ch. 2 i will be a unifying church member

questions to study


1. what did Paul mean when he said in Colossians 3;14 that love is the perfect bond of unity? what does that mean for the local church today?


2.what is the best path to take if someone brings gossip to you in your church? what does the bible say about gossip?



3. how is forgiveness related to unity in the local church? what does the bible say about forgiving one another?



4. look at Matthew 6:14-15 relate those words to being a church member. what does it mean if one church member does not forgive another?



5.  read all of 1 Corinthians 13. Paul wrote the"love chapter" to the church at Corinth where problems with unity were pervasive. what does this chapter mean for church members today? explain as you go through each verse.

the second pledge i am a church member.

I will seek to be a source of unity in my church. I know  there are no perfect pastors, staff,  or other church  members. But neither am I. I will not be a source of gossip or dissension. one of the greatest contributions i can make is to do all i can in  God's power to help keep the church in unity for the sake of the gospel.

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chapter 1 i will be a functioning church member

1.  explain how country club membership and church membership are so different. give scriptural references to support the differences in church membership.

      2 . explain why church membership is a biblical concept, using  1 Corinthians 12 as your biblical            foundation.

   
     3. how is the "love chapter" 1 Corinthians 13 related to church membership? explain using all 13          verses of the chapter.


    4. how are the different parts of the body [ ear, nose, mouth, hand, foot, eyes, etc] related to                 church membership? how do the parts play out in your church.

    5. in relation to church membership,  why is it important for members to know and use their spiritual gifts? relate your answer to 1 Corinthians 12.

the first pledge i am a church member

I like the metaphor of membership it's not membership as in a civic organization or a country club.  its the kind of membership given to us in 1 Corinthians 12; " now you are the body of Christ. and individual members of it" (1 Cor. 12:27). Because i am a member of the body of Christ, i must be a functioning church member, whether i am an "eye "an "ear" or a "hand". As a functioning church member, i will give. i will serve. i will minister. i will evangelize. i will study.  i will seek to be a blessing to others. i will remember that" if one member suffers, all the members suffers with it, if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it" ( 1 Cor. 12;26).

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sign and date