September 2024 Church Defined

September 4th, 2024
by Drew Robison

Welcome to Engage, your monthly guide to applying the Bible's wisdom in practical ways while challenging you to think deeper. This blog is designed to help you connect biblical teachings with real-world situations.
Each month, we'll focus on a specific passage or theme, break it down into actionable insights, and ask thought-provoking questions that encourage you to dig deeper into your faith. Our goal is to make the Bible both accessible and relevant, offering guidance that inspires growth, reflection, and meaningful change.
Join us as we explore how to live out God's truth, one scripture at a time, and engage in discussions that challenge and strengthen our faith.

All of us in the leadership firmly believe that there is no substitute for consistent, intentional
engagement with the Bible and we hope that this is an opportunity to make that a habit in your life!

How do you feel about the ways and amounts you give to God and his church?
In terms of time, talent and money, which do you find easiest to give to God?

The Cheerful Giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-15)

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

What do you think it means that sowing sparingly (or bountifully) leads to reaping sparingly (or bountifully)?
Why do you think these verses refer to seeds and bread rather than currency?

Judging Others (Luke 6:37-38)

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Are we to never judge or condemn?
These versus say if we forgive, we will be forgiven? Is this transactional in the sense that if we forgive
others, others will forgive us or does it mean something else?

Better to Give than Receive (Acts 20:35)

35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

This is one of the most famous verses in scripture. Is it truly better to give that receive? Why or why not?

Giving to the Needy (Matthew 6:1-4)

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Why should we not do good works in order to be seen?
Should we always hide our giving from others? What would happen if we did?

Storing Up Treasures (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

What does it mean to say that riches are uncertain?
How can one be rich in good works?

What qualifies as worship?
Why does God want us to worship him?

A Living Sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

In what ways can we be living sacrifices?
How do we test and discern the will of God and in what ways will that renew our minds?

Worshipping in Spirit and Truth (John 4:24)

24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

How do we worship in spirit?
How do we worship in truth?

Kneel Before the Lord (Psalm 95:6)

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

Have you ever literally kneeled before the Lord? What was it like and what led to it happening?
Is this something we should be doing or is this a practice for a different time and place?

Acknowledge His Name (Hebrews 13:15)

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name

How can we offer continual worship?
How would you characterize the fruit of your lips and do you think God approves?

The Word of Christ Dwelling in You (Colossians 3:16)

16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

How can we teach and admonish one another within the church?
Do you feel that you truly have thankfulness in your heart? How can one tell?

In what ways have you served at church? If you haven’t, what’s held you back?
What sorts of service do you think are the most difficult?

We Are His Workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do

What does it mean that we are created for good works?
What does it mean that God prepared them beforehand?

Hospitality Without Grumbling (1 Peter 4:9-11)

9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

In what ways is God’s grace varied?
How can we make sure we serve in ways that God gets the glory rather than us?

Work as for the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24)

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

In order to work as if you are working for the Lord, how should your work look different than it does for non-believers?
What kind of “inheritance” will we receive from the Lord?

To One of the Least of These (Matthew 25:35-40)

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Which of these forms of service do you feel like we do the best and the worst job of as Christians in general?
Individually, which type of person listed do you feel like you have the strongest heart for?