Week 5 - Serve The Body
1. Welcome & Connection
Have everyone share a highlight and a challenge from their week.
Follow-up: Last week we ended by asking what God was leading you to do. Did you take a step toward that? How did it go?
2. Engage with the Message
What stood out to you from this week's message?
Was there a specific scripture, quote, or idea that challenged or encouraged you?
3. Dive Into Scripture
Ephesians 4:11-16 (NLT)
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
What does this passage reveal about God?
What does it reveal about humanity?
4. Reflect on Discipleship Focus
Follow Jesus: How can you grow in obedience to God's call to equip and build up others as described in verses 11-12?
Be Changed by Jesus: In what ways are you being transformed to become more mature in your faith, as mentioned in verse 13?
On Mission with Jesus: How can you contribute to the unity and growth of the body of Christ, as stated in verses 15-16?
5. Pray & Apply
What is God asking your next step of application to be this week? Pray together for each other's application.
Leader Note: Write down the application/prayer for everyone to reference next week.