Questions: Why do people need the church?

Day 1
Read Ephesians 4:1-16. How many "ones" appear in verses 4-5? What point do you think these repeated words make? What relation might this have with ensuing verses, 7-16?

Connect verses 11-13 with these verses from 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 12, and 13. What are the purposes of the God-given gifts to God’s people? What gift has God given you to offer in the community? In the world?

Day 2
Read John 17:20-23; John 13:34-35. In John 17, Jesus prayed for all followers to be unified. What impact does unity (or lack of unity) have on the congregation? On you personally? On the community and world around us? Pray this part of Jesus’ prayer today.

Day 3
Read Acts 2:42-47. How has your experience with Christian community compared to the community described in Acts 2? Is there a way that you could help to move your community to a deeper level? What one step might you take?

Day 4
Read Matthew 16:13-20. Last weekend we read Mark’s version of this story (Mark 8:27-30). What do you think Jesus meant by these terms: keys of the kingdom, binding, loosing? Why did Jesus tell his disciples not to spread the word that he was the Messiah (at that time)? Do you think that command is still in force?

Day 5
Read 1 John 1:1-10. Do you recognize the words from 1 John 1:8-9? Why is confession important for the life of the individual Christian? Why is confession important for the life of the community of faith? Write a prayer of confession that you can use today and for the next few weeks.