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lesson 8

 

THE ONE BODY

 

 

I. TEXTUAL THOUGHTS

                1. Ephesians 2:11-22- We are reconciled in one body by the cross.

                2. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, By one spirit we are baptized into one body.

                3. John 17:20-23- Jesus prayed for unity of His disciples.

                4. Galatians 3:27-29- All are one in Christ Jesus.

                5. Ephesians 4:1-6- We are to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

 

II. MAIN THEME: God planned to bring all people together in one body through the death of Jesus.  By the power of the resurrection and the Spirit of God in us we must keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Unity among Christians glorifies God.

                1. The body belongs to Christ, the head.

                                a. Because of what God worked in Christ, Ephesians 1:20-23.

                                b. Because all things consist in Him, Colossians 1:17-18.

                2. God's eternal plan was for a unified body.

                                a. He planned to bring Jew and gentile together in Jesus, Ephesians 2:11-3:13.

                                B. Jesus prayed that believers might be one, John 17;20-21.

                                C. Believers become heirs to God's promises in Jesus, Galatians 3:27-29.

                3. The body is not to be divided.

                                a. God wants His church to be united, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13.

                                b. Christians are encouraged to keep the unity of the Spirit, Ephesians 4:1-3.

                4. The body is made up of members with different functions.

                                a. God gave different roles to members of the body, Eph 4:11-16, Rom 12;1-8.

                                b. Members are to understand the need  to work together,   1 Cor 12:12-31.

                5. The church is to glorify God through unity.

                                a. By being rooted and grounded in love, Ephesians 3:9-21.

                                b. That the world may believe in Jesus, John 17:21.

 

 

III. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

                1. The body can be united while each member has different functions; everyone

                    does not have the same role in the church, Romans 12:1-8, 1 Cor 12:12-31.

                2. The body can be united though there are different opinions, Rom 14, Gal 5:13-15.

                3. Unity results from following Jesus and trying to keep the unity of the Spirit in

                    the bond of peace, by being kind to each other, Ephesians 4:1-6.

                4. When we look at Jesus and try to follow Him, unity results, Philippians 2:3-8.

                5. Dividing the body is evidence of worldly attitudes, 1 Corinthians 3:1-4.

                6. We should speak the same things, by being joined together by our common

                    faith in Jesus, 1 Corinthians 1:4-13, 1 Peter 4:11.

 

 

IV. MEMORY VERSE- EPHESIANS 4:3

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