If you would like to begin studying interactively with us, please email us at
email@stepinfaith.org
to find out more about our Ladies'
Fellowship group or
click here!
Instructions: Read through the questions and answer them the
best way that YOU can in your own words. Then, refer to the
Scriptures listed at the end of the question and answer the
question again in your own words, but using what you learned as
a result of your Biblical research. You may
refer to StepInFaith’s
online Bible to
help you answer these questions. Another free electronic Bible
resource which is downloadable to your PC is obtainable by
visiting the
e-Sword website.
Section 2:
The Church Strengthening Your Life
[Lesson
1 |
2 |
3 ]
A church is
a group of baptized believers voluntarily joining together for
instruction, fellowship, worship, and service. Jesus Christ
personally established the church while He was here on the earth
to unite Christians together as a spiritual family (Matthew
16:18). Just as you are physically born into an earthly family,
Jesus said you must be spiritually born into God's family (John
3:3). God has placed men in families for their care, protection,
fellowship and development. You need the church for all the
reasons you need a family and many more.
It is
through the church that you are to be fed the "milk of the Word"
(I Peter 2:2). God said, "And I will give you pastors according
to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and
understanding" (Jeremiah 3:15). It is through the church that
you are to give your tithes and offerings. God's Word says,
"Upon the first day of the week let everyone of you lay by him
in store, as God has prospered him..." (I Corinthians 16:2).
Jesus said,
"It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). He
denounced selfishness as one of the gravest of all sins. He
said, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man's life
consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth"
(Luke 12:15).
Selfishness
destroys life. It kept a rich man from becoming a believer (Mark
10:17-22). It can keep you from becoming a strong and useful
Christian. A right attitude toward your total life will mean the
difference between a life of joyful victory and a life of
frustrating defeat. This lesson is to help you learn about your
church and your responsibilities within it. Begin now to
memorize Hebrews 10:25 to remind you to be faithful in attending
and supporting your church.
"Not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of
some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye
see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)
YOU'RE DOING
GREAT! BUT DON'T STOP NOW.
Lesson 1, “The Church's Origin and Purpose”
1. Who established the church of the New Testament? (Matthew
16:18)
a. How
did Christ obtain the church? (Acts 20:28)
2. What is
Christ's relationship to the church? (Colossians 1:18)
a. What
is the church's relationship to Christ?
3. What is
necessary before a person can become a member of the church?
(Acts 2:41, 47)
4. What are
the two major purposes Christ gave the church? (Matthew
28:19-20)
5. What
spiritual leaders has God given to the church? (Ephesians 4:11)
a. Why
has God given them to the church? (Ephesians 4:12)
6. For what
purpose are the saints perfected or spiritually equipped?
(Ephesians 4:12)
a. Use a
dictionary and define the word "edify"
7. What are
the main responsibilities of my pastor? (Jeremiah 3:15, Acts
20:28)
a. (Acts
6:4)
b. What
should be my attitude toward my pastor and other spiritual
leaders? (I Thessalonians 5:12,13)
Lesson 2, "Fellowship"
1. What is
said of the fellowship of the early church? (Acts 2:44-47)
a. What
is God's desire for my church? (I Corinthians 1:10)
b. What
is one of my responsibilities to my church? (Ephesians 4:3)
c. How
can I do this? (Ephesians 4:2)
2. If any
other Christian is helped or hurt, does it affect me? Why? (I
Corinthians 12:26)
3. What
should I do if someone tries to disrupt the fellowship of my
church? (Romans 16:17,18)
4. Why were
deacons added as spiritual servants of the church? (Acts 6:1-3)
Lesson 3, "Giving and Serving"
1. What did
Jesus say about the joy of giving? (Acts 20:35)
a. What
was His estimate of a small but sacrificial gift? (Luke
21:3,4)
b. Even
in poverty and affliction, how did the Macedonians give? (II
Corinthians 8:2,3)
c. What
is God's plan for my giving through my church?
d.
Attitude? (II Corinthians 9:7)
e.
Regularity? (I Corinthians 16:2)
f.
Amount? (Malachi 3:10, I Corinthians 16:2)
2. What are
some other things the early Christians did as they gathered
together? (Acts 2:42, 12:5, 1:27) (I Corinthians 4:17, 16:1,2)
(Hebrews 2:12)
3. What must
I as a true believer never neglect? (Hebrews 10:25)
a. What
was Christ's attitude toward His church? (Ephesians 5:25)
b. What
should be my attitude toward attending church? (Psalm 122:1)
4. From this
study, why is it important for me to attend church faithfully
and participate in its activities and fellowship?
