But what does that mean?
1. Think of another group you're in. Your family. A sports team. Your circle of friends. Etc. What does it mean to be a part of that group? How do you know if someone belongs or doesn't belong?
2. Read Acts 2:41-47. "Members of the Church" are traditionally considered those who are baptized. Acts describes a lot of things baptized believers do. Learning. Fellowship. Communion. Prayer. Sharing. Worship. Which of these is your favorite part of membership in the Church and why? Which one is the hardest for you to do?
3. What's the main reason you're a member of your congregation?
4. Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 12-18, 27. St. Paul believes every member - from the youngest to the oldest, from the most visibly active to the one no one ever sees doing anything of value - every member is important and has a role within the body of Christ. What do you think your role is in the Church?
5. Go back to the group you described in #1 above. You've thought about your individual role. But you are one part of many. What's the goal of your time together as a group? Each of you could probably pull of your individual role alone or with other groups. What's the value of your time together?
Example: A pitcher can just as easily throw a baseball without the rest of the team. Why does the team ever need to get together for a group practice?
6. Read Ephesians 4:1-6, 15-16. How does St. Paul describe the purpose of our time together as the Church? How well does your congregation do in fulfilling this purpose?What's one way you could help build the congregation up in love?
7. Have you noticed anyone in your congregation who isn't being built up in love? What's one tangible thing you can do this week to uplift that person?
Household Activity
Everyone in your household is an important part of the family (even if some of them aren't technically "family"). All of us have roles to play (most of us have more than one role). Even the newborn baby is important. Make a poster of the family, listing the roles of each person.
If it's helpful, picture of body like St. Paul did. Who's the head of the family? Who's the legs and keeps the family moving? Who's the rear end, cushioning the family whenever it falls and dealing with any "stinky" stuff when there's problems?
Remember that this activity is descriptive, not prescriptive. Roles can change over time. Just like in "Inside Out", how the girl's personality changed, so the roles we play in our families change over time. Feel free to add updates any time.
If you did last month's bible activity (Saving the World Through a Brat), this activity is a great way to build on that one.