Single lesson
Ephesians 2: Alive with Christ
Ephesians 2:1–10; Ephesians 2:11–18; Ephesians 2:19–22
Ephesians 2 shows a big change. It says people were dead in sin, then made alive with Christ by God’s grace. It also shows people who were far off being brought near, so God’s people are built together with Christ as the cornerstone.
Before you teach
This passage moves in three linked parts. First, it explains God’s mercy and grace in making people alive with Christ and saving them through faith. Then it says those once far off are brought near through Christ’s peace. Finally, it describes God’s people as one household and a growing temple in the Lord.
Students will be able to explain that Ephesians 2 teaches salvation by God’s grace through faith, peace through Christ, and belonging together as God’s people.
Welcome: From far away to brought near
4 minShow two simple signs, one saying “far” and one saying “near”. Tell the group that today’s passage uses both ideas. Explain that Ephesians 2 speaks about a huge change God makes: people once dead in sins are made alive with Christ, and people once far off are brought near. Ask children to listen for those changes as you read.
Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:5, Ephesians 2:13
Read and explain: Saved by grace for good works
8 minRead Ephesians 2:1-10 aloud. Explain that “dead in transgressions and sins” describes a serious problem of sin, and “made us alive together with Christ” shows God’s action. Point out that salvation is “the gift of God”, “not of works”, so no one can boast. Then note that God’s people are his workmanship, created for good works to walk in.
Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:5, Ephesians 2:8, Ephesians 2:9, Ephesians 2:10
Discuss: Christ makes peace and brings people together
7 minRead Ephesians 2:11-18. Explain that the passage remembers a time of separation, being “far off” and “without God in the world”. Then it says Christ brings near, makes peace, and gives access to the Father in one Spirit. Help children see that Jesus does not only change individuals. He also brings different people together in peace.
Ephesians 2:12, Ephesians 2:13, Ephesians 2:14, Ephesians 2:18
Make and respond: Cornerstone reminder card
7 minRead Ephesians 2:19-22. Explain that believers are no longer strangers and foreigners, but belong to God’s household. Christ Jesus is the chief cornerstone, and the whole building is fitted together in him. Children make a small reminder card with one key phrase from the passage and one drawing of a house, wall or cornerstone to show belonging in Christ.
Ephesians 2:19, Ephesians 2:20, Ephesians 2:21, Ephesians 2:22
Closing: Say the main teaching in one sentence
4 minInvite each child to finish one sentence starter: “Ephesians 2 teaches that...” Guide them to include grace, peace or belonging from the passage. Finish by reviewing the three movements: alive with Christ, brought near in Christ, and built together in Christ. This helps children connect the whole chapter section, not only one favourite verse.
Ephesians 2:5, Ephesians 2:13, Ephesians 2:19
Questions to explore
According to Ephesians 2:8-10, what comes first, God’s gift of salvation or our good works?
Use the order of the verses: salvation is called God’s gift and then the passage says believers are created for good works.
Ephesians 2:8, Ephesians 2:9, Ephesians 2:10
What changed for the people who were once ‘far off’ in Ephesians 2:12-13?
Compare the words in verse 12 with verse 13 and notice the move from separation and no hope to being brought near in Christ.
Ephesians 2:12, Ephesians 2:13
What pictures does Ephesians 2:19-22 use to describe God’s people together?
Look for the family and building words in the passage, such as household, foundation, cornerstone and temple.
Ephesians 2:19, Ephesians 2:20, Ephesians 2:21, Ephesians 2:22
Make, think or respond
Cornerstone Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- card or paper
- pencils or markers
- ruler
- scissors
Try it together
- Read Ephesians 2:19-22 again and ask each child to choose one short phrase from the passage.
- Fold or cut paper into a small card shape.
- On the front, draw a house, stone block or corner of a building.
- Inside, write the chosen phrase and one sentence about what it teaches, such as belonging to God’s household or being built together in Christ.
- Let children share their card with a partner or the group.
This activity helps children remember that Ephesians 2 describes God’s people as one household and a building joined together with Christ as the cornerstone.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two short phrases to copy, such as ‘gift of God’ from Ephesians 2:8 or ‘no longer strangers’ from Ephesians 2:19, and let them explain the meaning aloud instead of writing a full sentence.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to divide a page into three panels titled ‘alive’, ‘peace’ and ‘household’, then match each panel to verses from Ephesians 2 and write one explanation for each.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: ‘Father, thank you for your grace, for making people alive with Christ, and for bringing us near through him. Please help us live in the good works you have prepared and to treat other believers as members of your household. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Ephesians 2
1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,
2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience.
3 We also all once lived among them in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;
8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, that no one would boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
11 Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision” (in the flesh, made by hands),
12 that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation,
15 having abolished in his flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace,
16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility through it.
17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near.
18 For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God,
20 being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
21 in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;
22 in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.