Hello This is a Test

Group Guide

August 7th, 2022
1

This Week's City 7:

1. Who is Jesus? I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time and Paul.
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)

Ice-Breaker:

Did you grow up in church? If so, what kind of church was it? What denomination? If you didn't group up in church, what were you taught about it? What did you think church was all about?

Discussion Questions:

  • One way Christians throughout church history have tried to express their theology is through creeds. Creeds allow us to just barely wrap our minds around God... who he is and what he's like. This past weekend we continued our CREED series in order to give us some clear doctrine about what and who God intends the church to be. Most Americans grossly misunderstand what the church is supposed to be. The first takeaway from Sunday was, "The church is a BRANCH." Have someone read John 15:5 and Romans 11:17-24. Being a branch means that the church is to be humble and merciful in our dependence on Jesus. It means showing people grace and compassion. There's no room for anger or hatred or pride in God's people. When you look at the church as a whole in America, do you see humility, grace and compassion? What about when you look at your own life and faith? What do you think is missing?

  • Next, the church is a BRIDE. Have someone read 2 Corinthians 11:2 and Ephesians 5:25-32. The church is the bride of Christ. We are to be the bride that is anxiously awaiting the return of the Bridegroom. We should be looking forward to and longing for the day he returns. He loves his bride, and he proved it by giving himself up for her. Was she worthy of this love? No! But because of what Jesus did for her, she is now (and will be) without flaw or blemish. The bride is to be pursing holiness and purity through the washing of the Word and the Holy Spirit working in her. A true bride keeps herself pure for the Bridegroom. What should this look like in a church? What should it look like in our personal lives? How do you practically pursue holiness?

  • The church is also a BODY. Have someone read 1 Corinthians 12:12-21. We are all one of many parts that make up the body of Christ. This means we can never say to someone else, "I don't need you" or think the church body doesn't need us. While we all serve a different function in the body, we are all vital to the body as a whole. We all have a role to play. Just like a body part (finger or toe) dies when it gets removed from the body, so will you if you stay disconnected from the body for too long. Things will not go well for you. And not only does the part suffer, but the body does as well. Is there a time in your life that you got disconnected from the body of Christ? What were the results? How have you seen your faith grow in those times when you were the most connected to the body? Do you feel like you have found your place/role in the church body? Have you ever thought about how the body suffers as well when you get disconnected?

  • The church is a BUILDING. Have someone read 1 Corinthians 3:9-10, 16. You may have heard that the church isn't a building. Well, yes and no. WE are God's building. Together, WE are his house. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We living stones in the house of God. We have been called to assemble and gather. We are here because of the saints that came before us. We should honor them and also look ahead to a legacy of people that will come after us. We have been given the responsibility and privilege to steward his church in our generation. This means we are to sacrifice FOR it and invest IN it. Can you say this is true of you? What are you doing to steward his church well?

  • Finally, the church is a FAMILY. Have someone read Ephesians 1:5. We are adopted! Jesus is the firstborn. He rose from the dead, and now by faith we can be born again and will also rise some day. We all belong to Jesus' family. Our families belong to his family. And families hang out together. We are to consistently assemble. This means that church online, books and podcasts just won't cut it. If we are to be a branch, a bride, the body of Christ and God's building, we have to stay physically connected. How connected to the body have you been? What is it in your life that keeps you from attending church consistently? Do you think some adjustments need to be made to keep you more connected to the body?

Prayer Topics: 

  • That we would learn to be more connected to his church body. 
  • That we would work to find our place in the body, what role we are to serve.
  • That we would prioritize the church family in our lives.

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Marcus Johnson - August 8th, 2022 at 7:42pm

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!!!

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