download the word document:let’s be the church (3) Jeff Robison 8-30-09
Let’s Be “The” Church (part 3)
(August 30, 2009)
- Life Group Discussion Guide -
OPEN:
1. In a world inundated with religious groups claiming allegiance to Jesus Christ, what advice would you have to offer them in terms of being, “His Church – His body”?
2. How does your advice apply to those of us in the “churches of Christ”?
What additional insight do you have?
3. How important do you think it is for us today to pay attention to Luke’s words in Acts1:1 “I wrote about all the things that Jesus began to do and teach”?
How might that affect following Paul’s advice to Timothy, “Watch your life and teaching closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both your self and your hearers” (I Timothy 4:12)
DIG:
1. Share briefly your thoughts about the significance of our view of “church and body” in relationship to what God is doing in the world? (Ephesians 1:18-23; 2:11-21; 3:1-13)
2. How can our emphasis on some things, that are important to our understanding of “church”, “body”, but neglect of the essence of what Jesus called us to thwart our effectiveness in the world? (See Matthew 23:1-4;13,14;23-24)
3. In what ways can you see an emphasis on reading, meditating and internalizing the Gospel accounts help us not only in understanding and interpreting other scripture but in maintaining our focus as “His Church – His Body”?
Reflect / Apply:
1. How can maintaining a proper focus on Jesus life and ministry help us in maintaining the proper focus for “church” and “body” and in finding the proper focus for our day to day activities?
2. How can the same focus as above in #1 enhance our view of things like the Lord Supper? Baptism? Our other teaching about “church”?
(See I Timothy 1:3-17; 2:1-7; 3:14-16; 4:11-16; 6:11-16)