7-day plan: The Church and Community
What the community of those who follow Jesus is, and how to live together.
One passage a day, with a question to think it over. Your progress stays on this device, no account needed.
Day 1 · One Body
Many members, one body, one Spirit
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is the Messiah. For indeed in one Spirit we all were immersed into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and all were given one Spirit to drink. For indeed the body is not one member but many.
1 Corinthians 12:12–14 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
What does this passage say about what God is like?
Day 2 · One Another
Jesus gives a new commandment: love one another as he loved
A new commandment I give you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34–35 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
Jesus says, “I have given you an example” (v. 15). Whom could you serve today with a simple gesture, without being asked?
Day 3 · Gathering
The first believers: teaching, breaking bread, prayer, and a shared table
And they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their properties and possessions and distributing them to all, as anyone had need. And every day continuing with one mind in the temple and breaking bread at home, they shared food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding every day to their number those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42–47 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
The first believers shared teaching, meals and possessions (vv. 42-45). What could you share this week with someone close to you?
Day 4 · Unity
Jesus asks that all who believe be one, as he and the Father are
But I do not ask on behalf of these only, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory that you have given me, that they may be one just as we are one: I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to completion as one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them just as you loved me.
John 17:20–23 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
Jesus prays for those who would believe through his disciples' word (v. 20). Whom could you pray for today with the same tenderness?
Day 5 · Caring for the Weakest
The neglected widows are cared for and seven are chosen for it
Now in these days, as the disciples were increasing, there arose a complaint by the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. So the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. So, brothers, select from among you seven men of good testimony, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint over this task; but we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.” And the matter pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
Acts 6:1–6 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
In this story some people were being overlooked. Whom in your family or community could you pay closer attention to?
Day 6 · One Body
No member can say to another, I do not need you
And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. On the contrary, much more the members of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary, and those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have greater decorum, whereas our presentable parts have no need. But God has put together the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacks it, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may care equally for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if a member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of the Messiah and members individually.
1 Corinthians 12:21–27 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
What would you like to say to God after reading it?
Day 7 · One Another
Welcome one another as the Messiah welcomed you
Therefore welcome one another, just as the Messiah also welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Romans 15:7 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
"Welcome one another" (v. 7). Whom could you welcome this week who feels out of place?