THE ASSEMBLIES WERE EDIFIED MISSIONSINFOCUS WEEK 2015 Discussion

“THE ASSEMBLIES WERE EDIFIED” MISSIONS-IN-FOCUS WEEK: 2015 Discussion Session 2

1. Building upon Romans 14: 19, how does the pursuit of peace lead to the edification of one another? • Acts 20: 32 • Praying for one another • Commending to God and the word of his grace • In connection with Romans 14: 19 read 15: 2 • Eph. 2 and 4 the body is FITLY framed and joined • Opposite of peace is war, dispute, criticism • Eph 2: 19; friendship and fellowship • Peace also requires sacrifice • Eph 2: 14; Christ is our peace

2. What do we mean when we say that teaching edifies, love edifies, and so on? What does that look like? • 1 Kings 6: 7; the materials were made ready before they came to the • • • place of the temple 1 Thess 5: 10 -12; we can use all our circumstances to edify one another (in joy or sorrow) Eph 4: 13; fulness of Christ is our goal Eph 4: 29 Edification is used in connection with the body also (not just the building) Matthew 11: 29

3. Consider Barnabas in Acts 4: 36 -37. How did his character there and elsewhere contribute to edifying others? • Barnabas is not speaking; he acted when he saw the need; he • • • sacrificed He went beyond what others do. He was the one who brought Saul. In ch. 11, he sees the grace of God and he urges the brethren. James 2: 14 -16; one who saw a need and did nothing about it; his faith was not evident Josiah brought the material for the rebuilding of the temple when he saw it run down. Barnabas is connected with action. He’s not averse to risk-taking. 2 Chron. 30: 22; Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites who taught The Lord Jesus: Saw; moved with compassion; stopped and touched the coffin.

4. Reading Acts 11: 22 -30, what can we learn from Barnabas the shepherd, Paul the teacher, and Agabus the prophet working together? • the brethren had a confidence in Barnabas that they would send him • A servant of Christ knows his limitations and would call on another • • • brother to help (as Barnabas called on Saul) “With one accord”; efforts have to be made to maintain this condition. When Agabus came (the prophet) he didn’t have to ask permission; he “rose up…”; he’s free to work as the Spirit directs. The spirit of oneness Is. 41: 6 -7 When we want to edify others we should thank the Lord for what He is doing through others. In every occurrence of Barnabas, we see him encouraging others. Their ultimate desire was to see the results of edification; they were not threatened by the other servant of the Lord. Barnabas means son of consolation; found 28 times; he was in tuned with the Spirit and with the people of God

5. What features and results of edification are found in 1 Peter 2: 4 -9? • “Built up” found 8 times in 7 verses • “living stone” and also living sacrifice in Rom. 12: 1 • Ability to worship; free-flowing worship • The natural consequence of being built up is that we become linked together with other stones and the foundation. • Verse 4: chosen of God