Path to Spiritual Maturity Meeting #12 Recap - The Church

Opening Prayer

Welcome:

Step 1: Overview

a. Go over last week’s assignment of reading an article on #8 The Church in the Foundations Pathway, and of doing an application.

b. This week’s assignment: read an article on #9 Sexual Purity in the Foundations Pathway, and do an application.

c. Finish with time for questions/comments.

If we run out of time you can always e-mail us, or post in the discussion group. I will post those e-mail addresses and the group link at the end of our session.

Step 2: Review of #8 The Church.

-Go over last week’s assignment of reading an article on #8 The Church in the Foundations Pathway, and do an application.

So did you do your reading and application this week? (Yes/no) Did you find it helpful? What struck you the most from your study this week? Was there anything that you were really challenged on that you prayed about or are doing something about?

The church. To different people the thought of the church will evoke quite different ideas and impressions. To God though, His perspective on it became clear when He declared that the gates of hell would not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18). The church was to be the permanent tool of God for discipleship (spread of the gospel, and spiritual growth). So what is your view of the church? Is it God’s view? Or are you letting the lies of Satan keep you from joining and participating in God’s plan for His body the church? The church does not always function as it should, and at that point we all have the choice. Will we follow satan’s desire and abandon it, or will we follow God’s guarantee and work to accomplish God’s mission and to help other members of the church grow? Will we seek to build the church, or destroy it?

In my growing up years there were definitely flaws in the local churches that I attended which needed fixing and hindered the most effective kind of discipleship and outreach. There were also a number of men who took the time to come alongside me to help me in my Christian walk and in growth. Through the flaws, I was filled with the burning desire to try to help the church do better in those areas, and to be intentional about aiding believers in their growth and walk with God. Through the ways I was blessed I was filled with thankfulness and with the desire to see that kind of ministry continue. A building may be destroyed, a group of people may fall into error, individuals may go off into sin, but if we are true believers in Jesus Christ we are part of His body the church. God’s command for His church, His people, is for them to help one another and work with the gifts of one another to accomplish His purposes.

Are you regularly, actively working with other believers to encourage and be encouraged, to teach and be taught, to be challenged and to challenge, to serve and be served, to grow and help others grow, to together share the gospel, to take communion together, to have oversight…? Christ loves the church so much that husbands are told to love their wives in that same way (Ephesians 5:25). Do you love the church? Can that love be seen in the way that you have been living and the things you have been doing? Are there changes that you need to make? What will you do to work on your attitude and actions in this regard this week?

Step 3: This week’s assignment: Begin #9 Sexual Purity in the Foundations Pathway.

Read at least one article in the Sexual Purity category on the Path to Spiritual Maturity (#9 Sexual Purity under step 4) [or listen to an audio, or watch a video]. Then think about what you have read and do an application (some suggested ones are listed there). Next week we can discuss any questions that you might have had either about the article, or its application.

Other ideas:

*blog about your reading/application

*write down any questions you might have from the reading/experience

*write out any terms that you did not understand

*spend some time praying about and thanking God for His Word that He has given us to be able to know His truths.

Step 4: Questions, comments, and interaction.

…

Step 5: Closing Reminders:

*This week, focus on the Sexual Purity Step. (Keep up your Bible reading time, and as needed, focus on your motivation.)

*Go to the group page to post comments, questions, or to find a posting of what we discussed during our time together. http://users.bible.org/groups/path_spiritual_maturity_discipleship

*E-mail us as needed.

Closing Prayer

Pursue Christ in all you do, and may this Path to Spiritual Maturity be a tool to help you pursue Him. That is our prayer and desire. God bless!