Welcome to Sunday Fuel! This series of questions is designed to assist your personal reflection and fellowship with others about the sermon from this past Sunday.
1. Heart Examination:
- Are there people you struggle to love and serve? Why? Have they hurt you? Do you feel uncomfortable or awkward around them? Do you feel inferior or out of their league? How do you tend to respond to them? Or do you have disagreements or dissatisfied with the church? In what areas?
- What does our judgment, criticism, or general lack of love for the church say about Christ?
2. Reflect:
- Regardless of our feelings or opinions of others, Christ sees them all the sins and brokenness in them far better than we ever can—and still loves them with affection. He died for the church and each of our brothers and sisters in it too, just as He died for us. Each individual is a part of the church Christ sacrificed himself for—and the church is His great love.
- How can this truth impact how we love those we struggle to love? How does this help us reconsider our attitude toward the church in our areas of dissatisfaction? How does the fact that Christ loved the church so much that He gave himself up for her, impact our judgments, criticisms or general lack of love or commitment to the church?
- Take time to pray over your reflections. Confess any areas of sin the Spirit points out. Ask Him to help you see and love the church in your actions and grant you an affection for your family in Christ.
3. Action: In what ways can you serve the church family in love this week?
- Is there something you can do for the pastors or other ministry leaders to support them so they can do the work GOd has called them to do (like Epaphroditus supported Paul)?
- Is there someone you can reach out of your comfort zone to welcome or serve?
If you are not sure, ask God to help you notice the people in your life that you can serve for Him.