Here are the handouts for August 11, 2013.

Message Title: We Were Far Off but Now We Are Near

Message Text: Ephesians 2:11-22

• PDF we were far off but now are near 081113 HANDOUT ONE
• PDF we were far off but now are near 081113 HANDOUT TWO

Picture with me a big “NOT” sign. I tried to illustrate in HANDOUT ONE that this is what the cross of Jesus Christ is like. When we believe in him for forgiveness of our sins and receive his gift of eternal life, then his cross is a big “NOT sign” for our past life. What was is no longer true. That (dead in our sins) was then and this (made alive in Christ) is now.

NOT WHO WE WERE: We are no longer who we were. We are new in Christ.

• We were … without Christ, aliens with no claim to citizenship in God’s kingdom, strangers to the promises of God, no hope and without God.

NOT! No longer true!

The Cross of Jesus Christ and our belief in him changes everything.

We once were far off but now have been brought near by the blood of Jesus Christ.