Back to menu

November 29, 2009

CARE For Others’ Spiritual Condition

GETTING TO KNOW YOU…

1. We just passed the Thanksgiving Holiday. What one highlight of this Thanksgiving is your favorite? Of Past Thanksgivings?

2. Have you ever been deeply concerned about someone to the point it made a major impact on your life? Who was that person? Can you Share what happened?

3. Have you ever cared deeply about someone Spiritually? Does it make a difference to you how a person’s life is Spiritually? Please share, if you can, about when you truly cared about someone Spiritually and you did something about it.

DIGGING DEEPER

IN PREPARATION For your Group Time or Personal Time of ‘Digging Deeper’, carefully read thru John 4:1-44, mentally picturing the scene and what it must have been like for Jesus, a Jewish Man to speak to The Samaritan woman and share with her his Spiritual Concerns for her. Jesus was our example, our pattern for how to engage people we CARE about. As we ‘Dig Deeper’, Let’s follow the acrostic Pastor Dave used utilizing the word ‘CARE’…

1. C – CAPITOLIZE ON COMMON GROUND

a. Jesus utilized the common ground that he and the woman at the well had… Water and Thirst. Your common ground is your neighborhood… our school… or work…children…athletics…etc. What are some of the ‘Common Ground’s’ in your life where you can engage people?
b. Do you have a ‘Common Ground’ success story to share? Please share it. Whether you have one to share or not, make a decision to begin to keep track of your ‘common ground’ opportunities by journaling and sharing with your accountability partner or small group.

2. A –ACCEPT PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE

a. Jesus, although he was a Jew and not a Samaritan, although it was common knowledge that the woman was immoral and although she was obviously an outcast even among her own people, was willing to ‘accept her’ and engage her in conversation that demonstrated His acceptance (not approval). What are some of the issues that you can think of that we sometimes struggle with in being willing to engage other people in communicating with them?
b. How can we as individuals and as a church do a better job in demonstrating acceptance of others without demonstrating approval of things that are not necessarily right in their life?

3. R – RISK SHARING YOUR SPIRITUAL STORY

a. What is your Spiritual Story. Write out the ‘major points’ of your spiritual story and share it with your group…
b. Have you ever shared your spiritual story with someone in Spiritual need? Share…

4. E – Expect God To Do His Part
The hardest part many times is to understand that it is our job to share and encourage and it is God’s job to ‘Do His Part’ and Bring Fruit…
*Read The Following Scripture: Matthew 9:37-38 Mark 16:20
I Cor.3:6-7, 9 2 Cor.6:1

a. The Promise and Instruction of God is very clear: we have our work and he promises to do His work.

1) Why do you think it is difficult to be patient and wait on God to Do His part?
2) How can we help each other to wait on God to do His part?
3) Can you share a time when you were clearly shown how God works and ‘Does His Part’?

TAKING IT HOME

Someone has well said, ‘People are Our Business, Our Only Business’. Caring about others is what the Christian life is to be about. Take the message to heart and sit down and make a list of people you should CARE about Spiritually, purposing in your life to pray for them and look for opportunities to “CARE” as Jesus did.

PRAYER TIME