The Church - Week 9
Sunday, November 8, 2020
In week #9 of our series on “The Church”, we answer the question “How does the church stay unified?”
Describe an experience where you saw firsthand the power of unity. (family, society, team, work, etc)
What about the power of disunity & division? Have you experienced that firsthand?
Why is the church so vulnerable to division in 2020?
Read Philippians 2:1-8.
In the sermon, Jason pointed to vs 2 and emphasized that we maintain church unity when we are of the same mind and the same love. How can the church be of the same mind? Do we lay aside convictions, ethics, and theology in order to do this? If not, how do conviction and unity co-exist? (Think of the band analogy that Jason used during the sermon.)
How does I Corinthians 13 impact our view of the church being of the same love?
What does “agape” love look like for those who disagree? (Election, Race, Covid, etc)
According to Philippians 2:2-8, humility is the key to being of the same love.
How do you define real humility?
In vs 5-8 we are given the example of Jesus as a picture of true humility. Think about the phrases used to describe His humility discuss why each was unique/important:
“though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped”
“emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant”
“being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form”
“he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”
How does Communion (the Lord’s Supper) remind us of being of the same mind, same love?
How does it remind us of real humility?
Do you see it as your responsibility to maintain church unity? If so, what is one thing you can do right now toward that end?
What is one way that you can treat others as higher than yourself this week?
Is your hope truly in Jesus? Do you trust in Him above all others? If so, what changes in your attitude, thoughts, or actions this week?