Over the Fence: Lessons From EphesusSýnishorn

Day 2 – Common Ground
Ephesians 1

Like many of our churches today, the church in Ephesus had its problems. You may have experienced splits in a church you attended—or even in a Warcraft guild you were part of. People have different views on life, and that often causes conflict. In today’s world, those divisions often revolve around politics. In the ancient world, the divisions were more often about philosophy or differing worldviews. Realistically, it's all the same: just different flavors of ideology and perspective.

The city of Ephesus was a hub of thought, ideas, and culture. It was founded by Greeks and shaped by Greek philosophy. The church in Ephesus was split between Greek Gentiles, who were coming to faith in Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit, and Jews, who believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah. While they believed in the same Jesus, their ways of doing life couldn’t have been more different!

The Greeks commonly believed in multiple layers of heaven ruled by a pantheon of gods. The Jews believed in one God and a coming Kingdom. The Greeks ate food freely. Most Jews would have been revolted at the idea of eating pork or other unclean foods. They lived differently, thought differently, and often believed differently. This was creating serious tension in the church—tension Paul addresses throughout his letter. Much of Ephesians is focused on the importance of unity.

While you and I may not be attending church with someone who believes in multiple layers of heaven, we are attending church with people who are very different from us—whether due to upbringing, economic status, political views, or even theological beliefs. Our challenge is to find what unites us in a world that constantly pushes us into smaller and smaller tribes, each throwing spears and stones at anyone who thinks, lives, or believes differently.

That doesn’t mean all truth is relative. Surely, the Bible contains clear truths from Genesis to Revelation. But unity in our churches is difficult—it doesn’t come naturally. It requires intentionality. We must work at it and fight for it.

Paul opens his letter this way because he wants to emphasize the common ground shared by both Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ Jesus. He’ll dive deeper into the theme of unity and its spiritual power in the coming chapters. But for now, he’s pointing out that what they share is far more important than the ways they differ.

So what?
Take some time today to reflect on what Jesus has done for you. That place of humility and thankfulness is the foundation of unity. When we stray from it, division is never far behind.

DrLevelUp’s XP Boost – Ephesians 1

Even today, I’ve found that some of the most powerful moments of connection come not from agreeing on every issue but from kneeling beside someone at the same altar, each of us aware of how much we’ve been forgiven. That realization softens us. It breaks down the need to be right or to win the argument. It reminds me that the person I disagree with is someone Christ died for. When I lead from that place, whether in ministry, community, or even a Warcraft guild, I find myself less concerned with differences and more interested in seeing Christ formed in each of us. The goal is not uniformity. It’s unity in diversity, rooted in love.

Romans 15:5–6 says, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

That’s what we’re after. Not perfect agreement but a shared focus,glorifying God together. Our common ground is not a set of opinions or cultural customs. It's a person: Jesus. And when we center our lives on Him, that ground holds firm no matter how much the winds of disagreement blow.