would it look like to step out amidst our doubts, in confidence that God has power to save?” Is there anything holding you back from sharing the good news with others, or stepping into new life in Christ?

Cover

Take a moment to reflect on how God has made you alive and thank Him for the work of regeneration in you. With a small group, name a person or opportunity you have this week to share God’s grace and kindness, and spend time praying together for these encounters.