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Cooperation in the Church
Lesson 6 - July 9, 2017
Focus Text: Acts 6:1-7; 1 Peter 5:1-7
Central Truth: Cooperation is a key attitude of the effective church.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list several ways their church can show better cooperation.
Lesson Outline:
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Cooperation by Choice (Acts 6:1-7)
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Cooperation in Ministry (1 Peter 5:1-4)
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Cooperation Through Submission (1 Peter 5:5-7)
Effective Group Discussions
Effective group discussions are most likely to take place when all the members feel they are important to the group. There are many factors that contribute to a sense of importance, but let's mention two here.
- Create an atmosphere in which people feel safe about sharing. Two factors are important here. First, be careful not to “shoot someone down” for their opinion, even if that opinion is theologically not correct. Always thank the person for sharing, first, then try to guide the situation to a presentation of alternate views. For example, you might say, “Many Christians feel exactly as Mary has expressed. What is another way other Christians approach this topic?” Second, leave the discussion in the classroom. Using what someone said in your class in a way that embarrasses them elsewhere is a perfect way to stop future discussion.
- Take time at the beginning of class for people to share about their week, and give updates and prayer requests as desired. Allow new people a chance to introduce themselves. Making sure everyone gets a chance to be heard in the little things will build the atmosphere necessary for all to share about the topic(s) you really want to discuss.
The Power of Unity
Read Nehemiah 4:7-9
“Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them” (v. 9).
Dad and I were constructing a deck at our home in Overland Park, Kansas. In compliance with the strict building codes of the city, we had to have some rather significant post holes into which we were to pour concrete, so we rented a powered post hole digger. It really wasn't too difficult to operate in the rich, black soil of Overland Park. However, we once encountered a problem. I could not seem to get the post hole digger to go any deeper and asked Dad what seemed to be the problem. He said, “Deeper? I've been trying to pull up on this thing!” We simply weren't communicating. Thus we weren't working in unity. Working in unity is not only a mark of maturity, it is empowerment for progress. Of course, unity begins with a common focus or goals. A number of things are desirable in formulating a course for common ground: mutual encouragement, a desire to please Christ above all, a desire to touch the lives of others with the gospel, just to name a few. Another significant goal is guarding against the enemy's encroachment upon the work of God. We can do that by maintaining fervency of spirit and dogged desire to please God. (Lonnie Witt)
Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before. — Sabine Baring-Gould
This devotional is the Monday, June 26, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.
The Maturity of the Church
Lesson 5 - July 2, 2017
PRINTED TEXT: 1 Corinthians 12:18-27; Ephesians 4:11-16
Central Truth: The Church becomes mature through the unity of its diverse members.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify ways in which the church works together to become the people Christ desires.
Lesson Outline:
- Maturity Through Caring for One Another (1 Corinthians 12:18-27)
- Maturity Through Serving Together (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Staying on Topic
Effective group discussions have a carefully chosen topic, and the teacher's role is to keep the discussion on target. The “God's Word for Today” feature of your quarterly is designed to suggest topics for your discussion. You as the teacher certainly can add others, or even develop a totally different set of questions. But conversations that are not guided are the ones most likely to get off the lesson topic. You can ask people to share how they feel about the topic; new information about the topic; concerns they have about the topic; or even personal experiences that directly relate to the topic. Again, limit the time, and feel free to ask the members to summarize how what they have said contributes to the topic. If it doesn't, the members will likely be less inclined to give stray thoughts in the future if they know they may be asked how what they have said contributes to the topic.
Membership in the Church
Lesson 4 - June 25, 2017
Focus Text: Acts 2:38-47; 4:32-35
Central Truth: The Christian lives out his faith in the community of believers.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify several purposes the church should seek to fulfill.
Lesson Outline:
- New Converts (Acts 2:38-41)
- The Fellowship of Believers (Acts 2:42-47)
- The Sharing of Possessions (Acts 4:32-35)