"The Church"
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Discussion:
Discussion:
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
What does it mean to be a part of a family?
What does it mean to be a part of a family?
What aspects of family life do you think apply to the Church?
What aspects of family life do you think apply to the Church?
What practices did the first Church observe? (verse 42)
What practices did the first Church observe? (verse 42)
How would you describe the first Church in terms of its unity? (verse 44)
How would you describe the first Church in terms of its unity? (verse 44)
How would you describe the first church in terms of its effectiveness? (verse 47)
How would you describe the first church in terms of its effectiveness? (verse 47)
The Church Jesus created
The Church Jesus created
Jesus Christ gave His life to create the Church.
Jesus Christ gave His life to create the Church.
It is the body of Christ, a called out assembly of Christ followers.
It is the body of Christ, a called out assembly of Christ followers.
Members of the body are in covenant with God and with one another.
Members of the body are in covenant with God and with one another.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
What did Jesus do because He loved the Church? (verse 25) ____________________________________________________________
What kind of Church does Jesus want to present? (verse 27) ____________________________________________________________
Why do you think Scripture compares the relationship with Jesus and the Church as husband and wife? ____________________________________________________________
Living in Unity
Living in Unity
The Church is made up of humans- flawed and in need of grace.
The Church is made up of humans- flawed and in need of grace.
Even though our lives have been transformed, we still experience conflict and hurt.
Even though our lives have been transformed, we still experience conflict and hurt.
God intends His Church to pursue peace and unity.
God intends His Church to pursue peace and unity.
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
What should not be in the body of Christ? (verse 25) ____________________________________________________________
How should members of the Body care for one another? (verse 26) ____________________________________________________________
What should we do if we experience hurt in the Body of Christ? ____________________________________________________________
Gifts of the Spirit
Gifts of the Spirit
God gives the Church Spiritual gifts for ministry (service).
God gives the Church Spiritual gifts for ministry (service).
We must yield ourselves to the moving of the Holy Spirit for these gifts to operate.
We must yield ourselves to the moving of the Holy Spirit for these gifts to operate.
These gifts are supernatural and testify of Jesus and edify the Church, not the person that is yielding to their operation.
These gifts are supernatural and testify of Jesus and edify the Church, not the person that is yielding to their operation.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
What is the source of these gifts and ministries? (verses 4-6) ____________________________________________________________
Who profits from the gifts? (verse 7) ____________________________________________________________
Who in the Church has Spiritual gifts? ____________________________________________________________
Spiritual Gifts Listed:
Spiritual Gifts Listed:
Gifts of Supernatural Revelation
The gift of the Word of Wisdom
The gift of the Word of Knowledge
The gift of Discernment of Spirits
2. Gifts of Supernatural Manifestations
The gift of Faith
The gifts of Healings
The gift of Working Miracles
3. Gifts of Supernatural Message
The gift of Prophecy
The gift of Diverse Tongues
The gift of Interpretation of Tongues
Fruit of the Spirit
Fruit of the Spirit
Love
Love
More than anything God desires us to love one another.
More than anything God desires us to love one another.
The Spiritual gifts imparted to the Church are to be used in love.
The Spiritual gifts imparted to the Church are to be used in love.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
What does not having love make you? (verses 1-2) ____________________________________________________________
What are some attributes of love? (verses 4-7) ____________________________________________________________
Why do you think it’s important for love to be the basis that the Church operates in? ____________________________________________________________
Fruit of the Spirit
Fruit of the Spirit
In God
Love (agape’)
Joy (source not happenings)
Peace (wholeness, rest)
2. In Self
Longsuffering (Patience)
Goodness (personal quality stressing kindly and not righteous)
Temperance (self-control)
3. In Others
Gentleness (kindness, not harsh)
Meekness (submissive, not selfwilled)
Faith (Faithfulness, fidelity)
Closing:
Closing:
What Spiritual gifts do you God may impart to you for service?
What Spiritual gifts do you God may impart to you for service?
If you have experienced hurt in the Church in the past, how have you found healing to move forward in love?
If you have experienced hurt in the Church in the past, how have you found healing to move forward in love?