Annual Spiritual Checkup
As an extra resource, we encourage you to read this piece by The C.S. Lewis Institute called "Community - and Why We Need It." The C.S. Lewis Institute writes: "Each year many of us will go through a physical checkup, perhaps do a financial checkup at year's end or at tax time, and perhaps do a performance review at our workplace. But how often do we take time to review our spiritual life?" As the sixth in a series of "spiritual checkup" topics, this piece emphasizes how love and good deeds are not provoked or stimulated without community (the Church). Art Lindsley writes, "Love is in fact impossible in isolation. Love demands another: God or our brothers and sisters." Let's examine our spiritual lives and prayerfully seek God's help and growth in the New Year. Read the article HERE.
Discussion Questions
““When God brings a community together, He gives them a new sense to taste that the Lord is good ... The Holy Spirit will awaken in us little by little an ability to taste that the Lord is good, not just to read about it ... The Holy Spirit wants us to relate over a love of God’s truth and a love of God and His ways as those who look across the aisle and say, “Yes, me too. I have tasted that the Lord is good.””
GENERAL BIBLE STUDY
The following questions are meant to facilitate a study of the passage. These questions are optional.
Observation - What does it say? When you hear and read this passage what do you observe? What do you see that particularly catches your attention or strikes you?
Interpretation - What does it mean? What is the importance of the Doctrine of the Spirit and the Church? In the epic sweep of God’s eternal, redemptive story, why does the Doctrine of the Spirit and the Church matter?
Application - What does it mean to you? What, if anything, about the Doctrine of the Spirit and the Church, challenges or deepens your understanding of your faith or your relationship with God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
THE DOCTRINE OF THE SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH
(Excerpts from To Be A Christian: An Anglican Catechism and The Book of Common Prayer*)
The Apostles’ Creed concludes, “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.”
The Nicene Creed concludes, ”We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
This leads us to consider several questions:
Who is the Holy Spirit? God the Holy Spirit is the third Person in the one Being of the Holy Trinity, coequal and coeternal with God the Father and God the Son, and equally worthy of our honor and worship. (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30; Matthew 3:16–17; 28:19; John 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
What are the particular ministries of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit imparts life to every living thing in creation, reveals God’s Word to his people, and calls sinners to a new life of faith in the saving and life-giving work of Jesus. The Holy Spirit unites Christians to Jesus, indwelling them, convicting them of sin, giving them spiritual gifts, and bearing spiritual fruit in their lives. (1 Samuel 16:13; Psalm 143:7–12; Isaiah 11:2; Joel 2:28–29; John 15:26; 16:7–11; Acts 4:5–31)
How do you receive the Holy Spirit? The Scriptures teach that, by repenting and being baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, I am forgiven of my sins and I receive the Holy Spirit, who gives me new birth in Christ and frees me from the power of sin. (Luke 11:11–13; John 3:1–7; Acts 2:38; 8:14–17; 19:1–6; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11; 12:13; 2 Timothy 1:6–7)
What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Among the many gifts of the Holy Spirit named in the New Testament are faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, other languages (“tongues”), the interpretation of other languages, and words of wisdom and knowledge. The Spirit distributes gifts to individuals as he wills for the sake of the Body of Christ. Other gifts in the New Testament include administration, service, encouragement, evangelism, teaching, giving, leadership, and mercy. Jesus promises that the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. (Luke 11:13; Romans 12:3–8; 1 Corinthians 12:7–31; Ephesians 4:7–11; 1 Peter 4:10–11)
Why does the Holy Spirit give such gifts? The Holy Spirit equips and empowers believers with gifts for service in the worship of Jesus Christ, for the building up of his Church, and for witness and mission to the world. (Exodus 31:1–11; Luke 9:1–6; 1 Corinthians 12:12–26; Ephesians 4:12–16)
What is the Church? The Church is the whole community of faithful Christians in heaven and on earth, called and formed by God into one people. The Church on earth gathers to worship God in Word and Sacrament, to serve God and neighbor, and to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. (Exodus 19:4–6; Psalm 22:22–23; Matthew 28:19–20; Ephesians 2:11–22; 1 Peter 2:4–10; Articles of Religion, 19)
What are the “marks” or characteristics of the Church? The Nicene Creed expands upon the Apostles’ Creed to list four characteristics of the Church: it is “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.” (see Articles of Religion, 8)
Why is the Church called “catholic”? The Church is called “catholic” (“according to the whole”) because it keeps the whole faith it has received from the Lord, in continuity with the whole Church, in all times and places. (Micah 4:1–4; Acts 2:1–11; 1 Corinthians 15:1–8; 2 Timothy 1:13–14; Jude 3; Revelation 5:9–10)
What is the resurrection of the body? When the risen Lord Jesus returns to judge the earth, he will raise all the dead to bodily life. The wicked will then receive eternal condemnation, and the righteous eternal life in the glory of God. (Psalm 16; Ezekiel 37:1–14; Daniel 12:1–3; Matthew 25:31–34, 41, 46; John 5:25–29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17; Revelation 20:11–15)
How should you live in light of this promise of unending life? I should live in joyful expectation of the fullness of my transformation, soul and body, into the likeness of Christ. In the midst of suffering or in the face of hostility and persecution, I am sustained by the hope of a new heaven and earth, freed from Satan, evil, suffering, and death. (Psalm 21:1–7; John 14:1–7; Romans 13:11–14; 2 Corinthians 4:16–5:11; Philippians 3:7–21; 1 Peter 1:3–9; 5:6–11)
REFLECTION - 1 Corinthians 12:4-26 and 1 John 4:7-12
Same - The phrase “the same . . .” is used three times in verses 4, 5, and 6. What is the importance of emphasizing the sameness of gifts, service, and activities? (See v. 4-6.)
Purpose - Why is each given the manifestation of the Spirit? (See v. 7.)
One Body - What are the implications of being baptized into one body? How are we to see and think about our part of the body? What is our part in relation to the whole? Can our part function by itself - cut off from the body - or independently?
Division - Why did Paul write, “God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another”? Why does it matter that there is no division in the body? How does this relate to Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21?
Care - Paul writes, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (See v. 26.). This is a nice idea. What is required to make it a reality?
Love - Where does Jesus give his disciples a “new commandment”? What was it? What had he just done to demonstrate how they were to love each other? What did he say would happen if they actually obeyed this commandment?
Love Too - In one of his letters to the church, the apostle John wrote, “If God so loved us, we also ought to . . . .” Do what? Who or what is perfecting God’s love in us? This is the sanctifying work of whom?
Not Yourself - Sam Ferguson repeatedly reminds us, “You are not yourself by yourself.” If this is true, are you actively part of - contributing to and receiving from - an authentic, faith-filled, Spirit-empowered community?* Pause to ask, “Lord, is there anything you want me to do to move toward community? To forgive or be forgiven? To set aside my agenda or priorities for another? To invite someone to coffee, give someone a ride, visit someone in the hospital, or bring someone a meal?” Make yourself available to listen to and obey a practical, simple way the Lord may lead you.
Closing Prayer - Collect for the Seventh Sunday of Epiphany
O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers, and because, through the weakness of our mortal nature, we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
*Interested in joining a small group community here at The Falls Church Anglican? If you’re not yet plugged in, please feel free to reach out to us with questions! Email Pastor Will Shafferman to learn how to join a home group, or visit www.tfcanglican.org/home-groups.
Sources:
The Book of Common Prayer, (Huntington Beach, CA: Anglican Liturgy Press, 2019), pages 20, 127.
To Be A Christian: An Anglican Catechism, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020), pages 40-41.