During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide and Student Page, can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Romans 12:4–5
We are all part of something bigger than ourselves—communities of family members, neighbours, towns, and nations. Think about the image of a human body that Paul used in these verses. There are many parts, but all must work together for the body to be healthy. In the same way, our communities should work together so that they are healthy. Sadly, many of our communities are broken and filled with people who are selfish, angry, or disrespectful.
Think of a community you belong to. What is healthy about it? What is unhealthy about it? Now imagine for a moment what the community would be like if all of its parts were working together in unity as God intended. What would be different? Ask God to show you if there are ways you can be a better member of your community. Ask Him to help you to see ways you can help your community to become healthier. Then ask for His strength and guidance as you work to help your community grow in healthy unity.
Encourage the students to ask a family member, “What do you think we could do to contribute to our community and make it better?”
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Divide the teens into groups of 4–5. Tell them that each group will create an imaginary community. Each group will give their community a name and answer the following questions about it:
Give the students 8–10 minutes for this activity, and then allow a few groups to share about their communities. When they have finished sharing, ask the following questions of the whole class.
Allow 2–3 students to share their thoughts. If necessary, remind them that the characteristics of a healthy community are building relationships, helping one another, depending on one another, and encouraging each other to grow.
A community is made up of many members. It cannot be healthy unless the members work together to make it healthy. There are some important qualities for community members to have—qualities that can help the whole community. Today we will learn about those qualities and learn that we each have something to contribute to help our communities.
We all belong to several communities, such as this class, our families, our neighbourhoods, our villages or towns, and our nation. Communities have many members, and each member has something important to contribute.
One community we have talked about is the early church. As we have learned, the early followers of Jesus lived and worked together. They supported and encouraged each other. They understood their common purpose of living in ways that honoured God, and they shared responsibilities of caring for the community. These characteristics helped the early church to become a healthy community. Because others saw what God was doing in the early church community, many people were drawn to follow Jesus.
Optional: If you are using The NIV Action Study Bible, the teens can learn more about the challenges faced by the early church by reading the “God in Action” section at the beginning of 1 Corinthians.
Though Christians today often do not live together and share everything, they can be part of a healthy community. Listen to what the Bible tells us about being part of a Christian community.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12
What does this verse tell you about the community of believers?
Allow 2–3 students to share their thoughts. Then guide them to understand that the group saw value both in the individual and in the group.
The Bible often refers to Christians as the body of Christ. Why do you think this image
was used?
Allow 2–3 teens to share their thoughts. It is okay if they do not know the answer.
The early church was composed of many believers living in many different places. In each place, they were connected by a common purpose—to live in ways that honoured God and to share God’s love with the world. Each person contributed something to help the community to fulfil that purpose. Listen to what the Bible says about the members of the body.
As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
1 Corinthians 12:20–25
What does this passage teach us about the value of each community member?
What does it teach us about each person having something to contribute to the community?
If you think of a community as a body, you can see that every part is important. Without the eyes, no part of the body can see. Without the ears, no part of the body can hear. Each part of the body contributes something unique and something that is necessary for the body as a whole. This is true of a community as well. Each member can offer different skills and talents to help the community, and each person’s contribution is important.
Being part of a community has many benefits, but there are also some responsibilities the members have to help the community. Here are a few of them:
Members of a healthy community are responsible to try to live in harmony with one another. Listen to what the Bible says about this.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:16–18
Why do you think it is helpful for community members to try to live in harmony?
It allows them to work together and help each other more productively.
Arguments and disagreements can divide communities. Community bonds are created by caring for one another and treating others with honour. When differences are not resolved or when selfishness and pride interfere, communities can become unhealthy. Listen to what the Bible tells us about the attitude needed to keep a community healthy.
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.
Philippians 2:3
How could valuing others above yourself help a community to live in harmony?
When community members think of the needs of others and treat others in the community with honour, people’s needs are met and they feel cared for. Conflicts are less likely to arise because everyone thinks of others instead of himself.
The Bible tells us that members of a healthy community are responsible to help and encourage each other. Listen to an example from the Bible.
And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
According to this verse, what responsibilities do community members have?
To encourage everyone to work hard, to comfort those who are afraid, to help those who are weak, and to be patient with everyone.
Sometimes there will be disagreements, even in healthy communities. The Bible gives some advice for when community members have disagreements.
If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
Matthew 18:15–16
What plan does the Bible give to help members of the community resolve conflicts?
They should talk to the people they disagree with privately and try to resolve the conflict. If that does not work, they should ask for help from others in the community.
When we live in a healthy community, we gain many benefits. But we are also responsible to help the community. We should do what we can to help others, and we should try to live in peace and harmony with others. When we cannot do this, we should try to resolve conflicts respectfully and peacefully.
The Bible gives us direction about how to live well in community. In addition to helping to make our community healthy, we can also do practical things to help. Some of you may think that as a young person you cannot truly help your community. But listen to this story of a young man from Malawi who did something truly helpful for his community.
William Kamkwamba was just 14 years old when he had to quit school because his family could not afford the fees. His village had no running water or electricity. He decided he wanted to change this.
William read and learned. He found a tattered, old science book that showed how a windmill worked. He thought that a windmill could be a big help to his community. So William began searching in rubbish heaps and trash dumps for parts for he might be able to use to build a windmill. He gathered bike parts, fan blades, and plastic pipes. Finally he built a 5-meter-tall windmill. Then he connected a light bulb to it to see if it would make electricity—and it did! William’s creativity and hard work helped to transform his entire community!
God has a part for each of us to play to help our communities. Listen to this encouragement from the Bible:
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:24
Now you will get into groups of 3 and discuss the following questions.
Think about a community to which you belong. What is 1 thing you can do to make your community better? Encourage each person in your group to discover ways he can help the community.
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, the students can do this activity on their pages.
Reminder: All resources are available for download at the end of this lesson.
Give the students 2 minutes to think of their ideas. Ask a few students to share with the entire class. Encourage them to follow through with their ideas if possible. Then close with a blessing based on
1 Corinthians 12:24–26:
Blessing: May you give honour to all those around you, and may you show care for one another. May you rejoice together at the great work God is doing in your lives.
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
