A Community of Disciples Chapter One A Community of Disciples

Quiet Meditation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4iW5sUEMt8 Take this time to meditate on your spiritual relationship Choose a scripture and explain why it resonates with you? Does it relate to what you are currently experiencing? Why are these scriptures so important?

Quick Survey This is a pivotal year in determining your identity and devotion in the church Respond to each prompt from 1-5, 5 being you certainly agree, 3 unsure, 1 do not agree 1. Do you believe in Jesus? 2. Do you believe he saved you by his death and resurrection? 3. Are you his disciple? 4. Do you want to follow him?

This chapter functions to show Christ’s presence in the church Mystery: something that can be known but never fully understood because it relates to God This chapter functions to show Christ’s presence in the church Why is it important to associate Jesus with church? While it may be easy to give up set of rules and customs, it is difficult to abandon a person Through church we come to know God’s salvation Electrical cord How is the church both divine and human? As a human society, the church is not perfect

Images of the church Just as we find in ELA, scripture uses images to make complex concepts more relatable and understandable Think about the different parts of your body, why is it important for each to function? What does this image say about Christ and us? What are the parts of the body of Christ (the church)? Christ as the head Members: mystical body

Corinthians 12:12-31 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[a] 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. 14 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.16 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.17 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? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.  Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[b]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. How does this relate to our role within the church?

The church is also called the temple of the Holy Spirit Jesus is the cornerstone, and we are the living stones that build it What made Jesus the cornerstone of the church? Another image of the church is the bride of Christ: he loved her so much he died for her What kind of love do a bride and groom have for one another? The church is the sign of Christ’s kingdom on Earth

The Sheepfold Jesus used images in parables John 10:1-16 Jesus is the good shepherd and his kingdom is like a sheepfold He lays down his life for the sheep He also functions as the gate for sheep into heaven All those who have faith belong to sheepfold How can we emulate these values?

The Leaven Luke 13:20-21 The power of Jesus spreads through the whole world like yeast spreading through dough A power that moves slowly but surely You are the leaven of Jesus when you become like him and proclaim the kingdom with your life How can we emulate the Leaven?

The Vine and Branches John 15:1-8 Jesus is the vine Members of the church are the branches When you are connected to Jesus, you will be healthy and bear fruit You recognize God’s goodness in your life and share it with others

Let’s practice Imagine you are part of a committee whose job it is to explain the meaning of parables, write a brief letter based on John 15:1-8 explaining what it means to bear fruits and what fruits we bear when close to Jesus Do this quietly, as it will also function as a prayer, deepening your understanding of these images