Infusion Bible eStudies are downloadable small group studies that can be read online, printed, or emailed. Each study includes a leader guide and a study guide and is suitable for a one-hour group Bible study.
Listen...to the words of the Scripture, and in them discover God's message for you today.
Look...at a brief verbal snapshot from the scrapbook of contemporary life and discover its connection both to you and to the Scripture passage.
Live...inside the Scripture to discover its context and message; then allow the Scripture to come alive in you and cause you to live out your faith in new and more-effective ways.
Read an excerpt from this study below.
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In my church we sometimes use Psalm 133 as a call to worship:
How very good and pleasant it is
when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down over the collar of his robes....
For there the Lord ordained his blessing,
life forevermore.
The psalmist is describing the way that God blesses those who live in harmony. We know from experience what can happen in a church when people are pulling in the same direction, working in harmony to achieve common goals. New buildings are constructed, mission programs are initiated, and educational programs thrive.
When we read in the Bible the history of God’s people, however, what we see is that this unity is as rare as it is splendid. Conflicts divided and weakened the people of God. Through it all, the Lord grieved for his chosen people, who were living in conflict, not unity.
This lesson reaffirms the biblical teaching that God wants unity in the community of faith. Division is contrary to the will of God. Focusing on our differences results in conflict and chaos, while drawing on the strengths of our distinctiveness empowers us to serve Christ more faithfully.