One Family - We Are Citizens
ROMANS 12:1-8
Scripture Reading
PSALM 127
1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
PSALM 133 (The Message)
1-3 How wonderful, how beautiful,
when brothers and sisters get along!
It’s like costly anointing oil
flowing down head and beard,
Flowing down Aaron’s beard,
flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.
It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon
flowing down the slopes of Zion.
Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing,
ordains eternal life.
Group Prayer Time
Spend time in prayer together.
Questions For Discussion
Part of our vision at Citizens Church is that we would experience and show others the family of God demonstrated in the local church. The bonds that we enjoy are meant to be seen by others. Therefore we want Elmira, in small ways, to experience christian love through and in our missional families.
Take some time to discuss the value of being One Family. Here are some questions to help get you started.
To begin with, read Romans 12:1-8.
How is it that Christians can say that they are one family? What has made that possible?
How have you experienced family like relationships with other believers? Share a story of a time when others made you feel at home with them or when you’ve done the same for another.
Someone who has never experienced family like relationships in the church may believe it to be an unattainable expectation. What types of thoughts and actions keep us and others from receiving or extending Christ like family acceptance in our relationships with fellow believers?
Read 1 John 1:5-10. What are some keys to the fellowship (v.7) that John is writing about in these verses?
Confession
Confession is a time for us to collectively and individually remember God’s love towards us through the death of his son Jesus. We want to confess our personal sin to God in prayer and thank him for his provision that covers our sins past, present and future.
2 CORINTHIANS 10:3-6
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
