Week Two - No Life Outside The Body

 

The churches of Christ Greet You (Romans 16:16)

 

 

This week you will study Scriptures which will help you understand your relationship with other Christians.

 

 

8th Day

 

1. Read Matthew 28:18-20, concentrating on verses 18 and 20. What do these two verses say to you?

 

2. Jesus Christ, who has all authority, taught us that the church is important. Read Matthew 16:16-18. Jesus saw the church at the center of His plan. He wanted to build it and He intended to make it so strong that the forces of Satan could not stand against it. What Jesus counted as so important, we too must count as important.

 

3. Read Acts 2:40-47. Notice the picture of what the church should be striving to become every day. What can you do today and the rest of this week to contribute to this kind of life among God's people (the church)?

 

4. If the congregation you are a part of is not like the one described in the above passage, what should you do... complain vigorously... leave the church and go it alone... or is there a better option, a more Biblical option?

 

9th Day

 

1. Read Romans 12:1-8. What term does Paul use to describe the church? If you give yourself totally to God, how will that help you give yourself to others in and out of the Body?

 

2. Verse 5 of the above passage says we are "... members one of another." How does this fit with or conflict with the American ideal of individualism?

 

3. List in your notebook three things you already know you can do for other members of the body of Christ. Share these with someone close to you and get their reaction.

 

4. List three things you know you need from the body of Christ in order to grow in Christ. Share these with someone also.

 

10th Day

 

1. Read Ephesians 4:1-6. Why do you think God is concerned about the body of Christ being in unity and peace?

 

2. Read Romans 14:13-15:3. Notice how far we should go and how much we should bend to keep the body of Christ together.

 

3. Is there anything in your life that is so important to you that you would not give it up even if it was keeping people from coming to Jesus Christ or growing in Him? If there is, read again Romans 14:21 and seek help from a mature Christian in dealing with this area of your life.

 

11th Day

 

1. God is greatly concerned about the unity of the church, but He is also greatly concerned about the purity of the body of Christ. We are called to a holy and pure life, and hidden or ignored sin in the body will destroy the power of the church.

 

2. Read Ephesians 5:1-18. List those things described here which are improper for God's holy people.

 

3. How would living as "children of light" be totally different from these things you have just listed? What is the basic difference between living in darkness and light?

 

4. Read Galatians 6:1-2. Even though you are a babe in Christ, what should you do if you see a brother or sister in Christ falling into some sin?

 

12th Day

 

1. Read: John 13:34-35; 1 Cor 13:1-8; Gal 5:6, 13-14; Eph 5:1-2; Col 3:14; 1 Peter 4:8. What is the one thing that must be in the church and in our relationships above all else? Use a dictionary and define CHARITY!

 

2. For a more precise definition of love, compare John 13:34-35 with 1 John 3:16. List all the things you can think of that describe the way Jesus Christ loved you.

 

3. How are you progressing in your relationships with your new brothers and sisters in Christ? Are they seeing your love for them? Sometimes new Christians just want to be loved and to be served. Break this pattern and reach out to others because Jesus Christ has reached out to you.

 

13th Day

 

1. Read Hebrews 3:12-13. One of the things we all can do for one another in the Body is give encouragement (exhort). According to this passage, what is to be the specific purpose of our encouragement? What do you think is involved in giving this kind of encouragement? (If you are not clear on this, be sure to discuss it with an older brother or sister in Christ).

 

2. Read 2 Timothy 4:2. Notice that we can encourage people by bringing the word of God to them (not just by complimenting them). In your new relationships try to share with someone every day something that you have found in God's Truth that is inspiring and encouraging to you.

 

14th Day

 

1. When problems develop in the Body between brethren, they must be dealt with so that Satan is given no opportunity to enter in. Read Matthew 18:15-20 which gives us the right way to deal with such situations.

 

2. Determine now that you will not complain or grumble behind someone's back about what they have done. Determine that you will always go to them and resolve the problem with God's help (verse 20).