Describe some of the feelings that occur when a person in a family or a Church feels like they do not have a meaningful place among the members:

Do such feelings usually result in division?

Read I Corinthians 12:12-17, 24b-27

What is the picture or analogy used by Paul to show us what the Church is like?:

According to this passage, how important is each person in the Church?:

How prominent or skilled must a person be in order to have a legitimately meaningful place in the Church?:

Read Matthew 18:19,20

According to Jesus, what advantage is there to praying with someone--especially in a Church discipline situation (which is the context of this passage)?

What do you think: does God listen to the prayers of an individual more than a group, or a group more than an individual? ___Yes ___No

Offer your suggestions: Can you think of occasions when God would be seeking the prayer of each of the members of a group instead of the prayer of any one particular individual?

Read Romans 15:1-7, 13

According to this passage, what resources are available to the Christian to help do the work of ministering to others?

vs. 1

vs. 3

vs. 4

vs. 5

vs. 7

vs. 13

What are some of the things God has already equipped us to do in the Church, particularly for our neighbor?

According to verses 5-7, what are some of the things that God is looking for from the Church as a whole?

Does everyone in the Body need to participate in order for these commands to become a reality?

Is harmony in the Body of Christ something that is automatic? If not, what must be done by each of us to preserve it?

Ephesians 4:3

Philippians 1:27, 2:2

In light of our study, list some of the reasons the Lord needs each of us to function as part of the Church today:

Let's pray concerning one thing you could do this week that would help you to feel more a part of the Body of Christ...