An Authentic Calling: Representing Christ and His Kingdom through the Church

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Sess i on 5: A Ca l l to Commun i t y

c. Gal. 6.2

d. Rom. 13.8-10

e. Col. 3.12-17 (ESV) – Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, [13] bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. [14] And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. [17] And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 6. How do I faithfully represent the beliefs and commit ments of the body? Submission to and exercise of authority , Heb. 13.17 (ESV) – Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

C. Case studies illustrating the call to community

1. The believing Jews in Jerusalem at Pentecost, Acts 2.42-47

2. The persecuted believers of Acts 4, Acts 4.32-35 (ESV) – Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things