Harvard Professor Robert Putman Putman sited the following statistics as indicators of the decline...
-
Upload
kelly-parrish -
Category
Documents
-
view
224 -
download
0
description
Transcript of Harvard Professor Robert Putman Putman sited the following statistics as indicators of the decline...
Harvard Professor Robert Putman
Putman sited the following statistics as
indicators of the decline in “community life” in
America over the past 25 years:
Attending club meetings:down 58%
Family dinners:down 33%
Having friends over:down 45%
“Welcome to a community designed not around a street map, but around your
heart. With every special touch, it takes to allow you to live a life of maximum
freedom and boundless opportunity. You will meet a staff that has your happiness at heart. And you will experience a level of service that harkens to a time when people
really truly cared.”
DISCUSSION GUIDE1. List the characteristics of a Biblically
functioning community as outlined in (Acts 2:42-47).
(v. 42) (v. 43) (vs. 44-45) (v. 46) (v. 47)
Continually Sense of awe
All things in common
Daily meeting
Praise
Devoted to Miracles Sharing property
In the temple
Acceptance
Teaching From house to house
Daily converts
Fellowship Happiness
Eating together
Authenticity
Prayer
2. How well is your ABF doing living out these characteristics?
3. Where is improvement needed?
4. Being in fellowship, means “close association involving mutual involvement and relationships.” Are you experiencing “true fellowship” with other believers? If not, how can you improve?
5. Why is mutual submission so important in a marriage and in a church? (Eph. 5:21-24)
Each partner should look out for one another’s needs. In a community of faith, members must be submitted to Christ and the result is caring for one another’s needs.
6. What did Christ do for the church? (v. 25)
He gave Himself up for the church.
7. Why did Christ give Himself for the church? (v. 27)
So that the church could be presented holy and blameless.
8. How well are most churches living up to the standard of being holy and blameless?
9. If Christ nourishes and cherishes the church, then how should believers treat the church? (vs. 29-30)
10. How well are you doing functioning as a part of the body? Are you fulfilling your roll or is the body, hampered by your
inactivity and commitment level?
11. How can you improve as a Fully-Developing-Follower of Christ, impacting
your community of believers?
“My Place in the Community ”
•WORSHIP
•WORD
•WORK
•WORLD
Richard Kidd Kempsville Presbyterian
Church