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Bible Study: Loving Christ’s bride

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NASHVILLE (BP) – This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.

This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Bible Studies For Life curriculum.

Bible Passage: Romans 12:3-16

Discussion Questions:

Food for Thought:

If someone said to me, “I love you, but I can’t stand your wife,” I would be devastated. My wife is a part of me. Such a negative attitude toward my wife would always be a barrier in our relationship.

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We hear a similar statement in our culture: “I love Jesus, but I don’t love the church.” This statement is made by those who have been hurt by people in the church, or who have found commitment to the church too demanding or difficult. Whatever the reason, this sentiment is far from the heart of God. The church is the bride of Christ. We are to love that which Christ loves, and that includes His bride, the church.

Our physical bodies provide a great illustration of how we are one in the church. Consider how incredibly different your hands, feet, nose and eyes are from one another. Each one functions separately and certainly doesn’t look at all like the others, but all of them are part of you.

You are one singular body, made up of different, unique and amazing parts. While your right thumb or your left eye is a distinct part of your body, both are still parts of your body, and that reality simply can’t be changed or altered. So it is with the church.

Paul took it a step further. It’s not just that you are connected to Christ and I am connected to Christ, but we are “individually members of one another.” We need each other, and we belong to each other! My role in the body of Christ is integral to your role in the body of Christ, and your role is equally essential in how I carry out my role. Christ has formed His church so that we need each other if we are to function as a healthy body.

Bible Studies for Life

Bible Studies for Life connects the Bible to life for adults, students and kids. Bible Studies for Life helps individuals and groups know God’s Word through trustworthy content, creates biblical community through engaging and conversational group studies, and helps people engage the culture missionally by unpacking what the Bible says about real-life issues. More information can be found online at biblestudiesforlife.com [3].

Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool [4] or ordered at LifeWay Christian Resources [5].