Questions of Faith – Is the church relevant in 2016?

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Today’s Faith Question: Does the church have any relevance in
2016?

Please read Ephesians 4: 1-16 and use these notes to prepare for Sunday morning worship.

Sermon Focus: “On the Church”

Key Verse: Ephesians 4: 4-6

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”

How might you reconcile the author’s assertion of one body,

one Lord, one spirit, and one God, despite the plethora of

religions in the world today?

Key Verse: Ephesians 4: 14-16

“We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.  But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.”

What do you think the author means by doctrine, trickery, and

craftiness?

How do you strive to build up the Body of Christ in love

Wesleyan Connection: Church

Does this Spiritual Gift build up the church? John Wesley noted that usefulness was the criterion for determining the value of all gifts. The appeal to usefulness raises the questions “useful toward what goal?” 1 Corinthians 14: 1 provides an answer; “pursue love and strive for spiritual gifts.” As Christians imitate Christ and grow in love in the church community, they are built up together into holiness. Growth in love must be pursued. This is the goal of the church, to help the members grow closer to God through love.

-Excerpt from the Wesley Study Bible.