Building Trust and Unity in the Body of Christ
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the theme of trust within the body of Christ, emphasizing the importance of reciprocal responsibilities in our relationships. We are reminded that while it takes two to build a relationship, it truly takes three, as God is always present in our interactions. Our focus was on Ephesians 4, which highlights the roles and gifts given to us to build up the body of Christ. We are called to be the bridge that connects people, fostering trust and unity within our community.
Trust is a fragile yet essential component of our relationships. It can be easily broken, but it is vital for the health and growth of the church. We are encouraged to exercise patience, keep peace, contribute our gifts, and show compassion to one another. These actions reflect the attributes of God, which He imparts to us, and we are called to reflect His character towards others.
The analogy of a bridge was used to illustrate our role in connecting people within the church. Just as a bridge connects two sides, we are to connect with one another, building trust and unity. However, trust can be challenging, especially when past hurts and distrust linger. We must overcome these barriers by being vulnerable and open to building relationships within the faith community.
Ephesians 4 teaches us that we are the hands and feet of Jesus, called to carry out His will and demonstrate His love to the world. We are reminded that our gifts are not for personal gain but to edify the body of Christ. By serving one another and using our gifts, we contribute to the unity and growth of the church.
As we strive to fulfill our reciprocal responsibilities, we look to the example of the Trinity, where eternal trust and unity exist between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This divine relationship serves as a model for us to emulate in our interactions with one another. Let us commit to building a bridge of trust, serving one another in love, and reflecting the character of Christ in all that we do.
Key Takeaways:
- Trust is essential in the body of Christ, but it is fragile and can be easily broken. We must strive to build and maintain trust through patience, peace, and compassion. [58:04]
- Our gifts are given to us not for personal gain but to edify the body of Christ. We are called to use our talents to serve one another and contribute to the unity and growth of the church. [01:16:20]
- The Trinity serves as a model for trust and unity. The eternal relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exemplifies the trust and commitment we should have in our relationships. [01:09:17]
- Overcoming distrust requires vulnerability and openness. We must be willing to put ourselves out there, even if it means risking being hurt, to build meaningful relationships within the faith community. [59:46]
- We are the hands and feet of Jesus, called to carry out His will and demonstrate His love to the world. By serving one another and using our gifts, we contribute to the unity and growth of the church. [01:01:17]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [45:54] - Announcements and Offerings
- [49:20] - Opening Prayer
- [49:59] - Introduction to "It Takes Two" Series
- [50:40] - Reading from Ephesians 4
- [51:40] - Trust Fall Illustration
- [52:39] - Bridges and Trust
- [54:24] - The Role of the Body of Christ
- [55:24] - Intrinsic Connections in Relationships
- [57:17] - Trust in the Church Community
- [59:46] - The Challenge of Distrust
- [01:00:16] - Called to Community
- [01:01:01] - Being the Bridge
- [01:02:35] - Avoiding Disunity
- [01:10:40] - Attributes of God in Us
- [01:18:16] - Compassion and Forgiveness
- [01:23:17] - Closing Prayer and Church Business
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 4:11-16
- Ephesians 4:1-3
- Ephesians 4:32
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Ephesians 4:11-16, what roles and gifts are mentioned, and what is their purpose within the body of Christ?
2. How does the sermon describe the analogy of a bridge in relation to trust within the church community? [52:39]
3. What are some of the actions or behaviors mentioned in the sermon that can lead to disunity within the church? [02:35]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of reciprocal responsibilities in our relationships? [50:12]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that trust is both fragile and essential within the body of Christ? [58:04]
2. How does the example of the Trinity serve as a model for trust and unity in our relationships, according to the sermon? [01:09:17]
3. What does the sermon imply about the importance of using our gifts for the edification of the church rather than personal gain? [01:16:20]
4. How does the sermon address the challenge of overcoming past hurts and distrust within the faith community? [59:46]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when trust was broken in a relationship within the church. How did you handle it, and what steps can you take to rebuild trust in similar situations? [58:04]
2. Consider the gifts and talents you possess. How can you use them to serve and edify the body of Christ in your local church community? [01:16:20]
3. Think about a relationship in your life where distrust is present. What practical steps can you take to be vulnerable and open to rebuilding that relationship? [59:46]
4. How can you actively contribute to maintaining peace and unity within your church, especially when disagreements arise? [01:12:49]
5. Identify a specific way you can reflect the character of Christ in your interactions with others this week. What actions will you take to demonstrate patience, peace, or compassion? [01:10:40]
6. How can the example of the Trinity inspire you to foster deeper trust and unity in your relationships with fellow believers? [01:09:17]
7. What is one area in your life where you feel called to be a "bridge" for others, connecting them to the community of faith? How will you pursue this calling? [52:39]
Devotional
Day 1: Trust as a Fragile Foundation
Trust is a delicate yet vital element in the body of Christ. It is the foundation upon which relationships are built, and it requires constant nurturing through patience, peace, and compassion. Trust can be easily broken, and when it is, it can lead to disunity and hurt within the church community. Therefore, it is essential to actively work on building and maintaining trust with one another. This involves being patient with each other's shortcomings, striving to keep peace even in disagreements, and showing compassion in all interactions. By doing so, we reflect the attributes of God and contribute to the health and growth of the church. [58:04]
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." (Romans 12:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a relationship within your church community where trust has been strained. What steps can you take today to begin rebuilding that trust through patience, peace, and compassion?
Day 2: Gifts for the Edification of the Church
The gifts we possess are not for our personal gain but are meant to edify the body of Christ. Each person is endowed with unique talents and abilities that, when used in service to others, contribute to the unity and growth of the church. It is important to recognize that these gifts are given by God and are to be used for His glory. By serving one another and using our gifts, we fulfill our role as members of the body of Christ, working together to build a strong and unified community. [01:16:20]
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 4:10-11, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one gift or talent you have that you can use to serve your church community this week. How can you intentionally use it to contribute to the unity and growth of the church?
Day 3: The Trinity as a Model for Trust and Unity
The relationship within the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—serves as a perfect model of trust and unity. This divine relationship exemplifies the trust and commitment we should strive to have in our relationships with one another. Just as the Trinity operates in perfect harmony, we are called to emulate this unity in our interactions within the church. By looking to the example of the Trinity, we can learn to build relationships that are grounded in trust, love, and mutual respect. [01:09:17]
"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 15:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a relationship in your life that could benefit from greater trust and unity. How can the example of the Trinity inspire you to foster these qualities in that relationship?
Day 4: Overcoming Distrust through Vulnerability
Overcoming distrust requires vulnerability and openness. It can be challenging to open ourselves up to others, especially when past hurts and distrust linger. However, building meaningful relationships within the faith community necessitates taking the risk of being vulnerable. By doing so, we create opportunities for healing and growth, allowing trust to be rebuilt. It is through vulnerability that we can truly connect with one another and foster a sense of belonging within the church. [59:46]
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)
Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you have been hesitant to be vulnerable. What is one step you can take today to open up and build trust with someone in your faith community?
Day 5: Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus
As members of the body of Christ, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, carrying out His will and demonstrating His love to the world. This involves serving one another and using our gifts to contribute to the unity and growth of the church. By doing so, we reflect the character of Christ and fulfill our role in His mission. It is through our actions and service that we can make a tangible impact on the world around us, showing the love of Christ to those in need. [01:01:17]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a specific way you can be the hands and feet of Jesus in your community this week. How can you use your gifts to serve others and demonstrate His love in a practical way?
Quotes
"And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry to build up the body of Christ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's son growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ's fullness." [00:50:44]
"When we're talking about it takes two, it really takes three, right, because God is in everything that we do. And one of the things that we recognize is that God is in all of the relationships that we have. He's demonstrated in that." [00:50:59]
"Trust is very fragile. Sometimes it can be dashed in a moment. When we look at Ephesians 4, we see a lot of things that people were doing in the church of Ephesus that were causing disunity. And Paul, the writer of Ephesians, is communicating to us a lot of things that we shouldn't do that create problems in our relationships with each other." [01:02:35]
"We are the hands and feet of Jesus. God could do everything on his own, but he doesn't do that. He chooses us to carry out his will, to carry out his demonstration of the body of Christ in the world today. And so in order to be the body of Christ, the body has to come together." [01:01:17]
"God imparts his attributes in us, and as part of the body of Christ, we are called to reflect his character towards others. What do I mean by that? First of all, God imparts his attributes. You see, when we look at this idea of trust and relationship and connection in the body of Christ, we have an example already that we can look to." [01:09:17]
"Trust comes at a high price. Trust is very fragile. Sometimes it can be dashed in a moment. When we look at Ephesians 4, we see a lot of things that people were doing in the church of Ephesus that were causing disunity. And Paul, the writer of Ephesians, is communicating to us a lot of things that we shouldn't do that create problems in our relationships with each other." [01:02:35]
"We are called to be in community. Even things like communion, the word communion, the base word commune, community, it all goes together. When we think about communion, communion is community with God and community with each other at the same time. We are called into community." [01:00:16]
"Trust is very, very difficult. The reality is that we can spend a whole lot of time building up trust with each other, right? We build relationships, we spend a lot of time together, we are committed to the relationship, but oftentimes we can spend so much time, but it just takes that one little thing that we say or do or an action that we perform that all of a sudden all that trust that we spend all that time building is all of a sudden gone in a heartbeat." [00:58:04]
"Overcoming distrust requires vulnerability and openness. We must be willing to put ourselves out there, even if it means risking being hurt, to build meaningful relationships within the faith community." [00:59:46]
"We are called to be the bridge that connects people, fostering trust and unity within our community. Trust is a fragile yet essential component of our relationships. It can be easily broken, but it is vital for the health and growth of the church." [00:54:24]
"God calls us to build a bridge of trust through these reciprocal responsibilities, but we do it in Christ's power, and we can overcome the distrust that can filter in when we grow into unity and when we serve one another the way that we're called to do it." [01:20:52]
"As we strive to fulfill our reciprocal responsibilities, we look to the example of the Trinity, where eternal trust and unity exist between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This divine relationship serves as a model for us to emulate in our interactions with one another." [01:09:17]
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