2 Life in the Church When have you been part of a group that felt like family? QUESTION 1 #BSFLIdentity BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 89
THE POINT I love and serve Christ when I love and serve His body, the church. THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE It was like standing at a fork in the road except the road went in a dozen directions. I was preparing to graduate from college and was terrified because I had no idea what to do for the rest of my life. And that was because I had no real idea about who I was. Throughout my 16-year educational journey, I d learned a lot of things about other people but nothing about myself. All that changed when I found my identity in Christ. When I became a Christ-follower, I became part of His body, the church. My identity in Christ connects me to other believers. This is true of all who follow Christ. You find who you are in Christ, and you live out that identity through your involvement with other Christians. Your identity in Christ is demonstrated as you serve and love His church. And, to love and serve the body of Christ is to love and serve the head of the church: Christ Himself. 90 SESSION 2
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 1 Peter 4:7 (CSB) 7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. If we are connected to Christ, we also are connected to other believers. Scripture describes the church in several ways: the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27), the bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7-9), and the family of God (Ephesians 2:19). Families can be wonderful blessings. I always love the excitement of expectant parents. Children are a joy, but every parent knows a strong, healthy family takes work. It s the same with the family of God; we all have to work together to strengthen relationships within the family of God. Peter began by telling believers The end of all things is near (v. 7). The end refers to the end of time when all humanity will stand before Jesus (Revelation 20:11-12). The last days were inaugurated with the death and resurrection of Christ. We see this in the New Testament where Scripture frequently refers to this period between His first and second comings as the last days (Romans 13:11-12; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 10:23-25). Considering the brevity of time, Peter identified three ways believers can serve one another and, therefore, strengthen the family. First, we re told to be alert and sober-minded (v. 7) for prayer. As a spiritual family we hold on to each other and hold each other up through prayer. As a pastor, I can t tell you how important this is for me. I need the prayers of other believers and so do you. Jesus did not save us so that each of us could be an only child. He called us to love Him and His family. If we love the church the family of God we will pray for her members. By praying for the church, we are serving other believers. Prayer is dependence on God, and when we take the lives of others before God s throne of grace, we are laying their needs before the One who loves, cares, and can fully meet their needs. Prayer is the one gift that every believer can offer, and it is the church s most important need. When have you seen prayer make an impact in someone s life? QUESTION 2 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 91
THE POINT I love and serve Christ when I love and serve His body, the church. 1 Peter 4:8-9 (CSB) 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Even in the closest families, conflict happens. Conflict also happens in the church and just as in families, we re to respond to conflict with love. Peter has already told us that, in light of the end of all things, (v. 7) we should pray. For the same reason, the second way Peter taught us to serve our spiritual family was to be filled with a deep love for each other. This is the selfless, benevolent, agape affection that God bestows on His people. But love isn t automatic or easy. It takes work to maintain love in any relationship. Life among believers is no different, and Peter wrote, Above all, maintain constant love for one another (v. 8). When we work to maintain love for one another, that love covers a multitude of sins (v. 8). Peter was not writing about our sins toward God. Our faith in Jesus Christ covers those. Peter was referring to the offenses we commit against each other. My love for others leads me to overlook their offenses against me. Love leads us to move past the hurt and see beyond one another s faults. The church is not filled with perfect people, so it must be filled with God s perfect love. Peter gave us a picture of what love should look like, and in doing so, described the third way we are to serve our spiritual family: Be hospitable to one another without complaining (v. 9). To be hospitable means to be kind and welcoming to people; this is to be a hallmark of the Christian community. Believers are called to practice hospitality (Romans 12:13), and Paul listed it among the defining traits of Christian leaders (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8). What are some ways love covers the damage done by sin? QUESTION 3 92 SESSION 2
Why is hospitality an essential part of any church family? QUESTION 4 It s one thing to share a home or share a meal; it s another thing to do it without grumbling. We can begrudge our own hospitality if we feel obligated to offer it, but if we strive to maintain an intense love for those who share our tables or lodge at our homes, we can be hospitable without complaining. Hospitality moves love from being an abstract truth to a visible reality; hospitality is love in action. 1 Peter 4:10-11 (CSB) 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. We serve one another through prayer and with love, and we demonstrate that love by serving each other through the various ways God has gifted us. Jesus builds His church by filling it with different people. We need others even those who seem very different from us because we need the gifts God has given them. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 93
THE POINT I love and serve Christ when I love and serve His body, the church. Every person in the church brings gifts to add to the body of Christ. Each one is necessary. We need all of these members and their gifts, and they need us. Christians know they need Jesus, but they may not realize they need other Christians. We were not made for ourselves; rather, we were made to serve Christ by serving His body, the church. The church needs us as much as we need the church. For that reason, you are called to use your gift to serve the Lord and His church. Just as each one has received a gift, (v. 10) means you already have a gift from God. Each one who has trusted in Christ has received a spiritual gift a gift that is purely a gift of God s grace. All gifts involve serving and helping others, and Peter categorized them by a general function of speaking or serving. When we review the other passages where spiritual gifts are listed (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-10), each gift can be placed in one of those two categories. It s important to note that we don t use these gifts in our own power or for our own benefit. We serve others through our dependence upon God. We speak as one who speaks God s words, and we serve from the strength God provides (v. 11). What do these verses teach us about God s intention for the church? QUESTION 5 How has God gifted you? God often uses two avenues to make us aware of the gifts He s given us. Often, other believers will see your giftedness before you see it in yourself. Ask other Christians to help you discover ways you can serve others. Just serve. God s giftedness becomes clear, not as you seek His gifts, but as you get your hands dirty and begin to serve. Every believer is called to serve, but God will not enable the full potential of your gift until you surrender to Him. He has not given us all the same gift, but He has called us all to the same service. Once you discover your identity as a servant of God in His church, you ll discover so much more about who God made you to be. 94 SESSION 2
"Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God." 1 PETER 4:10 CALLED TO SERVE Christ-followers are to serve the body of Christ through prayer, hospitality, and their spiritual gifts. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being Never and 5 being Continually, rate your level of involvement in each of these areas. Prayer (Never) (Continually) Hospitality (Never) (Continually) Spiritual Gifts (Never) (Continually) What steps will you take this week to increase your level of involvement in one of these areas? BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 95
THE POINT I love and serve Christ when I love and serve His body, the church. LIVE IT OUT How will you love and serve Christ through His church? Pray. Make a commitment to start praying. Since prayer is simply talking to God, there s no need to make it complicated. Pray for your church and those who lead it. Then, as a way to encourage your church s leaders, let them know you ve been interceding on their behalf and thank them for all they do. Identify your spiritual gifts. For a fully guided spiritual gifts assessment, search online for LifeWay Spiritual Gifts Survey. Set aside some time to complete this brief questionnaire and share the results with your group leader. Be the church. As a group, identify a need in your church or community and come together to meet that need. Being a Christ-follower means we re all part of His body, the church. And when we serve others in the church, we re living out our collective identity as God s people. My thoughts 96 SESSION 2 Share with others how you will live out this study: #BSFLIdentity