On October 14, 1987, 18 month old Jessica McClure fell into an open well in her aunt’s backyard in Midland, Texas. Rescuers worked nonstop for 58 hours to free her from the 8 inch well casing 22 feet below ground. The story gained worldwide attention even prompting then-President Ronald Reagan to state “everybody in America became godmothers and godfathers of Jessica while this was going on.”

In a time when the United States was struggling both at home, with a significant economic downturn, and abroad, with tensions in the Middle East boiling, the rescue of Baby Jessica gave us all something to cheer about. Her rescuers from the Midland Fire Department were able to free her from her desperate situation and return her to the security of her parents.

I remember being glued to CNN during those days, wondering what it must have been like for Baby Jessica as she waited for her rescuers to reach her. I also wondered what it was like for the diligent men and women who worked tirelessly for days to free her. I also wondered how agonizing it must have been for her parents, who had to depend completely on the strength of others to free their child.

We, like Baby Jessica, are trapped. Our lives are stuck, surrounded by darkness and helplessness. But we have a Rescuer! He is more than able to reach into the darkness and pull us free from the death that surrounds us.

This Sunday, we will continue on our journey of being Set Apart. Every journey starts with a few steps… this week we’ll look at two – Salvation and Security.

See you Sunday!

Danny.

 

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:

 Read Ephesians 2:1-10 and consider these questions as you prepare for Sunday’s Worship Service and Small Group Time:

Launch Questions:

• Describe a time in your life when you felt like you just couldn’t measure up.
• Name a hero you had growing up. What made you want to be like him/her?

Exploring Questions:

What does it say? (observation questions)

• Ephesians 2:1-10, how does Paul describe the contrast between who they are now in Christ with who they once were?
• In Ephesians 2:4-7, how does this passage describe a believer’s relationship with God?

What does it mean? (interpretation questions)

• In Ephesians 2:2, what does it mean that we once walked according to the ways of the world?
• In Ephesians 2:5, what does it mean to be made alive with Christ?

What does it matter? (significance questions)

• In light of Ephesians 2:1-3, what would the rest of your life look like if God hadn’t rescued you from your sin?
• In Ephesians 2:1-10, what do you think Paul really wanted these believers to understand about grace?

Response Questions:

• In Ephesians 2:10, we are said to be Christ’s workmanship. What should that look like in the life of a believer?
• We often seek to control our future; why do we struggle with entrusting this to Christ? How would your life be different if you truly believed Jesus had only your best interest and greatest good in mind?