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| RESPOND: (5–10 minutes) Going back to the image of the foundation, ask students to build a “people temple.” Choose a solid piece of ground, either outside or the floor of your meeting room. Talk about how important it is to have a foundation that is even and level and firm. That is Jesus. Then link yourselves together, putting your arms on the shoulders of the person on either side of you and make a tight circle. Close with prayer, asking someone to pray for each pastor and church leader. Have someone else pray for the tough issues your church faces. Have another person pray for each one present. INSIGHTS FROM SCRIPTURE: Make these points: • Usually we think being “of the flesh” has something to do with sex. Paul is clear, in this passage, that it has to do with quarreling, even religious quarreling. The word jealousy in verse 3 means religious jealousy. • In that day Greek philosophers would have compared immature people to infants, just like Paul is doing here. They also used the milk and solid food images • Paul then compares the church to 3 things. The field metaphor stresses that no leaders in the church are more important than any other, because only God can make plants grow. • The building metaphor shows us the importance of the right foundation—Christ. It also shows us that leaders have a great responsibility to build the church with the right materials—things that truly matter. Continued... |
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