If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
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Go to the source! Discover what the Bible says about …
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.
Introduction
It is best when we walk with God in community not alone. One of the ways a community of God’s people is held together is through teaching of the Bible.
Bible Zone
- Being in community - The community is built up by the various gifts being used.
- Back to Bible - There is a responsibility that we go back to the Bible.
- Listening with integrity - Listening is for the purpose of a changed life.
God gives gifted leaders and teachers to His community. Ephesians 4:11-13 shows how God serves His people through the gifts He gives. (More on - Gifts of the Spirit .)
- What gifts are mentioned?
- What is the purpose of the gifts mentioned in this passage?
- What do these gifts tell about God who gave them?
Ephesians 4:11-13 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.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.
In Acts 17 the apostles observe the attitude of one group to their teaching.
- How did the Bereans balance listening to God and their teachers?
- What attitude did the teachers have to the Berean’s testing his message?
- What was the outcome of their listening?
Acts 17:11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.12 As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.
The intention of teaching is that we seek God together and share life in God together, not that we afirm a common belief, Ezekiel 33:30-32 shows God’s frustration with a group who were more interested in entertainment, than God.
- What are the people like who go to listen to the message?
- What do the people value about what they are hearing?
- What is God’s perspective on the people who come to listen?
Ezekiel 33: 31 So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.32 You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don't act on it!33 But when all these terrible things happen to them—as they certainly will—then they will know a prophet has been among them."
LISTEN TO TEACHING
