Day 1

EMBRACE COMPLETE UNITY!

  • WE ARE UNITED WITH”ONE ANOTHER” IN THE CAUSE OF CHRIST

GOD’S WORD: My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me

through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent meand have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What is the central concern that Jesus prayed about for his followers in all generations?
  2. Why is unity, among all Christ-followers, essential to sharing the faith of Jesus with our world?
  3. What does it mean that Jesus gave his “glory” to his followers so that they could display unity?
  4. What might be different levels of unity among Jesus’ followers?
  5. What must Jesus’ followers do in order to display “complete unity” that is compelling to an unbelieving world?

GOD’S WORD:As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling

you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What does it mean for me and all Christ-followers to live “worthy of our calling”?
  2. What do these terms mean and how can I and all Christ-followers reflect these qualities: being “humble, gentle and patient”?
  3. What does it mean for me and all Christ-followers to “bear with one another in love”?
  4. What kinds of serious effort will it take from me and all believers to help “keep the unity of the Spirit” among all Christ-followers?
  5. Can I explain these Christian beliefs and practices which the apostle Paul explains in terms of there being only “ONE body, spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God and Father”?
  • WE LOVE AND ENCOURAGE “ONE ANOTHER” WITH WORDS AND ACTIONS

GOD’S WORD: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29-32, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What might be different kinds of “unwholesome talk” which discourages (rather than encourages) others?
  2. What kind of talk “builds up” or encourages people?
  3. Can I define these things which Christ-followers must get rid of in order to be encouraging to others: “bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, malice”?
  4. Can I define these things which Christ-followers are to become and be in order to reflect their pure faithfulness to the Lord: being “kind, compassionate, forgiving”?

GOD’S WORD: You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did

when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (James 2:20-26, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. In the context of this Scripture, what might be examples of “useless faith”?
  2. How was Abraham’s faith an example of “genuine faith”?
  3. What did Rahab do to “show genuine faith” to the Lord’s people?
  4. What does James call faith that “talks-the-talk” but does “NOT walk-the-walk”?
  • WE SHARE WITH “ONE ANOTHER” WHEN ANY OF US HAS A NEED

GOD’S WORD: What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:14-17, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. Where does the Jesus expect me and all his followers to begin to display their faith in very tangible ways?
  2. What are some ways that I and all other Christ-followers can become more consistently faithful in the way they meet the needs of fellow believers?
  3. How have other believers lovingly met some of my personal needs in specific and unique ways?
  4. What can I personally do to build even greater unity among the believers in my congregation?
  5. How can I better help to built greater unity among followers of Jesus in other congregations or even among sincere believers in quite different kinds of church traditions?