Jun19-25: Social Support: The Tie That Binds

Teaching Points

1. What did God say about man being alone at creation?  

ANSWER:

• Gen. 2:18—It was not good in God’s sight for man to be alone. God knows we need community and fellowship for full development this is why God gave marriage and family.  

2. What did God set in place at creation that protects family social time together as well as time with our Creator?

ANSWER:

• Exo. 20:8-11—The Sabbath.

3. Meeting with family on the Sabbath can help bond the family spiritually and socially to God and each other. How important is this meeting together?  

ANSWER:

• Heb 10:24, 25—Don’t forsake assembling together. This is even more important as Christ’s coming gets closer.

4. Families make up our church. How is the church family described and why?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 12:5—We are one “body” in Christ.
• 1 Cor. 12:27—We are the “body” of Christ.

OBSERVATION:

• God gave family at creation. He knew that we need each other.
• God instituted the Sabbath to remind us of our Creator and also to protect our time with our Creator and our families.
• God wants us to meet together as Christians. We need this social-spiritual support especially as we are nearing Christ’s return!  
• The church family is described as a body—dependent on each part to function properly.

5. Can the body be comprised of only one part and function properly?

ANSWER:

• 1 Cor. 12:14-20—the body must be composed of many parts or members in order to function properly. 

6. If one part of the body is sick or hurt what happens and how does this relate to the church?

ANSWER:

• 1 Cor. 12:26—Each member (or person) in this body is vital for the function of the church. When one part suffers the whole body suffers. 

7. Why did God create us with different needs, skills, and gifts like the parts of a body?

ANSWER:

• 1 Cor. 12:22-25—that there be no schism or division or splitting in the body that we would care for each other.

8. Who is to lead and direct this church body?

ANSWER:

• Eph. 5:23—Christ is the head and savior of the church.

OBSERVATION:

• The church is to function like a body—each part dependant on another and helping another.
• God created us with different skills and gifts so that we would work together and not cause division and splitting because we are all trying to do the same thing.
• Christ is the leader of His church. He’s wisdom is to be sought for the decisions of the church.

SOP

• The Lord desires his church to be a perfect body,--not all arms, not all body without arms, but body and arms together,--and every member working as a part of the one great whole. As the right arm is connected with the body, so the health reform and medical missionary work is connected with the third angel's message, and is to work efficiently as the right arm, for the defense of the body of truth.   {Review and Harold, June 20, 1899 par. 10} 
• The order that was maintained in the early Christian church made it possible for them to move forward solidly as a well-disciplined army clad with the armor of God. The companies of believers, though scattered over a large territory, were all members of one body; all moved in concert and in harmony with one another. When dissension arose in a local church, as later it did arise in Antioch and elsewhere, and the believers were unable to come to an agreement among themselves, such matters were not permitted to create a division in the church, but were referred to a general council of the entire body of believers, made up of appointed delegates from the various local churches, with the apostles and elders in positions of leading responsibility. Thus the efforts of Satan to attack the church in isolated places were met by concerted action on the part of all, and the plans of the enemy to disrupt and destroy were thwarted.  {Acts of the Apostles 95.3} 

CONCLUSION:

• God created humans with social needs.
• God instituted the Sabbath as a special protection to fill those social needs with time for our Creator and time for family.
• Family time is important but also our church family time is important.
• The church is to function like a body—each part dependant on another and helping another.
• God created us with different skills and gifts so that we would work together and not cause division and splitting because we are all trying to do the same thing.
• Christ is the leader of His church. He’s wisdom is to be sought for the decisions of the church.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• Are you taking time with your Creator and family and church family?
• Are you seeking to work together as a family and as a church so that each member has his part and there is not division?
• Are you seeking wisdom from Christ to lead the home and church?
• Are you letting God be in control of your life and develop your gifts and skills to be a blessing to others?