If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
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These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one. The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.
Each musician in an orchestra has a contribution and together they work for a unified sound greater than any one can produce. So, as God’s people, each has strengths and limitations. When we live in partnership with others heading in the same direction, there is an extra dynamic to life that gives a spark, and allows life to flow more easily. For this purpose the Lord brings us together to live and work as one body, His Church.
Bible Zone
This Bible zone is taken from Ephesians 4. A key passage on the need to work together as God’s people.
- God’s Family - As God’s family we seek unity on what can be agreed by all.
- Diversity - Though one, we have our own gifts and functions.
- Need Each Other - Our gifts help us together to grow into maturity.
- Aim of Maturity - .Maturity keeps us from being swayed by circumstances.
As believers in Jesus we are one spiritual family. Let us look at how this works and the way we are to work together. We will look at Ephesians 4:3-6.
- What is the source of our unity?
- Sometimes Christians disagree. What essentials should we agree on?
- What is the significance of being called a body?
Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all
Although Jesus has brought everyone together in one body, emphasising our unity, he goes further v7 - 11
- To whom has Christ given gifts?
- What do these gifts express about the way God views us?
- Different gifts can make us feel different. How do the differences contrast with the unity expressed in v3-6 above?
Ephesians 4:7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift* through the generosity of Christ. ...*10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
These gifts while expressing Christ’s great love for us are also given for a purpose.
- What aims does Christ have in giving the gifts?
- What aim does Christ have for us all?
- How do we need to relate in order for Christ’s gifts to fulfil their purpose?
Ephesians 4:12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Living among others exposed my weakness in relationships.
Christ desires us to be mature because we were created for mature relationships. However there is more to it than that.
- What are the difficulties associated with lack of maturity?
- How does maturity protect us from people who might try to trick us?
- What does it mean to grow up into Christ who is the head?
- What help do mature believers give us?
Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
THE CHURCH - God’s people
