For my birthday last week, Gary took me to see the Disney movie, “Earth.” It was amazing, breathtaking and thought-provoking. In the beginning, James Earl Jones describes how our planet is uniquely able to support life because of its invisible axis, which is perfectly tilted at 23.45° in its orbit around the sun. The film beautifully depicts the four corners of the globe throughout all four seasons, and captures some of our planet’s most interesting and fascinating creatures. Many scenes show the humor and folly of the babies, who must learn tough lessons about “growing up.” The narrative also includes the hardships and journeys of three families: a humpback whale and her calf, a pod of elephants, and a polar bear family (including adorable twin-baby bears).
One of “Earth’s” many take-aways is that we’re all part of something much bigger than our own individual lives, marriages, families, schools, jobs, or countries of origin. What I do and how I live affects a greater whole. And so it is with the church. Our lives are individually AND collectively built on the Rock, which is uniquely able to support (eternal) life because of its axis that is perfectly tilted on the Cross of Christ. As Christians, we experience hardships, joys and everything in between, as we grow-up into the fullness of Christ. Yet, sometimes it is easy to get caught up in our own lives and forget that we are part of something much bigger. For example, our gifts, our marriages, our families, are necessary parts of a bigger whole, and play an important role in the building up of Christ’s church.
Here are some practical ways to consider your marriage as it relates to the church:
1. Define your marriage mission statement. How has God uniquely equipped you and your spouse for the building up of His church? For example, fill in the blank, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord by ___________.”
a) Consider discussing and/or praying with your spouse over your marriage mission statement on a regular basis.
2. Name at least one person, place or thing that is affected by your marriage. Who or what depends on you and your spouse? Describe how.
a) Commit to praying with your spouse for this person, place or thing for a specific period of time.
3. Step outside your comfort zone.
a) Talk about one way you and your spouse can stay connected and serve God’s people that might be a little “scary.”
READ: Ephesians 4:14-16
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
QUESTIONS:
1. Talk about the “waves”, “every wind of doctrine”, “trickery of men” and “craftiness in deceitful scheming”. If we use Paul’s imagery and apply it to marriage, what types of things could throw us off course?
2. What does Paul mean by “speaking the truth in love”? How does this apply to being connected and held together in the body of Christ?
3. How does a healthy, thriving marriage build up the body? How does a troubled marriage impact the body? Am I affected by either?
4. When one part of the body is suffering, how can I get involved to help? Should I get involved, or should I mind my own business?
One of “Earth’s” many take-aways is that we’re all part of something much bigger than our own individual lives, marriages, families, schools, jobs, or countries of origin. What I do and how I live affects a greater whole. And so it is with the church. Our lives are individually AND collectively built on the Rock, which is uniquely able to support (eternal) life because of its axis that is perfectly tilted on the Cross of Christ. As Christians, we experience hardships, joys and everything in between, as we grow-up into the fullness of Christ. Yet, sometimes it is easy to get caught up in our own lives and forget that we are part of something much bigger. For example, our gifts, our marriages, our families, are necessary parts of a bigger whole, and play an important role in the building up of Christ’s church.
Here are some practical ways to consider your marriage as it relates to the church:
1. Define your marriage mission statement. How has God uniquely equipped you and your spouse for the building up of His church? For example, fill in the blank, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord by ___________.”
a) Consider discussing and/or praying with your spouse over your marriage mission statement on a regular basis.
2. Name at least one person, place or thing that is affected by your marriage. Who or what depends on you and your spouse? Describe how.
a) Commit to praying with your spouse for this person, place or thing for a specific period of time.
3. Step outside your comfort zone.
a) Talk about one way you and your spouse can stay connected and serve God’s people that might be a little “scary.”
READ: Ephesians 4:14-16
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
QUESTIONS:
1. Talk about the “waves”, “every wind of doctrine”, “trickery of men” and “craftiness in deceitful scheming”. If we use Paul’s imagery and apply it to marriage, what types of things could throw us off course?
2. What does Paul mean by “speaking the truth in love”? How does this apply to being connected and held together in the body of Christ?
3. How does a healthy, thriving marriage build up the body? How does a troubled marriage impact the body? Am I affected by either?
4. When one part of the body is suffering, how can I get involved to help? Should I get involved, or should I mind my own business?
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