Thursday, May 7, 2015
Romans 12:1-8 KJV
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, [let us wait] on [our] ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, [let him do it] with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does the Apostle Paul implore his readers to do with their bodies? Why? (v.1)
2) What does Paul tell the reader to refrain from doing? (v.2a)
3) What does the apostle tell us to do with our minds? Why? (v.2b-2c)
4) What else our we to do and refrain from doing and why? (v.3)
5) What are we members of and how does that affect our relationship with other members? (v.4-5)
6) What does the apostle write concerning the gifts given to each member and how they are to be used? (v.6-8)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) What is your spiritual gift and how do you use it to edify the body of Christ?
LIFE LESSONS
8) Every believer is a member of the body of Christ and has been given gifts to build up the body.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Acts 15:22-35 KJV
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 And they wrote [letters] by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren [send] greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, [Ye must] be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no [such] commandment: 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell [you] the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31 [Which] when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed [them]. 33 And after they had tarried [there] a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. 35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After the dissension concerning the circumcision of Gentile believers, who was sent with an epistle (letter) from among the Jewish believers? (v.22)
2) Who was the letter addressed to and what did the letter say? (v.23-29)
3) Where did the men, who had been sent, first deliver the letter? (v.30)
4) How did those sent to Antioch, react after reading, what was written in the letter, to the multitude and why? (v.31)
5) Who confirmed what was written and what else did they do to encourage the believers in Antioch? (v.32)
6) Who remained in Antioch and what did they do while there? (v.33-35)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) What individual(s), or group of believers, needs to be restored, or reconciled, to the body of Christ in your home church, and/or denomination?
8) How is the Lord leading you to begin that process of restoration and/or reconciliation?
LIFE LESSONS
9) The body of Christ is comprised of many different followers of the Lord, from many different ethnicities and doctrines.
10) Our Lord is returning for unified body of believers
