Eat, Learn, Pray, Help - Part 5

Here's the final post in the Eat, Learn, Pray, Help series.  Reviewing the practices identified in Acts 2:42-47, we are challenged to: 

• Eat Together - "They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts."
• Learn Together - "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching..."
  
• Pray Together - "They devoted themselves to...prayer."

But there's one more practice that is essential to cultivating Biblical community--Help Together.  Acts 2:45 says, "Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need."  A very real part of community in the early church was helping one another and serving people in need.  This is essential to keep your group from becoming totally inward focus.  Here's a few thoughts on how your group can Help Together to make a difference: 

1.  Talk About It - Often times the act of serving one another is overlooked because we simply do not bring it up during our group meetings.  This can be a valuable part of your discussion and prayer time.

2.  Serve the Needs of Group Members - There have been several occasions in the past that my Connection Group has visited group members in the hospital, provided a meal on the day of a funeral after a member lost a loved one, given an offering to a family in need, and provided meals during and after an extended sickness.  This is a very practical way to show your group that you care.

3.  Volunteer in the Community - Work as a group together to serve a need in the community.  There are plenty of serving opportunities with organizations such as a Union Gospel Mission, Habitat for Humanity, Safe Haven of Tarrant County, Christian Community Assistance, and others.

4.  Participate in a Connection Group Service Project - Our next project is coming up this Saturday, March 28th from 9:00 AM - Noon at Southwest High School.  We'll be washing windows, cleaning trophy cases, and doing landscaping as an expression of God's love to a local campus.  Make plans to join us.  Childcare for nursery - 6th grade will be available at Christ Church.  Call Christ Church at 817-292-9292 to sign up today.

5.  Sponsor a Missions Project - I recently had one small group leader come to me with over $800 to sponsor a global missions project.  His group decided they wanted to work together to meet a specific need they learned about during a Sunday morning service.  What might your group be willing to sponsor?

Talk with your group about how you can serve.  It will change everyone's perspective and become a great way to make a difference.

Eat, Learn, Pray, Help - Part 4

The 3rd practice of the Connection Groups model is "pray together" based on Acts 2:42 - "They devoted themselves...to prayer."  I am deeply convinced this is extremely important in your regular group meetings.  In the last year, we have averaged roughly 116 answered prayers per semester in our Connection Groups.  These are documented answered prayers that were submitted by our Hosts.  The fact that prayers are being answered tells me that our groups are engaging in the "pray together" practice of Connection Groups.  So here's a few ideas on how to elevate your focus on prayer:

1.  Photo Reminders - Take a photo of each group member and exchange photos each time your group meets. During and between meetings members pray for the person whose photo they received.  

2.  Assign a Prayer Leader - If you spend the majority of your time thinking about how to cultivate the discussion of your group lesson, consider delegating the prayer portion of your meeting to another group member.  Let them know you want them to make the prayer time meaningful and creative.  Tell them they will have the final third of each meeting to facilitate the prayer time.

3.  Written Prayer - Search online or in the Psalms for a meaningful written prayer that you can share with the group.  

4.  Follow a Prayer Outline - Consider taking some time to pray through the aspects of a prayer outline as a group such as A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication) or P.R.A.Y. (Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield).  This can add some quality variety to the prayer time.

For additional ideas on cultivating a great prayer time, listen to a brief teaching titled, "Growing Your Group Through Prayer."

Eat, Learn, Pray, Help - Part 3

The early church experienced Biblical community by embracing four practices.  They would eat together, learn together, pray together, and help together.  Let's focus on the second practice--"eat together."  Acts 2:42 says, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching..."  Each time a Connection Group meets, there is a portion of the meeting designed to facilitate learning together as we study a curriculum.  Here's 5 ways to add a fresh spark to your group discussion and make the impact of the lesson last:        

1.  Use the Translations - Sometimes a different translation of the Bible can provide fresh perspective on a common verse.  As you prepare, consider looking at what another translation says, even if it's not the translation used in the curriculum.  The New Living Translation or The Message can often communicate the truth in a powerful way.

2.  Pick the Right Questions - The curriculum we use offers connect questions (introduces the topic), grow questions (takes the study deeper), and serve questions (focuses on application and serving others).  Only pick the best questions--the right questions will be different for each group.  If there's seven questions, but only five of them are really meaningful to you, focus on those.  Also, if you come across a hard question, make it a priority.  The hard questions are designed to take the study deeper--depth requires mind-stretching thought.  For members that complain the study is not deep enough, the hard questions will be most helpful. 

3.  Ask, "What is God Doing?" - After spending some time in study and before you pray together, consider asking your group if they would share what God is currently doing in their life.  Take volunteers and assure the group that it doesn't have to be anything complicated.  Often the simple lessons are the most life-transforming.  You might even go first by saying, "Let me take 60 seconds to tell you what God has been doing in my life."  Then after you share, ask, "Would somebody else like to take a minute to share what God has been teaching you or doing in you?"  If your answer to the question is transparent, others will more likely open up as well.  Sometimes the "learn together" part of your meeting can be really rich when others here real-life examples of how God works.

4.  Give an Assignment - In preparation for the next session, you might ask your group to complete a simple assignment such as reading a particular chapter, memorizing a verse, reading an article online, or listening to a specific song.  If you email the reminder along with a link to a relevant site, it will help the process.

5.  Provide a Summary - Consider emailing a summary of your lesson a couple days after you meet.  This will provide reinforcement for what the group is learning together.  You might even follow-up in your next meeting by asking how others have applied what they've learned.  

These are just a few ideas to get you started.  I share some additional insights in the following brief audio link, "5 Ways to Cultivate Great Discussion."  What ideas have you found helpful for making the "Learn Together" part of your group meaningful?