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Group Discussion
It is helpful to know what we are trying to achieve through group discussion. The following may be some helpful goals.
- Group discussion gives every person a chance to contribute something to the topic of discussion. Most people have ideas, many of them good. But to give everyone a chance to share, you may need to limit the time each person is given.
- Group discussion allows for a variety of ideas and opinions to be shared. You as the teacher may not agree with all of them. Simply thank the person for sharing, highlight something you do agree with if possible, and ask for additional comments.
- Group discussion builds a sense of ownership on the part of the group. If the group feels it has had a voice, the members will be much more likely to accept the conclusions.
- Group discussion, properly guided, gives the quiet members a chance to be heard.
Source: Snider, Gordon. "Tips for Teachers", The Church: God's People: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 15.
Unity Is Blessed
Read Psalm 133:1-3
“As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (v. 3).
A New York family bought a ranch out west hoping to raise cattle. Later a friend asked what they named their ranch. The new rancher answered, “I wanted it to be the Bar-J. My wife wanted it to be the Suzy-Q, one son wanted the Flying-W, and the other the Lazy-Y. We finally de-cided on the Bar-J-Suzy-Q-Flying-W-Lazy-Y. We have only had one problem. None of our cattle survived the branding.”
Sometimes making everybody happy does not mean that you have unity. The Moravian brethren discovered this in the midst of internal conflict in 1747. Count Zinzendorf arranged to have a conference so they could discuss the issues causing the controversy. When the representatives arrived, they did not immediately begin to have debates as they had assumed. Instead, he instructed them to first spend time in prayer and the study of 1 John. By the end of the week, they had realized again that one of the main lessons of the book was “love for all the brethren.” On Sunday they agreed they should observe the Lord's Supper, remembering that being many they were one Body. Compromise or debate would have failed. Looking to God for guidance, they once again became the unified functioning Body of Christ. They now experienced what they had forgotten they cherished — the blessing of unity. Prayer with purpose, submission to God's Word, and a humble spirit brought the blessing of unity to the Moravian brethren. It is time for God's people to use this simple formula today. (L Gayle Woods)
Whereas compromise and debate will usually fail, looking to God for His guidance, the people of God can once again become the unified functioning Body of Christ.
This devotional is the Monday, June 12, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.
The Unity of the Church
Lesson 3 - June 18, 2017
Focus Text: 1 Peter 1:22--2:10
Central Truth: Christians belong to each other because they belong to Christ.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify ways that unity can be demonstrated.
Lesson Outline:
- Children in the Same Family (1 Peter 1:22--2:3)
- Stones in the Same Building (1 Peter 2:4-8)
- Citizens of the Same Kingdom (1 Peter 2:9, 10)
Our Duty as Watchmen
In "Biblical Perspective" I.C. Holland writes:
Watchmen were on duty in the Temple. Psalm 134 speaks to the “servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.” For the safety of the people who dwelt in walled cities, watchmen kept their courses day and night. To Ezekiel, God said, “Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me” (33:7). The prophets of old were “God's remembrancers,” as are preachers and pastors of the Church age. It is their solemn business “to call to God's remembrance the needs and claims of His people, and the obligations of His covenant promises” (Pulpit Comm.). This we can understand to be importunate and intercessory prayer, the duty of all Christians. Paul taught us to pray without ceasing. In our prayers, we Christians are allowed to remind God of our faith in His covenant promises.
Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 12.
What is the Church's Relationship to Israel?
In "Doctrinal Discussion" Don Callaway writes:
At the center of this lesson lie two questions: The first is the broader question of the Church's relationship with Israel, and more specifically, whether Old Testament promises to Israel apply to the Church today. Second, if these verses do apply to the Church, at what point should we expect these promises to be fulfilled? Two general approaches have been taken in addressing the relationship between Israel and the Church. Replacement Theology teaches that the Church has replaced Israel, and therefore is heir to all her promises and blessings. A second approach understands the Church to exist as a separate organism from Israel and therefore has no claim to her promises. This approach would prevent the New Testament Church from appropriating many Old Testament promises, including the ones provided here in Isaiah 62. If pushed to an extreme it might also lead to the faulty conclusion that Israel is under a sep-arate salvation plan than the Gentile Church. What do the Scriptures say?
Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 13.