ST NICOLAS, NEWBURY

HOME GROUP QUESTIONS

PICTURES OF THE CHURCH 3: THE BODY OF CHRIST

For home groups that would like them, here are some questions on the third of our series on Pictures of the Church. There's no need to answer them all - just tackle the ones you have time for. You don't need to stick to the areas mentioned here - feel free to discuss any other issues that arise for you.

1. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. What is your first response to the idea that the church is the body of Christ?

2. Why do we have bodies? What light does this shed on the question of why Christ is described as having a body?

3. What is it that Paul stresses in verses 12-13 and verse 27? Why is this so important?

4. According to verse 13, how does someone become part of the body of Christ? Has this happened to you? How do you know?

5. Paul moves on to make a different point in verse 14. What is it?

6. In verses 15-20, what is the problem expressed by the foot and the ear? How does Paul answer this?

7. In verses 21-26, what is the problem expressed by the eye and the head? How does Paul answer this?

8. Do you think you incline more towards being like the 'foot/ear' or the 'eye/head'? How does what Paul says help?

9. According to verses 24-26, what has God done to promote unity in the body? How does this work out in practice?

10. Take some time to pray about the quality of our relationships within the church - especially between those who find it a challenge to get on with each other!

David Stone
22 May 2008