Magdalen Road Church Weekend: The Church as Community

Session Three: A Community of Care
Ephesians 4

Reflection
‘One Anothering’
The verses below list some of the things we are to do for or to one another in the church. Divide them up among the people in your group and compile a list of ‘one anothering’ activities.

1.	Mark 9:50 
2.	John 13:34-35
3.	John 15:12 & 17
4.	Romans 12:10 & 16
5.	Romans 13:8
6.	Romans 14:13 
7.	Romans 15:5, 7 & 14 
8.	Romans 16:16
9.	1 Cor 12:25	
10. 2 Cor 13:11-12 
11.	Galatians 5:13 
12.	Ephesians 4:2 & 32
13.	Ephesians 5:19 & 21 
14.	Col 3:9, 13 & 16
15.	1 Thess 3:12
16.	1 Thess 4:9 & 18
17.	1 Thess 5:11 & 15
18.	2 Thess 1:3	
19.	Hebrews 3:13
20.	Hebrews 10:24-25
21.	James 5:9 & 16
22.	1 Peter 1:22
23.	1 Peter 4:8-10
24.	1 Peter 5:5 & 14
25.	1 John 3:11 & 23
26.	1 John 4:7 & 11-12
27.	2 John 5	

They produce the following main categories:
	be at peace with one another, forgiving, agreeing, humble, accepting, forbearing, living in harmony & greeting with a kiss
	do not judge, lie or grumble
	show hospitality to one another
	confess your sins to one another
	be kind to one another, concerned, devoted, serving and doing good
	instruct and teach one another
	admonish, exhort and stir up one another
	comfort and encourage one another

1.	Which do you think you (as a church and as an individual) are good at?
2.	Which do you think you (as a church and as an individual) are not very good at?
3.	What stops you (as a church and as an individual) doing more ‘one anothering’? 	

1. Pastoral care must be community-centred

	Christ has given us the Christian community to help us change (4:1-6)
	Christ has given us differences in the Christian community to help us change (4:7-13)

Reflection
Tell you group something that God has done in your life in the past week days or weeks. It might be an answer to prayer, comfort you have found in God’s word, an opportunity for evangelism or help in temptation.	

Prayer
Silence:
Look round the room.
	Do you sometimes feel inferior – as if you have nothing to contribute to others? Christ has given you to his church.
	Do you sometimes feel superior – as if others have nothing to contribute to you? Christ has given his church to you.
	Are there people you would rather not have in the church? Are there people you view of as a ‘problem’? Christ has given them to his church. 
	Have you ever used the language of gifts to justify a self-indulgent pursuit of self-fulfilment? Christ has given himself up for you.
‘Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.’ (5:2)
In groups:
	Thank God for the people he has placed in your church.
	Pray that you might see them as Jesus sees them and love for them as Jesus loves them.	

   We grow like Christ together (4:12-16)

Summary (verse 16 nlt):
He makes the whole body fit together perfectly	=	1.	Christ has given us the Christian community	
as each part does its own special work it helps the other parts grow	=	2.	and differences in the Christian community	
so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love	=	3.	so we grow like Christ together	

2. Pastoral care must be gospel-centred 

   we grow like Christ by speaking the truth in love (4:17-31)

Reflection
Here are four liberating truths about God: 
	God is in control
	God is big
	God is good
	God is gracious

Consider someone who is (1)  moaning; (2) anxious; and (3) worn out.
	How might their problem be linked to one these truths about God?
	To what other symptoms might forgetting these truths lead?	

 a community of faith and repentance

What should you do if someone confesses their sin to you?
	Call them to repentance rather than excusing their sin.
	Speak words of comfort and hope by pointing to the saving work of Jesus.
	Embody God’s grace and forgiveness in your on-going love and acceptance.
	Explore the lies about God and idolatrous desires behind their sin.
	Offer on-going accountability.

Caring for one another requires:
1. Sharing lives
2. Speaking truth

Reflection
	What relationships do you have that help you grow and change?
	What opportunities do you have to help other people grow and change?
	How can you make your Christian friendships more change-oriented? Think about a first move you could take so you start helping one another change.	

What stops you having relationships for growth and change?
I’m too busy
We are usually too busy because we are driven by heart issues.
Are you busy because:	
	you want to be in control?	= trust God’s reign	
	you want to prove yourself?	= trust God’s grace	
	you want the most from life?	= think about eternity	
	you worry about what other people think?	= fear God more than people	
I don’t need help	
Do you think:
	I don’t like to trouble other people
	I want to manage on my own
	I don’t want to be dependant on others	
=	repent of your pride and accept God’s provision of the Christian community	
I’m afraid of what might happen
Do you avoid close relationships because:		
	they make you feel vulnerable	= trust God’s care	
	they make you feel exposed	= trust God’s grace	
	they might get messy	= put love before your comfort	
I’ve got enough problems of my own		
	Do you think mainly about what other Christians can do for you?
	Are most of your conversations with Christians about you?	= repent of your
self-centredness
and start serving others	

Here are some ideas for making your Christian friendship more change-oriented:
	Talk about your own struggle with sin
	Ask people about their relationship with God
	Meet up regularly to read the Bible and pray together
	Provide accountability to one another
	From time to time ask them: ‘What’s the question you don’t want me to ask?’
	Phone one another in moments of temptation