Believe Study Guide
Session 6: The Church
Personal Study
Last week you read about and discussed your identity in Christ. Did you learn anything new
about your place in God’s kingdom? Perhaps learning about how God sees you changed how
you see yourself. This week before your group meeting, read Believe, Chapter 6: The Church.
Then spend some time allowing the Scripture to take root in your heart and considering how
you can personally take part in God’s plan for the world.
Read
Read Believe, Chapter 6: The Church and answer the following questions.
1. What patterns do you observe in these Scriptures?
2. What did you read that encouraged you? Spoke to you? Confronted you? Motivated
you?
3. From the moment Adam and Eve defied God in the Garden of Eden, he has been on a
mission to restore the community that was broken. What role does the church play in
this mission? In what ways can you support the divine calling of the church?
4. Although the message of the church is good news, many do not respond positively to it.
Why do you think that is the case?
5. In what ways is the current-day church representing Christ well? In what ways must it
improve?
Evaluate
Based on your reading from Believe, Chapter 6: The Church, evaluate your level of confidence in
the statements below, using a 1–6 scale (1 = no confidence, 6 = complete certainty).
_________ I believe God gives spiritual gifts to every Christian for service to the church
and the community.
_________ I believe that I cannot grow as a Christian unless I am an active member of a
local church.
_________ I believe the community of true believers is Christ’s body on earth.
_________ I believe the purpose of the church is to share the gospel and nurture
Christians to maturity in Christ.
Take Action
Memorizing Scripture is a valuable discipline for all believers to exercise. Spend a few minutes
each day committing this week’s Key Verse to memory.
Key Verse: “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect
the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the
whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows
and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:15–16)
Recite this week’s Key Idea out loud. As you do, ask yourself, does my life reflect this statement?
Key Idea: I believe the church is God’s primary way to accomplish his purposes on earth
today.
Answer the following questions to help you apply this week’s Key Idea to your own life.
1. What behaviors help you recognize someone who believes the church is God’s primary
way to accomplish God’s purposes on earth?
2. What, if anything, hinders you from fully offering your time and abilities to the mission
of the church?
3. What is something you can do this week to demonstrate your belief in the church as
God’s primary way to accomplish his purposes on earth?
Journal
To help you keep all your Believe thoughts and materials in one place, note any verses or
insights God gives you as you spend time with Him this week. This is also a great place to attach
your sermon notes from the weekend messages.
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Group Meeting
Welcome!
Welcome to Session 6 of Believe. If there are any new members in your group, take a moment
to introduce yourselves to each other before watching the video. Then, feel free to get started!
Video Teaching Notes
As you watch the video segment for Session 6, use the following outline to record some of the
main points.
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Getting Started
Begin your discussion by reciting the Key Verse and Key Idea together as a group. On your first
attempt, use your notes if you need help. On your second attempt, try to state them completely
from memory.
Key Verse: “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect
the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the
whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows
and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:15–16)
Key Idea: I believe the church is God’s primary way to accomplish his purposes on earth
today.
Group Discussion
As a group, discuss your thoughts and feelings about the following declarations. Which
statements are easy to declare with certainty? Which are more challenging, and why?
I believe God gives spiritual gifts to every Christian for service to the church and the
community.
I believe that I cannot grow as a Christian unless I am an active member of a local church.
I believe the community of true believers is Christ’s body on earth.
I believe the purpose of the church is to share the gospel and nurture Christians to
maturity in Christ.
Based on your group’s dynamics and makeup, choose the 2–3 questions that will lead to the
best discussion about this week’s Key Idea.
1. Describe specific ways that your local church has helped you grow in spiritual maturity.
2. If it’s unhealthy to live life in isolation, why do so many people choose to live that way?
3. Many people seek to find purpose and community outside of the church. In what ways
could this harm the church community and hamper an individual’s growth?
4. Describe three simple ways that your group could assist your local church in its
redemptive mission.
Read Genesis 12:1–3 together and choose 1–2 questions that will lead to the greatest discussion
in your group.
1. God’s covenantal promise to Abraham and his descendants was to bless them. In turn,
they would be a blessing to the world. In what specific ways are these promises
displayed in your church today?
2. Brainstorm some simple ways that you, your family, and your church can be a blessing to
the world.
3. Discuss the ways you have seen God’s blessing on your life.
Closing Prayer
Close your time together with prayer. Share your prayer requests with one another. Ask God to
help you put this week’s Key Idea into practice.