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.