Opening Prayer:
“How wonderful, how beautiful,
when brothers and sisters get along!
It’s like costly anointing oil
flowing down head and beard,
Flowing down Aaron’s beard,
flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.
It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon
flowing down the slopes of Zion.
Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing,
ordains eternal life.
- Psalm 133, The Message
Read: Ephesians 5:21-33
Story/Illustration:
“Across the board, the way Paul trains us to re-understand ourselves in relation to those we live with and work with is as to Christ or in the Lord or under a common Master. We no longer understand our role by comparing it to some model taken from the culture, but always, without exception, to Christ. (from Practice Resurrection by Eugene Peterson)
“Put yourself completely under the influence of Jesus, so that he may think his thoughts in your mind, do his work through your hands, for you will be all-powerful with him to strengthen you.” (from A Gift for God by Mother Teresa)
“In surrendering to another, and ultimately to God in unselfish love, we reach the highest state of communication that leads to communion. In such intimate self-giving communion we expand into a conscious awareness of being one in a mutual sharing of the good with both the lover and beloved, while at the same time we both discover how beautifully unique and free we are to live in goodness toward the other.” (from In Jesus We Trust by Maloney)
Questions For Reflection:
* Any response to Pastor Karen's sermon?
* What words in this passage jump out at you? Why?
* Is the body of Christ an abstract concept to you? Explain
* What does it mean to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ?" Why is God so concerned about how we treat one another?
* Why is belonging to a church important?
* What relationship do you have that really makes this passage hard to embrace?
* Do we ever have the “right” to tell someone else what to do? If so, when and why?
* How are we called to respond to someone else when there is a gulf between us and them in our thinking or actions?
Wrap up:
This week isolate one area of division in one of your relationships and look on each day as a fresh opportunity to pray about it. Ask the Lord to reveal anything in your heart that is threatening oneness with that relationship. Pray that God would do the same for them. And if appropriate, discuss this matter openly, seeking God for unity.
Journal your thoughts and experiences. Did the Lord open your eyes to anything new that might be giving fuel to this point of disagreement? How do you intend to respond? What do you hope to see God do in this relationship?
Closing Prayer:
“Teach me to walk in your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my
whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.” (Psalm 86:11-12)
While I know that Ephesians 5 talks about relationships in the home (spouses, parents/child, master/slave), what struck me over and over as I read the passage was that in many ways it is really talking about our relationship to Christ and how the church is to function. Sometimes I feel like these relationships are only an excuse for the author to talk about the church and Christ's love and giving for us that we are to give back in return...
ReplyDeleteSo much to think about. . . "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." That's what the body of Christ, living in community and for the community is all about. As the church, we are family “members of one another” and “submit to one another.” This is hard stuff - loving each other, respecting one another, and getting along especially when we consider how many of us there are that make up the body in any given congregation. Sometimes families can barely manage to love one another and stay intact (and many don't). It truly is a miracle that the church is able to function and even thrive with all of us wonderful sinners!
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