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Gateway Church

Belong To One Another

June 4, 2023
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JUNE 4

BELONG TO ONE ANOTHER

What will make this the best summer ever won’t be the destinations we go to or the pictures we take, but rather the people we do life with- those we impact and those that impact us. We know accountability is important for growth, but so few of us allow people close enough to help us.

Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own or get together with your group, spiritual running partners, or family to talk through what you are learning.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Share about a time when someone gave you some hard feedback, but it turned out to be beneficial. What made it so?

Are you better at giving or receiving feedback? Why?

What stood out to you from the message?

Read Ephesians 4:25-32. 

Make some observations about this passage (What does the text say?):

  • Who is talking?
  • What is the circumstance?
  • Any repeated phrases?
  • What surprised you?
  • What stood out to you?

Make some interpretations (What does the passage mean?):

  • Who is talking?
  • What questions do you have?
  • Summarize the passage in 1-3 sentences – what are the main points?
  • What do you learn about the nature and character of God as you read this?
  • What do you learn about yourself and your choices?

Now make some applications (what’s my response?):

  • How do you respond to what you are reading?
  • How does this apply to your life?
  • What is the central truth that you could put into practice from this?
  • Who could you share this with for the sake of encouragement?

     5.   Read Galatians 6:1. 

  • Do you consider yourself responsible for restoring others when they stray in their faith? Do you let others do the same for you? Why or why not? Read James 5:15-16.

     6.    Read James 5:15-16.

  • Do you have people in your life that you regularly confess to and pray with? Why or why not? 

     7.     In what areas are you challenged to grow in your “belonging” to the body of Christ? What next step toward growth could you take this week? 

KEY SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 4:25-32      Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 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.

Galatians 6:1       Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

James 5:15-16     And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

PRAYER 

Our prayers are powerful because we have a powerful, unceasing Intercessor. As the Scriptures say about Jesus as our faithful, eternal High Priest, He “always lives to intercede” for those who “come to God through him” (Hebrews 7:25). So, when we come to God with our requests, Jesus is appealing to God for us. In addition to that, when we don’t know how or what to pray, the Spirit also intercedes for us “according to God’s will.” If we do the math correctly, we have the power of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit) in our corner when we pray. That is no small thing! Do we even scratch the surface when it comes to petitioning the One “who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine”(Eph.3:20)?

What better place to start practicing our calling to care for one another’s growth than right here in your group? As you each shared where you are challenged to grow, spend time interceding for each other to grow in these ways. 

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