Many Members, One Body

Sunday, May 17, 2015
1 Corinthians 12:14-31 KJV 

14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body [were] an eye, where [were] the hearing? If the whole [were] hearing, where [were] the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where [were] the body? 20 But now [are they] many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those [members] of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely [parts] have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely [parts] have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that [part] which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 [Are] all apostles? [are] all prophets? [are] all teachers? [are] all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What is the body of Christ comprised of? (v.14)
2) What members of the body does the Apostle Paul write about? Is any member of the body more important than another? Why, or why not? (v.15-17, 20-21)
3) Who put the members of the body in the body, as it pleased Him? Why? (v.18, 24b-25)
4) What does the apostle write concerning our treatment of the feeble, dishonorable, and uncomely members of the body? Why? (v.22-24a)
5) What should happen in the body when one member suffers, or is honored? (v.26)
6) What are the various gifts and offices that each member of the body has been given? Do all have the same gifts or functions? Why, or why not? (v.27-30)

7) What does the Apostle Paul tell his readers to covet and what will he show his readers? (v.31)


APPLICATION QUESTIONS
8) Have you ever looked down upon another brother or sister in Christ who did not possess the same gifts of office as you? If so, why.
9) Have you ever been treated less than another brother or sister in Christ because you were not considered to be as honorable as they were (are)? If so, how did that make you feel and what, if anything, did you do about it?

LIFE LESSONS
10) The Lord gave every member of His body specific gifts to bless the rest of the body with and to encourage unity between His children.

Avoid Those Who Cause Dissensions

Thursday, April 23, 2015
Romans 16:16-20 KJV 

16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. 17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all [men]. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. Amen.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does the Apostle Paul encourage the churches to do? (v.16)
2) What does the apostle warn the brethren to do and to avoid? Why? (v.17-18)
3) What did the Apostle Paul write about the obedience of the brethren? (v.19)
4) What does Paul proclaim that God will do against our adversary? (v.20)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) Who is causing dissension in your family and/or church?
6) What will you do in response to the strife that they are causing among the brethren?

LIFE LESSONS
7) The Lord wants His people to be of one mind and one accord. Pray for those who stir up strife within the church and/or our homes.

Don't Listen to Impostors

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

Seeking Unity of the Spirit

Tuesday, April 14, 2015
1 Peter 3:8-12 KJV

8 Finally, [be ye] all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, [be] pitiful, [be] courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord [are] over the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord [is] against them that do evil.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After exhorting women to be submissive to their husbands, how does the Apostle Peter tell every believer to behave and why? (v.8-9)
2) What must the reader do to live a long and a good life? Why? (v.10-12)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
3) Are you in one mind, or one accord, with your fellow believers? If not, why not?
4) Are you experiencing a long and a good life? If so, why do you believe that is?

LIFE LESSONS
5) Every believer experiences the blessing of the Lord when we submit, and do good, to other believers.

Quest for a True Altar

Monday, November 3, 2014
Joshua 22:21-34 KJV

21 Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel, 22 The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if [it be] in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,) 23 That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require [it]; 24 And if we have not [rather] done it for fear of [this] thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel? 25 For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD. 26 Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: 27 But [that] it [may be] a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD. 28 Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should [so] say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say [again], Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it [is] a witness between us and you. 29 God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that [is] before his tabernacle. 30 And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which [were] with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them. 31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD [is] among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD. 32 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again. 33 And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt. 34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar [Ed]: for it [shall be] a witness between us that the LORD [is] God.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manassseh were returning to their allotted land on the other side of the Jordan. What had they done upon taking posession of the land? Why? (v.24-28)
2) What did the Israelites assume when the three tribes did what they did? (v.29)
3) What did the Israelites conclude about the actions of the three tribes? (v.30-33)
4) What did the three tribes call their altar and declare that it was for? (v.34)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) Have you ever done something in a church service that was misunderstood by other congregants? If so, briefly describe what it was and what provoked the misunderstanding.
6) What did you do to be reconciled to your brothers and/or sisters?
7) Have you ever heard of, or been a part of, a church split? If so, briefly describe what happened.

PRINCIPLES
8) It is the Lord's desire that His children dwell together in unity.
9) As children of God, we are to seek peace and pursue it, at all costs.
10) Judging the actions/behaviors of our brothers and/or sisters, without talking with them first, is not conducive to maintaining harmonious relations with each other.