A Healthy Body
Further Resources
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Verses: 1 Cor 12:7-21; Rom 12:1-8; Eph 3:10
Key Takeaways:
1. A healthy church body is well-fed, active, works as a unit, and has a healthy mind.
2. We need to feed ourselves with God's truth rather than worldly distractions.
3. Each member has unique gifts that should be used for the common good of the church.
4. Unity is essential for the church to function effectively.
5. Christ is the head of the church, and we must submit to His leadership.
Discussion Questions:
1. The sermon emphasized the importance of being "well-fed" spiritually. What are some ways you currently nourish yourself spiritually? Are there areas where you could improve?
2. Jean shared a vision about how our lives can be filled with "rubbish" that distracts us from God. How do you relate to this? What are some "trash cans" in your life that might be preventing you from fully embracing God's presence?
3. Paul talks about different gifts within the body of Christ. Have you identified your spiritual gifts? If so, how are you using them to serve the church? If not, what steps can you take to discover them?
4. The sermon stressed the importance of unity in the church. Have you experienced conflicts or disunity within the church? How can we practically work towards maintaining unity, even when disagreements arise?
5. How does the analogy of Christ as the head of the church and we as the body parts resonate with you? In what areas of your life do you find it challenging to submit to Christ's leadership?
6. The speaker mentioned that many essential functions in our body happen without our conscious effort. How might this relate to our roles in the church? Have you ever felt that your contributions went unnoticed, and how did you handle that?
Practical Applications:
1. Commit to a specific spiritual discipline (e.g., daily Bible reading, prayer, fasting) for the next week to improve your spiritual "diet."
2. Take a spiritual gifts assessment (the speaker mentioned resources on the church website) and discuss the results with the group next time.
3. If there's someone in the church you're in conflict with, make a plan to approach them this week for reconciliation.
4. Choose one way you can serve the church using your gifts in the coming month.
5. Spend time in prayer, asking God to reveal areas where you might be trying to be your own "head" instead of submitting to Christ.