• Lesson 5 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 3:1-13.

Because we are blessed to be God’s children (Gentiles and Jews alike), we all have been blessed with the privilege to share God’s word and testify of the mystery of God’s love and the riches of God’s grace.

What a powerful statement to know that previously the Hebrews/Israelites/Jews were the sole heirs of God’s promise to redeem and reconcile humankind to himself, but now through the sharing of the gospel, the Gentiles are blessed to be “sharers” together in promise of God’s saving hope (NIV, 3:6).

Paul was mindful that the first step is accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The moment that acceptance is made known in one’s heart and confessed with one’s mouth (Romans 10:9–10), he or she becomes a part of God’s holy family—they become joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

It is amazing that Paul did not speak of one purchasing a membership, taking a test, or asking someone to join this unique, elite group. Instead, Paul spoke of one’s admittance and acceptance can only come through the gospel, accepting Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior.

Once you are accepted as member of the body of Christ, you have the same privilege as a Jew. We are all one and equal. As stated in Galatians 3:28 (ESV), “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Paul was also mindful that his calling to serve (3:7) was again because of God’s grace. One can sense Paul’s degree of humility and gratefulness to serve. Although Paul was known as an educated student of Rabbi Gamaliel, a Pharisee of Pharisees, none of that mattered to him as much as being called by God to share the gospel to the Gentiles.

The “working of his power” is a reference to Paul’s acknowledgement that only God has the power to save by the preaching of God’s word. It is definitely not within himself that he possessed such power. As Paul stated in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (NASB). “To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things” (3:8–9).

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 4 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 2:19-22.

The Icon of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) is currently the world’s largest cruise ship, five times larger than the Titanic. How are these massive ships built in just one- or two-year’s time? The stateroom is part of a modular system, built at multiple sites. These are then brought to the final assembly area.

We might see the church—this new, holy temple of the Lord’s—as a building project in which the different modules (believers) are joined together.

In verses 21-22 “joined together and built together” are present passive verbs. Present means that the work is ongoing, not finished. Passive means the joining and building are works of God. This work will continue in each of us until we draw our dying breath.

Recall from verse 10, the faithful in Christ (believers) are God’s workmanship. As such, we are not designed to be set on a shelf or displayed on a wall. What a great picture here of God coming to live in the lives of believers. Think back to Jesus’ promise of the Advocate in John 14. He would come to live in and through all who follow Christ.

It is easy in our Western culture to become individualized in our approach to faith. We are more independent minded. However, Paul noted these multitudes of believers are assembled together into one dwelling.

This dwelling is a permanent place. God is not preparing himself a one-room apartment for eternity. He is the architect and builder. Across the world there are old, sometimes ancient stone fences. These fences used no mortar. The builder used rocks of all shapes and sizes to make one fence. The skilled builder had an eye for knowing just the right spot for any rock.

In similar fashion, God knows just the right spot for you to serve in his kingdom through his church. As long as you live, there is a place for you.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 3 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 2:8-10.

As much as you may have despised freshman English, there are times when grammar is important. This is one of those times. “Have been saved” is a perfect passive verb. Perfect identifies a completed past action that continues to have effect in the present. Passive means you were not the cause of action in the verb; essentially you were acted upon.

The “saints, the faithful in Christ” (Paul’s label for the Ephesian Christians seen in 1:1) have a past salvation from spiritual death that continues to give spiritual life in the present. Those once separated from God are restored to relationship with him. These saints did not bring about this salvation.

John Stott has said, “We must never think of salvation as a kind of transaction between God and us in which he contributes grace and we contribute faith.” I think back to the birthday and Christmas presents my sons received from their grandparents. The boys had done nothing to deserve those gifts, except to exist. The gifts were freely given but did not have any effect until the boys grasped them in their hands.

Faith always follows grace. The grammatical order of the sentence identifies grace as the gift, not faith. The pattern we see God develop throughout Scripture is that God initiates the call to grace. Where do many Christians go wrong? They fail to act daily, in faith, to the accomplishment Jesus made on the cross.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 2 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 1:15-23.

It may seem elementary to say the source of our spiritual power and insight is God. However, this is the foundational understanding to putting that power to work in our daily lives. Paul’s prayer can be your prayer, but only when offered in the power of the death and resurrection of Christ.

Scripture speaks of two earthquakes in the crucifixion story, one at the cross and one at the tomb. Can you imagine the power required to resurrect a dead body? It’s no wonder the earth shook!

Paul used three intense words in succession as he described this explosiveness: power, strength and exerted. Incredibly, this is the same power that transforms the life of any believer. Christians must tap into the truth that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead stands ready to energize Christ-like living today. Beware of any who would suggest this power is for a special class of believer. The only condition is obedience.

Battery innovation has progressed immensely over the past 100 years. Your grandfather’s 6-volt flashlight battery weighed about two lbs. The wafer-thin battery in your smartphone is virtually imperceptible and provides more intense light. For all the technological advancement, batteries cannot sustain themselves. They must be replaced or recharged.

It is impossible for the finite human mind to fully comprehend the resurrection power that was made available at your salvation. It continues full strength, never waning. The question we believers must confront for ourselves is whether we will maintain our access to God’s awesome power.

In John 15, Jesus taught this idea using the Greek word meno, to continue, remain or abide. Because we who believe have been reborn by the resurrection power of Christ, we can remain in the vine and bear fruit for the kingdom.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 1 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians1:3-12.

During the “Trial of the Tarts” in Alice in Wonderland, the king declared, “Begin at the beginning.” Paul began this letter at the proper beginning by offering praise to God. Praise and bless are from the same word family; the NIV uses them to distinguish between a benefit we receive from God (bless) and the praise we offer to God.

What is the reason for this praise? The blessings given to all who are in Christ. Psalm 103:2 commands us to “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” We might say the raw material of these benefits was mined in heaven. The blessings of God stand ready at the believer’s disposal, activated by faith. In the verses that follow, Paul defined what he meant by spiritual blessings.

Who is the “us” in verse 4? God’s holy people, the faithful in Christ. What has been chosen for us? Spiritual blessings. The first of these blessings is that we would be separate and unblemished. In Romans 8:29 Paul frames this concept in the language of conformity. God determined that believers would be formed in the perfect image of Jesus Christ.

God’s foreknowledge cannot be compared to human intuition, in which he makes a good guess based on prior knowledge. It is not looking forward into time. It is not even a “Back to the Future” scenario in which God has bounced back and forth through time. Our Creator is not bound by time; in fact, God exists outside of time. Wrap your mind around that! We live in the confines of time; God does not. The good news is he entered our timeline and bought our salvation.

The second blessing, or benefit, is that God predetermined all who received Christ would be adopted. Some would argue this choosing and predestining is about the believer’s individual salvation. It could be said this is Paul’s follow up to the wonderful news—“For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16).

Think about it for a moment: God chose to formalize for you all the benefits of what it means to be a child of God. What you have as a result of your relationship with God is not an accident. The blessings are intentional.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 13 in the Connect360 unit “Sacred Life: God’s Plan for Us” focuses on Colossians 1:15-20.

There are several important reasons why the humanity of Jesus is critical to understanding the significance of his salvation and superiority and how it defines the sanctity of human life.

The humanity of Jesus allows us to relate to him. Time and time again throughout the Gospels, we see examples testifying to the humanity of Jesus Christ. He physically grew (Luke 2:40). He felt temptation (Matthew 4:1–11). He felt hunger (Luke 4:2), exhaustion (John 4:6), and pain and agony (Hebrew 5:8). Jesus’ human experience not only allows him to relate to us, but also allows us to look to him, the sinless example, which we aspire to follow.

Jesus experienced the host of human emotions to the fullest extent but did not sin. The writer of Hebrews summarizes it, saying in 4:15, “we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” Because he was fully human, Jesus is fully able to relate to humanity, and his life provides the roadmap to a full and fruitful life.

The humanity of Jesus fulfills the prophetic messianic anticipation. The Old Testament prophesied a Messiah who would be born as a human being (Isaiah 7:14). Jesus’ human birth, life, death and resurrection fulfilled these prophecies, validating the authenticity of the Scriptures and God’s salvation plan.

Jesus’ life as a human being was necessary for the redemption of humanity. Only a human could appropriately represent humanity and bear the weight of human sins. The humanity of Jesus allows for the salvation of all. Scripture teaches that through one man, Adam, sin entered the world. Alternatively, salvation must also come from someone who is also equally and fully human if that salvation is to extend to all.

Moreover, Jesus had to be fully human and fully sinless, because the wages of sin is death (Romans 3:23). Even one sin during his earthly ministry would have disqualified him. Humanity’s Savior needed to be both fully human and fully sinless. Jesus was the only one qualified to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity. His human nature allowed him to suffer and die, which was essential for atoning for human sins. In being fully human, Jesus bridged the gap between God and humanity, enabling reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18–19).

The humanity of Jesus allows the redemption and resurrection of all. Jesus’s death as fully human and fully sinless made possible the forgiveness of sins. By offering himself as a blameless sacrifice, humanity’s debt was fully covered and God’s wrath against sin was fully appeased (Romans 3:25). However, his physical conquering of death and his resurrection creates the ability and pathway for the rest of creation. All things are reconciled and made at peace through Christ specifically because he is “the firstborn from among the dead.” The title “firstborn from among the dead” signifies that Jesus is the first person to be resurrected to eternal life.

By Katie Frugé, director for the Center for Cultural Engagement and the Christian Life Commission of Texas Baptists.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 12 in the Connect360 unit “Sacred Life: God’s Plan for Us” focuses on Romans 12:1-2.

There is a direct and beautiful connection for God’s children between salvation and sanctification. As image bearers called to mirror our Creator in holiness, the first step in the act of our sanctification begins at the moment of salvation.

The primary meaning of sanctification is to consecrate or set something apart. In the act of salvation, God creates life where there was previously only death. God’s act of our spiritual salvation is the process through which we become set apart for a new purpose—not a purpose of our own making or schemes, but a purpose that ultimately finds its completion once we are conformed to the image of Christ himself (Romans 8:29).

This sanctification that occurs through salvation is what Paul was talking about when he stated in 1 Corinthians 6:11, “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Notice the passive uses of the phrases to indicate this was something that already had occurred—Paul was referring to those who were formally dead in their sin but, because of God’s salvation (were washed), have a separateness fundamentally different from who or what they were previously (You were sanctified, you were justified).

From this perspective, the phrase “sanctity of human life” could be considered more descriptive than declarative when discussing a believer in Christ. For those who are made alive in God, we are set apart—sanctified—and live according to a new purpose and priorities.

The process of sanctification does not culminate at the moment of salvation, but it certainly must start there. The Bible tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, salvation is freely offered to all who would put their trust in Christ Jesus. Anyone who repents and places their trust in Jesus for their salvation is immediately and irreversible set apart (sanctified) and enjoys a new life in Christ.

Sanctification is a status gifted by God. At salvation, God makes that person sanctified. But that is not the only component to the concept of sanctification. Rather, sanctification presents a beautiful paradox. It is both an immediate gift and an ongoing journey.

At the moment of salvation, a believer is sanctified, set apart, and made holy through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This instant sanctification is a profound, transformative act of God’s grace, marking the believer as redeemed and righteous in his sight.

However, the Bible also teaches that sanctification is an ongoing process in the life of a believer. It is not just a single event but a continuous journey of spiritual growth and maturity. This process is beautifully illustrated in verses like 2 Corinthians 3:18, which speaks of believers being transformed into the image of Christ “from glory to glory.”

This ongoing sanctification is a collaborative effort between the believer and God, where the believer is actively involved in pursuing holiness, guided and empowered by the Spirit. In this way, the immediate sanctification at salvation and the progressive sanctification throughout a believer’s life are intricately connected, showcasing the dynamic and evolving nature of the Christian walk.

By Katie Frugé, director for the Center for Cultural Engagement and the Christian Life Commission of Texas Baptists.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 11 in the Connect360 unit “Sacred Life: God’s Plan for Us” focuses on Proverbs 31:8.

From beginning to end, the Bible presents a holistic view of life. This view not only calls for the protection of life in its most vulnerable forms but also advocates for a quality of life marked by justice, compassion and dignity for all.

It is a view that challenges believers to extend love and support not just in words but in concrete actions that uphold the value and dignity of every human being. The fullest expression of the Christian faith is one that sees and supports the sanctity of life and acts on that conviction in a meaningful way.

This holistic and total affirmation of the sanctity of life, as an expression of our Christian faith, involves a commitment to extend the dignity and value of all human beings, regardless of age, ability, gender, race or socioeconomic status. This includes caring for the elderly, supporting the disabled, aiding the poor, and advocating for those who are vulnerable, marginalized or oppressed.

In the Old Testament, God consistently told the Israelites to act differently than those around them. In a culture that had little regard for those living on the margins, God’s people were to make margin for them, to cultivate their fields in a way that intentionally provided space for all and welcome all (Leviticus 23:22).

In the New Testament the first Christians of Acts created ministries that cared for the overlooked and neglected (Acts 6:2–3). This reminds us that across the biblical witness, God consistently demonstrates special care and concern for the vulnerable and marginalized, affirming the inherent dignity of every individual at every stage and place of life.

Scriptures are replete with mandates to protect and advocate for the weak, the poor, the oppressed and the voiceless, reflecting God’s heart for those often overlooked by society. This divine emphasis highlights the sanctity of human life, underpinned by the belief that all people are created in the image of God and therefore possess intrinsic worth.

The good news is that God’s children have already been doing this, which reflects this deep commitment to the sanctity of life at all stages. Across the United States, churches and faith-based organizations serve as pillars of their community, offering comprehensive ministries that reflect the holistic span of the sanctity of human life. From adoption and foster care ministries to addiction recovery, to marriage and family support, to crisis pregnancy centers and beyond, Christian ministries lead the charge in what it means to support the sanctity of human life at every stage.

The pro-life belief, at its best, is about creating a society that cares for and values life at every stage, to care for those who cannot speak for themselves and the common dignity and justice of the destitute. The call to everyone who claims the name of Christ is not: “Should I care about the sanctity of life?” Rather the question is: “How am I actively living out my commitment to the sanctity of human life?”

By Katie Frugé, director for the Center for Cultural Engagement and the Christian Life Commission of Texas Baptists.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 10 in the Connect360 unit “Sacred Life: God’s Plan for Us” focuses on Psalm 139:13-16.

As lesson 9 noted, one of the clearest and most direct biblical passages affirming the preborn life’s beautiful and sacred nature is found in Psalm 139:13–16. This passage is a poignant testament to the value and sanctity of the preborn life in Christian teaching. These verses poetically express the truth that God’s involvement in human life begins right from the womb.

The imagery of being “knit together” in the mother’s womb conveys a sense of intimate, careful creation, revealing that each person is not just a biological accident but a purposefully crafted being. This psalm affirms that a person’s identity and existence are already known to God before birth, implying a deep level of divine care and intentionality.

The phrase “all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” further strengthens the idea that every life has a predetermined purpose and significance, established even before birth.

For God’s children, this passage is a powerful testimony to the profound worth and dignity of the preborn, seeing them as fully human and cherished in the eyes of God, deserving of protection and respect.

In Hebrew, the phrase “knit together” has a stronger connotation that a soft blanket someone made for a loved one. Rather, this phrase commonly means to “cover” or “overshadow.” In a literal sense, it can refer to covering something in a protective or shielding manner.

This word appears in various contexts in the Old Testament often with the connotation of providing protection or shelter. In the context of Psalm 139, God is weaving a person together in their mother’s womb means God is both the one creating them and simultaneously protecting them. It reflects God’s protective and formative action in creating a person. This term points to the protective, nurturing aspect of God’s relationship with every individual even before birth, highlighting a deep, personal connection and care from the very beginning of life.

Other biblical passages directly speak to the preborn’s personhood and subsequent dignity and value. Jeremiah 1:5 is a common verse many point to as a testimony to the personhood of the preborn—“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

While God is speaking directly to the prophet, this passage demonstrates the innate personhood and individuality of Jeremiah when he was still inside his mother’s womb. Moreover, notice how God speaks to the current and yet-to-be-nature of Jeremiah’s calling. Before he was born, God had already set him apart for a special purpose and plan.

In Luke 1:41–44, when Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, comes to visit her pregnant cousin Elizabeth, who is also pregnant with her son John the Baptist, Elizabeth exclaims: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” Filled with the Holy Spirit, the unborn John the Baptist leaped for joy at the presence of the unborn Christ.

By Katie Frugé, director for the Center for Cultural Engagement and the Christian Life Commission of Texas Baptists.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 9 in the Connect360 unit “Sacred Life: God’s Plan for Us” focuses on Psalm 139:13-16.

When the psalmist reflects on the goodness of God in Psalm 139, notice how integrated and joyfully he considers the interweaving of God’s goodness and the physical body. This passage suggests each person is not a product of chance or an afterthought, but a masterpiece of divine design, reflecting God’s creativity and attention to detail. The psalmist’s awe in response to this realization is a testament to the depth of God’s involvement in the formation of each life.

Verse 13 points to God’s intentional and intimate work along every step of our physical creation: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” The “inmost being” is a word that includes both the physical and internal. It encompasses the concept we would call in modern times “the vital organs,” but interestingly, the word also includes or allows for a figurative meaning of the interior of a person—the pieces inside each person that uniquely makes us who we are. And according to Scripture, this most intimate and internal part of our identity was woven together by God himself.

As a result of God’s intentional and intimate role in our creation, the Psalmist cries out in verse 14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” This is a powerful affirmation of humanity’s inherent value and the meticulous care God takes in our creation. This verse encapsulates the awe-inspiring truth that each person is not a random product of chance but a deliberate and exquisite creation of God.

For Christians, this realization ought to foster a deep sense of confidence and self-worth, knowing that we are the product of divine craftsmanship. It encourages a perspective of self that transcends superficial societal standards of beauty, success or ability, focusing instead on the intrinsic dignity bestowed by their Creator.

In a world where self-esteem easily can be shaken by external influences, comparisons and cultural trends to separate the internal from the physical body, Psalm 139:14 offers a stabilizing truth: each individual, in their unique complexity and individuality, reflects God’s magnificent and intentional design. From the smallest to the grandest details, our bodies are part of the goodness of God’s creation.

This acknowledgment becomes a source of comfort and strength, allowing God’s children to view themselves and others through a lens of divine appreciation and respect and to navigate life with the assurance of their valued place in the tapestry of God’s creation.

By Katie Frugé, director for the Center for Cultural Engagement and the Christian Life Commission of Texas Baptists.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 8 in the Connect360 unit “Sacred Life: God’s Plan for Us” focuses on John 9:1-3.

Throughout the biblical story, God intentionally chose to show his power through the limitations, or disability, of his children. Jacob had a limp his entire adult life (Genesis 32). God selected Moses to speak on his behalf despite Moses describing himself as “slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10). And consider how many of Jesus’ miracles were connected to someone with a disability.

It is not an exaggeration to say God clearly has a plan and purpose when it comes to human disabilities. Yet time and time again, we tend to have a very negative and pessimistic view when it comes to disability. In the story of the healing of the blind man, notice right away one of the first questions posed to Jesus approached disability from a negative point of view.

Essentially, the disciples wanted to know what went wrong. They had internalized the idea that to be disabled, someone had to have sinned or messed up.

This mindset of thinking is not isolated from first-century life, either. Ask mothers who have given birth to children who have a disability how frequently they were asked something like, “What did you do?” or “What happened to them?” Or ask a person with a disability how frequently they are asked something like, “What’s wrong with you?” as if something is innately faulty with them simply because of a disability.

Much like Jesus’ disciples, we still find ourselves often trying to make sense of the reality of disability, and our minds default to the notion that disability is inherently bad. However, Jesus’ reaction to the disciple’s question challenges us to reframe our understanding and starting point when broaching the oftentimes painful and sensitive topic of disability.

Jesus did not cast shame on the blind man or his parents. “‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him’” (John 9:3).

Rather than framing the man’s blindness as an innate default, Jesus reoriented the entire conversation into the positive. This man’s disability was not a punishment but a positive—that the works of God might be displayed in him. The phrase “might be displayed” could also be translated “be made manifest.” Through this man’s disability, the work of God would be fully manifested and displayed.

God chose to reveal and manifest his power through a disability, not despite it. This profound truth offers a transformative perspective on disability. It suggests disabilities are not necessarily the result of individual sin or divine punishment but can be occasions for the manifestation of God’s power and glory.

In the case of the blind man, his healing displayed Jesus’ miraculous power and illuminated spiritual truths, challenging societal assumptions and religious misconceptions about sin and suffering.

This narrative reflects God’s view of disability as not diminishing a person’s value or potential for contributing to his purposes. Instead, it shows that God can use all circumstances, including those the world might see as limitations, as platforms for his glory.

By Katie Frugé, director for the Center for Cultural Engagement and the Christian Life Commission of Texas Baptists.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 7 in the Connect360 unit “Sacred Life: God’s Plan for Us” focuses on Revelation 5:9-10.

As God’s children, pursuing diversity is not merely a social or cultural endeavor but a profound act of obedience that reflects the very nature of the kingdom of heaven. The Bible repeatedly highlights the diversity of God’s creation and God’s people, culminating in the vision of Revelation, where every tribe, tongue and nation gather in worship before God.

This vivid depiction of heaven is not monolithic but vibrantly diverse. Embracing diversity on Earth, therefore, is a way of mirroring the heavenly reality, embodying the inclusivity and unity that God desires for his creation.

It is an act of obedience to God’s command to love our neighbors as ourselves, recognizing our neighbors come from many backgrounds and experiences. By intentionally cultivating diversity, Christians are not just adhering to a moral or ethical principle, but also actively participating in realizing God’s kingdom on earth.

This pursuit goes beyond mere tolerance or coexistence; it is about celebrating the unique ways God’s image is reflected in each individual, creating a community that truly represents God’s manifold wisdom and creative power.

In doing so, believers bear witness to the reconciling power of the gospel, which breaks down barriers and unites people from all walks of life in the body of Christ.

There are a few reasons why furthering the kingdom of God includes the intentional cultivation and pursuit of diversity among the community of God’s believers.

First, diversity is woven into God’s salvation story. Reflecting on the first few chapters of Genesis—following the flood, Noah and his sons have multiple sons and descendants, and they all go into different lands and territories.

Genesis 11 records the story of the tower of Babel. The people gathered together to build a tower that would reach heaven because they wanted to “make a name for themselves” on the earth. Then, according to Scripture, God came down, confused their languages, and dispersed them across the earth.

It is important to note that the confusion of the languages and dispersal was not a curse. Rather, the creation of multiple languages was the cure for the pride that was growing in their hearts. If creating diverse languages and consequent cultures and ethnicities was a part of the curse of Babel, then we would not see representation of every tongue, tribe and nation in heaven.

Diversity is part of God’s cure to sin and is fully represented at the culmination of God’s salvation.

By Katie Frugé, director for the Center for Cultural Engagement and the Christian Life Commission of Texas Baptists.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.