The Unity of Believers Questions and Answers - Form 3 Topical CRE

QUESTIONS

1.      
   1. Identify activities showing that Christians are a royal priesthood
   2. What are the characteristics of the new people of God according to the  New Testament?
2.      
   1. State how the unity of believers is expressed in the symbol of the body of Christ
   2. Explain how churches discipline those who cause disunity in the Church today
3. Explain the events that took place on the day of Pentecost as showing in Acts 2: 1-40 
4.      
   1. Explain how the unity of believers is expressed by Paul in the symbolism of the Church as the body of Christ 1Cor. 12:12-27
   2. State five factors that qualify Christians as the people of God
5. What were the causes of Disunity in the church of the New Testament             
6.      
   1. Identify causes of disunity in the early Church at Corinth
   2. What solutions did Paul give to the above sited problems
   3. In what ways can Christians prevent division in Church in Kenya today
7. Explain the factors that enhance units in the Christian community today .
8. State the remedies that can be put in place to minimize ethnicity in Kenya today
9. In what six ways are the people of God described in I peter 2:9-10
10.      
    1. By giving  specific examples  state eight problems faced  by the church  at  Corinth      
    2. What solution did Paul give to solve the problems in the church at Corinth?                  
    3. State six major causes of disunity in the Christian churches today               
11.    
    1. Explain seven causes of disunity in the early Church
    2. State Five ways in which Christians can promote unity in the church today are:
12. Identify five symbolic expressions used in teaching the unity of believers  in  the apostolic Church 
13. Identify factors which cause disunity among the Christians today.
14.       
    1. Give five ways in which Christians show their trust in God.
    2. Explain how the unity of believers is expressed in the metaphor of the body of Christ as used  by Paul

ANSWERS

1.      
   1.    
      • Christians are royal priesthood because they share with Christ in Kingship and are called to reign with Him
      • They also perform priestly duties such as praising/praying to God
      • They devote their lives in obeying God as a spiritual sacrifice
      • Christians are a royal priesthood when they meet the needs of other people by sharing what they have
      • Christians are a royal priesthood when they show concern/create unity among people   
   2.    
      • They are baptized / born again
      • They preach the work of Christ
      • They share in the resurrection of Christ
      • They rejoice in suffering/persecution
      • Have moral values e.g. Holy spirit
      • Are guided by the Holy Spirit
      • Have a common destiny/the kingdom of God
      • Are protected by Jesus Christ
      • Are dedicated to the word of God
      • Are peace makers (8x1=8mks)
2.    
   1.    
      • Church, like a human body has many parts that function for the good of the whole body.
      • As the body of Christ, the church has many members from different backgrounds but all have been baptized in one spirit.
      • Every member of the church has a role to play for her/his development.
      • Different members have different spiritual gifts that are used for the development of the church.
      • All members of the body of Christy are equal because they serve the same God.
      • All spiritual gifts have been given by God hence non is inferior to the other.
      • Christians strive to remain in Christ and also invite others to become members of the body of Christ.
      • Unity is achieved through the practice of virtues such as humility, gentleness or patience.
      • The spirit is the unifying power that brings Christians together as one body of Christ.
      • Jesus is the head of the church.
      • Christians share one faith in Christ.
      • Christ has given Christians gifts for the purpose of building the body of Christ.
   2.    
      • They are denied leadership positions.
      • Are denied some services of the church such as wedding rites, burial rites e.t.c
      • Are charged a fine.
      • They are reprimanded and asked to apologize.
      • Workers who cause disunity can lose their jobs.
      • Leaders who cause disunity are asked to resign.
      • Some churches excommunicate members who blaspheme.
      • Sometimes they may be suspended from church duties and church service. (8 x 1 = 8 mks)
3.    
   • All apostles were gathered in one place
   • A noise like wind filled the house
   • Tongues of fire landed on each of their head
   • Disciples talked in tongues
   • The crowd was amazed
   • The crowd accused the disciples of drunkenness
   • Peter stood up and explained the meaning of the event/ he quoted the book of Joel
   • Peter preached to the crowd about Jesus ministry
   • They asked what to do to save themselves
   • Peter told them to repent and be baptized
   • 3000 people reported/ were baptized
   • The crowd dispersed
4.    
   1.    
      • Christ is like human body, has many parts that function for good of the whole being.
      • As body of Christ the church has many members from different background but all have been baptized in one spirit.
      • All members of the church have a role to play in the development of the church.
      • Different members have different spiritual gifts that are used for the development of the church i.e. preaching, teaching and healing e.t.c.
      • All members of the body of Christ are equal because they serve the same God.
      • Christians achieve unity by practicing virtues such as humbly, gentleness and patience
   2.    
      • They should imitate the great love of God
      • They should exhibit inseparable unity.
      • They should proclaim the gospel
      • Should be united in Christ.
      • Should have the same Holy Spirit that gives life a guidance.
      • Should be baptized.
      • Should have faith in eternal life.
      • Should submit to Christ.
      • Should share each others burden.
      • Endure persecution.
      • Condemn evil.
5.    
   • The question of inclusion of the gentiles in the church.
   • Negligence of the widows in the distribution of food.
   • Question  of  immorality.
   • The  problem  of the celebration of the  Lord supper.
   • Taking others to pagan courts.
   • Women appearing  in public  with unveiled  heads
   • Disagreement among  leaders e.g  Paul, Peter, Barnabas
6.    
   1.    
      • Rival clique – Quarreling and bickering which split the church.
      • Incest among Christians – living with ones father’s wife (step mother) Thus committing incest others seemed to condone.
      • Taking legal action against brethrens and had cases tried by non-Christian judges. Question of eating meal offered to idols. The question was whether to eat or not to eat food offered to idols.
      • Dress – the question on how women should dress/ behave in church.
      • Division in celebration of the Lord’s Supper i.e. one had turned the occasion into social merry making opportunity rather than worship.
      • Misunderstanding over spiritual gifts – some gifts were considered superior to others i.e. speaking in tongues.
      • Resurrection – some people were denying the resurrection of the dead.
      • Boasted wisdom – there were Christians who boasted that they were better than others.
   2.    
      • Distribution of food:  On the issue of the Hellenist no pure Jews who complained Peter chose Deacons to be responsible.
      • Disputes in the church leadership: Paul taught that personalities work all messengers of God and they too were under Jesus.
      • The eating of meal offered to idols: Those who are strong in faith should guard those who are weak. Those who have faith are to eat meal offered to idols because idols are nothing 
      • The misuse spiritual of gifts – Paul reminded those who boasted of speaking in tongues that all gifts come from God.
      • The abuse of the Lords Supper: This was not to be a show off movement as it was meant to bring believers together, to share and partake of the Lord’s Supper.
      • Sexual Immorality – Paul condemned this practice and directed that the man involved should be excommunicated.
      • Settling disputes in civil courts – Paul urged the church that it was wrong for them to rely on those who did not share in their faith to judge them – they were to take cases before believers who were wise and could act as mediators.
      • Dispute over marriage and divorce: Paul would rather people choose to remain celibate like him but if they could not then they’d better marry so as not to burn with passion – He advised that divorce should not take place as this would affect families.
      • Disputes over the covering of head during worship: Paul reminded men to keep their hair short and women to be decently dressed..
      • Misunderstanding of the resurrection of the body: Paul reaffirmed that the resurrection of the body will actually take place.
   3.    
      • Treat each other with love
      • Avoid discrimination/ segregations/ tribalism in the church.
      • Preach / teach the word of God/ Bible truths to believers.
      • Assist those in problems/ poor/ the less fortunate/ the needy.
      • Practice humility/ avoid arrogance.
      • Openly discuss issues affecting the church/ respect the opinions of other people.
      • Pray for one another/ problems affecting the church.
      • Practice transparent leadership style.
      • Give financial reports within acceptable period of time.
      • Follow the church doctrines / constitutions / manuals/ elaborate members on church procedures.
      • Repent/ ask for forgiveness whenever they are wrong / accept their mistakes.
      • Prepare a budget annually / seasonally to ensure that the resources are well utilized.
      • Guidance and counseling.
7.    
   • Preaching love and forgiveness for one another
   • Organizing inter- denominational prayers
   • Reconciling parties and encouraging agreements
   • Formation of 
   • Promoting youth in schools
   • Condemning custom and practices which threaten unity in the society e.g. female circumcision/ wife inheritance
   • Living exemplary lives for others to emulate
   • Reporting those intending to bring disunity to relevant authority
   • Helping the needy in the society
   • Creating employment opportunities 
   • Providing racial amenities
8.    
   • Showing Godly love to all like Jesus
   • Sensitizing people to appreciate and respect different ethnic group.
   • Supporting educational and cultural programmes in a bid to promoting national unity.
   • Discouraging tribalism through inter –ethnic marriages.
   • Perpetrators of tribalism should be charged and punished according to the law.
   • Creation of more national schools in the country so as to admit more students from every part of the country.
   • Use a common language in the country as a unifying factor.
   • Encouraging domestic tourism through benefits of visiting different parts of the country.
9.      
   • Abraham’s descendants were referred to as the people of God
   • Followers of Christ are described as the people of God
   • They are people chosen by God
   • They are a special chosen race
   • They are a royal priesthood who perform priestly tasks i.e. preaching, conducting church services and counseling
   • They are God’s own people
   • They are people who have received God’s mercy
   • They are called to declare the wonderful deeds of God
   • They stand out by living a holy and righteous life
   • The destiny of these people is no longer in this world but he eternal home  
10.    
    1.    
       • Leadership wrangles
       • Feat to idols
       • Worship – women – hir- coverage
       • Spiritual gifts cafild
       • Lords supper abuse
       • Set-up/immorality
       • Court + settled or by pagans
       • Resurrection of the body
    2.    
       • Free to marry or not 
       • Women to ask husbands 
       • Agree as leaders as one God as saved
       • Promote love even if one has a gift
       • Resurrection if reason for preaching Christ heal
       • Eat at home before but be orderly supper-wait.
       • Idols – be considerate of the weak
    3.    
       • Spinter groups from 
       • Leadership wrangles
       • Doctrine differences
       • Women leadership roles
       • Freedom of worship
       • Tribalism intellect
       • Political
       • Church failure to satisfy needs exist.
       • Lords supper approved
       • Baptism approach
       • resurrection approach
       • spiritual gift a tangles differences – discrimination
       • Sabbath day differences
11.    
    1.    
       • There was dispute in the church’s leadership some claimed allegiance to Paul, another group to Apollos, and yet another to Peter
       • Some Christians ate meals /meat offered to idols. This idolatry molested those who were weak in faith
       • Misuse of spiritual gifts- some Christians attached greater importance to the gift of speaking in tongues and were boasting about it
       • The abuse of the Lord’s supper – during the celebration of the Lord’s supper, Christiana grouped themselves according to their  status in the society i.e. the poor vise the rich
       • Misunderstanding of the resurrection f the body- some Christians believed in the resurrection while others doubted it.
       • There was dispute over the covering of the head with veil during worship. Women were supposed to cover heir heads and dress decently during worship. This practice was ignored at Corinth.- 
    2.    
       • Sensitizing /teaching believers that they are members of one body despite the difference in beliefs and practices
       • Helping the poor/needy in the society
       • Forming welfare organizations to assist the people in case of need
       • Inviting members of other denominations in schools/free tours of worship in mission schools
       • The use of common syllabus for teaching CRE in schools
       • Offering guidance ad counseling to fellow Christian members.
12.    
    • The  body  of  Christ
    • The  vine  and  the  branches
    • The  bride
    • The  people  of  God
    • The  church
13.      
    • Selfishness/ greed for money by some Christians
    • Rivalry/ competition for leadership positions/ greed for power
    • Misinterpretation by some Christians of the work of the Holy Spirit
    • Arrogance/ pride by some Christians
    • Corruption in church
    • Failure by some of them to live according to the law of God/ their failure to live exemplary lives
    • Lack of concern of some Christians about the plight of others
    • Misinterpretation of the Bible/ doctrinal differences
    • Misuse of church funds/ power by some leaders
    • Lack of transparency/ accountability in running church affairs 
    • The emergence of charismatic movements
    • The church creates a situation where some Christians think they are more spiritual/ holier than others
    • Political interference where Christian find themselves in different  political camps
14.    
    • Christians show their trust in God by obeying God’s word and commandments
    • By believing His promises
    • By trusting the scriptures as God given
    • By praying to God for their needs
    • They put up places of worship where people can worship God
    • By assisting the needy in society