Temple: Part 1 – On Purpose

This Sunday, Simon Lace brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC services. We encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.
 
The talk will be available clicking here from 10am on Sunday ^16th January
 
Once you have listened, here are some questions to consider:
 
Readings:

1 Corinthians chapter 6 verses 19 to 20
 
Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honour God with your body.

Lamentatians chapter 3 verse 40

Let’s take a good look at the way we’re living and reorder our lives under God.



 
Prayer & Reflection
 
Loving God, thank you for the gift of our physical bodies.

Protect us Heavenly Father, from gluttony, sloth, greed, lust and the associated evils that affect our bodies through these sins. Help us clean up, rebuild and maintain well our bodies, O God, as we acknowledge them as the temples of Your Holy Spirit, living in us.

We are residing in our bodies Lord and waiting for you within them. Take up residence with us, Holy Spirit, to inspire us, to help us discover our purpose and to be about your business.

For Your Kingdom and Your glory we ask this, in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
 



Questions to Consider
1) Paul was writing to the early church at Corinth about the issue of sexual sin – but he did so in a way that has much wider implications if our bodies are indeed temples of the Holy Spirit. What do you make of the idea that the Holy Spirit is living in you?
2) If you accept that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, what is your assessment of His accommodation?
3) Are any changes in order to make the temple more befitting for His presence?
4) At the turn of a new year, might now be a good time to “take a good look” at the way you are living – and what changes might be needed to “reorder” your life under God?
5) What do you consider to be your purpose in life? What role does your physical body play within your understanding of your spirituality, and your purpose?
6) Think, pray and reflect about what lies within your control, physically and spiritually. What small changes can you make that will help align you, physically and spiritually, with God’s purposes for you?
7) Take a personal health-check. With trusted friends, and with God, determine where you are now, physically and spiritually, and where you would like to get to in the year ahead. What small, consistent steps might you take – and commit to with friends and with God – that will reorder your life?