God's Plan In the Church:
CHRISTIANS NURTURING CHRISTIANS

Study Guide
by David Chadwell

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Lesson Nine

It would be impossible to exaggerate the urgent need for congregations to become the community that God and Christ designed the church to be.

Describe the person before he or she received Jesus' help and tell the short version of their story.

Luke 8:26-39
1. Would this man "fit" in the congregation that you desire?
2. Would you regard him to be a spiritual asset or liability to the Christian community?

Matthew 15:21-28
1. Would this woman "fit" in the congregation that you desire?
2. Would you regard her to be a spiritual asset or liability to the Christian community?

Matthew 9:10-13
1. Would these men "fit" in the congregation that you desire?
2. Would you regard them to be spiritual assets or liabilities in the Christian community?

Luke 7:36-50
1. Would this woman "fit" in the congregation that you desire?
2. Would you regard her to be a spiritual asset or liability to the Christian community?

Luke 19:1-10
1. Would this man "fit" in the congregation that you desire?
2. Would you regard him to be a spiritual asset or liability to the Christian community?

Luke 8:1-3 (focus on verse 2)
1. Would this woman "fit" in the congregation that you desire?
2. Would you regard her to be a spiritual asset or liability to the Christian community?

John 3:1-15
1. Would this man "fit" in the congregation that you desire?
2. Would you regard him to be a spiritual asset or liability to the Christian community?

John 4:1-42
1. Would this woman "fit" in the congregation that you desire?
2. Would you regard her as a spiritual asset or liability to the Christian community?

Jesus deeply desires people who trust him and repent. The Christ can build his church (create his community) with people who trust God's promises and redirect life.

1. What are the special needs of the single adult in the Christian community?

2. What are the special needs of the single parent in the Christian community?

3. What are the special needs of the divorced person in the Christian community?

4. What are the special needs of the widow or widower in the Christian community?

5. What are the special needs of the struggling wife or husband in the Christian community?

6. What are the special needs of the troubled teen in the Christian community?

7. What are the special needs of the seriously ill in the Christian community?

8. What are the special needs of the families of the seriously ill in the Christian community?

9. What are the special needs of the abuse victim, the rape victim, the incest victim, or the crime victim in the Christian community?

10. What are the special needs of the person who has lost his job in the Christian community?

11. What are the special needs of the person who has failed horribly, publicly, but repented in the Christian community?

12. What are the special needs of the poor in the Christian community?

13. What are the special needs of the disabled in the Christian community?

14. What are the special needs of the elderly in the Christian community?

Should the Christian community address special needs? How? Are we functioning as a community if we tell the majority of people with special needs to "come, sit in one of our seats, listen to a class or worship, pay attention to the sermon, smile and shake hands, and go your way until the next time that you are supposed to assemble with us."

Would God have us say, "Go in peace: be warmed and filled" (James 2:16)?

Does every person have a God-designed role in the community, or are those with special needs only "to observe" the community? Read again 1 Corinthians 12:22-25.


David Chadwell

Christians Nurturing Christians Study Guide (lesson 9)
Wednesday evening Bible class, Summer Quarter 1999
West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Copyright © 1999
Permission is granted to freely copy and distribute with text unchanged, including author's name.
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