Why Do Church?

Due to some technical difficulties associated with the launch of our new website, I am currently unable to upload the latest small group study guide in a pdf format as is my custom. For this week, until I get the bugs worked out, the best I can do is to post the questions in html here.

LIVING LIFE FROM THE INSIDE OUT
Why Do Church?
Matthew 28.18-20
I. YOUR STORY IN COMMUNITY

1. In your own words, what is the purpose of the Church (note capital ‘C’)?

2. What should be the primary jobs/tasks of a pastor?

3. Throughout your life in the Church, how close would you say the churches you have attended came in fulfilling the purpose(s) you identified in the first question above?

4. What do you see as your primary role in the church?

5. When you choose a church, what are the things that you look for or value?

5b. Do these things line up with number 1 above?

5c. After you consider the ‘Digging Deeper’ section below come back to 4b.


III. DIGGING DEEPER

1. Use a concordance or the Scripture index in the back of your Bible to look up as many verses as possible with the word ‘church’ in them. Based on these, what is the Church?

2. Who is ‘in the ministry?’ In your Bibles can you find a precedent for how we structure or ‘do’ church today? How are our current models of ministry similar and different to those you’ve found in the Scriptures?

3. Read the following passages: Eph 4.11-12, 1Cor 12.4-7, 1 Peter 2.4-9 then consider the following:

Articulate...

...the who, what, where, and why of the church.

...the proper motivation for ministry and ‘doing’ church?

...the job description of a pastor.