Feb. 12, 2023

Belonging to the Church

February 11 & 12, 2023

Primary Text: Romans 12:4-6          

Previous Teaching: Belonging to the Holy Spirit

1)  Baptized by the Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:12-13:  The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.  For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 

Ephesians 5:18:  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 

DQ 1) What does it mean to be “filled with the Spirit?”

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2)  Grieve Not

Ephesians 4:30:  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

DQ 2) What does it mean to “grieve the Holy Spirit?”

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3)  Quench Not

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (NASB):  Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances.  But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.

DQ 3) What does it mean to “quench the Holy Spirit?”

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This Week’s Teaching

1)  The Church Body

Colossians 1:24:  Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 

Ephesians 5:23:  For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 

Romans 12:4-6:  Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. 

DQ 1) Define the “church.”

DQ 2) Define the “body of Christ.”  What is its purpose in this world?

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2)  The Servant Model

Mark 10:43-45:  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." 

Galatians 5:13-14:  You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

DQ 3) Why is service to one another central to the mission of the church?

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3)  Works of Service

Ephesians 4:11-13:  It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 

1 Peter 4:10-11:  Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.  Amen. 

DQ 4) What gifts has God given you?  How are you employing those gifts to serve the body of Christ?  How are you employing those gifts to serve the general population?

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