Coming out of Sunday Feb 7th’s teaching, “The Church Defined: The Body of Christ (A Spirit Empowered Community)”, spend some time in prayerful reflection and dialogue with your Home Church/Friends/Family around any combination of these questions:
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-29 before starting. Pray and ask God to speak.
- What words/phrases/concepts/verses jump out at you from the passage we just read? Why?
- How did God speak to you through Sunday’s message?
- What do you think it means to be a part of “The Body of Christ”? What are some things that are so significant about this metaphor?
- Read Colossians 1:17-18. Who is the “Head of the Church”? Why does this matter?
- What does it mean for Jesus to be “the leader” and “the source” of the church?
- What are some ways that ‘the church’ seems to forget this at times?
- Why does it matter that we are clear about about who is head of the Church? What happens to the church when this is forgotten?
- Read Romans 12:6-8. What does this passage, in combination with 1 Corinthians 12, teach us about the importance of every part of the body?
- Jeff talked about how being a part of the body means that we all NEED each other. What does it mean to be dependant on each other as the body of Christ? Functionally, do you live as though you ‘need’ the body? Why, or why not?
- Sometimes we minimize certain the role of parts of the body while elevating others in the church. Why do we do this? What does the Bible say about this?
- Jeff talked about the importance of serving in unseen ways and how this kind of service can be just as significant as preaching and leading. What do you think about that?
- Jeff said that “YOU are an invaluable part of the Body of Christ” and that “YOU bring something that no one else brings.” What do you think about this? What might be some of the unique things that you bring to the church?
- Jeff wrapped up by asking everyone to reflect on this question: “What PART might Jesus be inviting you to play as part of his body in this season?” Do you know how would you answer this question? What is your next step in discerning a potential answer to this question?
- What might the role of this Home Church in helping each other discern this?
- What is the role of our “Spiritual Gifts” in discerning this (See 1 Corinthians 12:1-12) (NOTE: If you would like to complete a “Spiritual Gifts” assessment, you can find a decent one by clicking here.)
- What might some other factors be in discerning this?
