Day 1: Maintaining Love & Unity
To quote author and pastor, John Ortberg, “Everybody’s Normal Until You Get to Know Them.” That is so true. God has made each one of us unique. At South Ridge we appreciate that. We have different personalities, passions, gifts, talents, and experiences. This creates a beautiful diversity in the church and shows off God’s creativity in bringing us together as a local body (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12). It also provides the church with the people resources to do the work of ministry that God determined in advance to do through us (Ephesians 2:10) as well as an opportunity to practice a Christ-like love with one another (1 Corinthians 13).
In order to fulfill our God-given purpose as individuals and as a local church we must maintain a spirit of unity and love. Therefore, we commit to persevere through conflict and practice forgiveness. In our inadequacies, we depend on God’s grace to live out passages of Scripture like Romans 12:9-21, which the ESV translation of the Bible summarizes with the heading, “Marks of a True Christian”. We also commit to love one another, honor one another, be kind to one another, serve one another, and to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Furthermore, when a member of the local church is struggling with sin in an area of their life we view it as our responsibility to love them and help them with it in an understanding way (Matthew 7:1-5, Galatians 6:1). Therefore, we also practice being accountable to one another.
READING:
Take the opportunity to think of at least 3-4 ways in which making yourself “a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible,” strengthens the church. (If possible, note additional scripture passages as well.)
F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)
Read: Jonah 1 & 2
Reflect: What did you H.E.A.R. from God today? HEAR Bible Study Method
PRAYER: On your own, take the opportunity to pray for the ministry of South Ridge Church. The following outline may be helpful.
Four Prayers for Your Church:
- Thank God for the miracle of SRC and our ministry.
- Thank God for any way in which SRC has changed your life.
- Commit SRC’s future to the Lord.
- Ask God for help in figuring out what your part in that future may be.
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