The Unity of the Gospel – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: The early church was in danger of losing its understanding of the gospel by depending on Jewish traditions that led them away from faith in Christ’s work.
1. Have a volunteer read I Corinthians 1:10-13.
a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
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b. How important does Paul believe unity in the church is?
c. Personal Application : What are some issues that threaten the unity of the church today? How do we deal with them? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “What does it mean that we all are to speak the same thing? Are we to agree with each other on everything? Don’t members have different thoughts and free will?” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Galatians 2:1-5.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. What are Christians free from that the Jews wanted them to be in bondage to?
c. Personal Application : Are there some methods of evangelism that bother you? What might take you out of your comfort zone? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “Why do so many people seem to gravitate toward one pastor or evangelism more than others? Why is it dangerous to put our confidence in human leaders?” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Galatians 2:11-14.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What does Peter’s action tell us about how powerful culture and tradition can influence our lives?
c. Personal Application: Do we tend to blind ourselves to our own faults while easily finding faults in others? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “How can the church keep unity in the gospel with such diversity of cultures and traditions? What essential elements should not change?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Philippians 2:2,3.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. How does God’s love revealed in us help bring about unity without compromise and cowardice?.
c. Personal Application : How hard is it to be humble and actually listen to what others have to say and truly seek to understand them? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.
(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).
