Large Group # 3 - Everyone is different!

This week we will be discussing what it means to be a Body of Christ.  The Christian walk is not a solitary one and many of the commands and exhortations we have received through the bible are corporate (for example, most of the “you”s translated into English in the New Testament are really “you all”s). We are called to live together as a body in preparation for becoming the bride of Christ, made perfect through the sacrifice of Jesus.

So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. (Romans 7:4)

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. (Revelation 21:9-10)

As a Body of Christ we are called to live close with one another and, as sinners with lots of rough edges, we are likely to irritate each other (a lot). This leads to conflicts, misunderstandings, and general discord because we are different and we do not understand each other or each other’s perspectives, and our roles in the Body of Christ are all distinct.  Therefore I encourage us all to grow in understanding of ourselves (so that we may understand our own part in the Body of Christ) and of others (so we can better understand the complete picture of the Body of Christ and increase our appreciation of each other). Let us encourage each other to greater unity.

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

My hope is that this week we can discuss and appreciate what makes each one of us unique in the Body of Christ, how we can better understand each other, and how we can take ownership of loving others for who they are as we are grown by the Holy Spirit.  One of the tools we have at our disposal is personality tests, like the Myers-Briggs test you can find at this link: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp. When you’re done you can read about your personality type here: http://www.typelogic.com (I recommend this site over others). Although personality tests are limited tools, they are good at helping to diagnose broad patterns that you might encounter in your life and for helping to understand the pitfalls that your fellow workers in Christ might face based on their personality types.  I have found the Myers-Briggs test and the descriptions to which I linked to be quite accurate and helpful. I hope that they are also helpful for you!

Loving each other for who we are is time consuming and takes much effort, but it is most highly commendable. Let us continue to grow in love, understanding, and maturity because we have received good news.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Love in Christ,

Peter

P.S. I have attached the discussion questions for this week below.  If you would like to answer or discuss any of the questions, please feel free to reply all and start a conversation!

1. If you took the personality test that was emailed out (or if you’ve taken a personality test before) discuss your results. Was it helpful? Pay particular attention to how your personality might influence your social interactions or your learning style in the classroom.
2. Galatians 6:2. How can we practically help to carry each other’s burdens?  Think about this also in the context of Matthew 11:28-30 (is it possible to misuse Mat. 11:28-30 to blame others for their problems and beat them down?) How can we support each other in our roles even though we are all different?
3. Philippians 2:1-2. What does Paul mean when he encourages the Philippians to be “like-minded?” Should we all strive to be identical?
4. Romans 12:3-16. We often hear that it is important to be humble before God.  This is true!  Why also is humility important in the context of day-to-day living as the Body of Christ? What does it mean to be humble? Is it possible to err both in thinking too highly and too lowly of yourself?
5. James 2:1-13. What are some common ways that we show favoritism? Can people have a ‘gold ring and fine clothes’ or be a ‘poor man in shabby clothes’ in other ways than with material wealth?  Is it tempting to show favoritism based on appearances? Does not showing favoritism mean that we treat everyone exactly equally/Does loving everyone equally mean that you treat everyone exactly the same way? (Look at David and Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18).
6. What does it mean to be a ‘seemly’ or an ‘unseemly’ part of the body (1 Corinthians 12:20-25).
7. What does it mean to say, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it?” How do we live out 1 Corinthians 12:26?
8. Look at Luke 18:9-12. Examine what the Pharisee is saying.
1. Why does Jesus tell this parable?
2. Think about this parable in the context of the Body of Christ. Do some parts of the body see things differently?  Are they prone to different genres of sin? Why is it important for us to be a body? What happens when we try to ‘do it alone?’  Is it tempting to try to ‘do it alone?’ Why?
9. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6. How does this affect how we use our gifts and think of ourselves and our talents?
10. Talk about someone in your life who has gifts that you are thankful for that complement your own gifts (e.g. parents, siblings, a pastor or mentor).
11. Read the parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-30. Talk about spiritual gifts you have received (are you an encourager, a teacher, a healer, an organizer, several of these, something else? See 1 Cor. 12:4-11). How can you tell if you are putting your talents to good use? (Matthew 7:16-20).
12. What happens in a church that is composed of people who are all the same part of the body (e.g. all “hands” or “eyes,” see 1 Cor. 12:14-20)?
13. Consider that there are many denominations.  Is this a fractioning of the body or an expression of its diversity? Is 1 Cor. 1:10-17 appropriate to think about when considering denominations?
14. There is a popular notion that, “You can be whatever you want to be.”  Is this a biblically valid statement? What are good and bad aspects of this philosophy.