Better Together (part 1): One Another

FAMILY BUSINESS

Before you jump into discussion this week you might take some time out to do three things (these three things could potentially take up all your time together):

  1. If you haven’t been meeting over the summer, this week is a great chance to check back in and see where everyone is. Is everyone okay? Healthy? Stable? Consider doing “pits and peaks.” What were the highest and lowest moments of your summer?

  2. Make small group goals. What do you want to accomplish together this year? Do you want to meet more regularly? Do you want to pray for each other more? Do you want to serve together outside of group? Do you want to be more vulnerable with each other? Make a list of goals and consider steps for achieving them.

  3. Discuss our church’s need for small group leaders.Take a minute to say we’re looking for leaders and offer yourself as a resource to anyone even a little bit interested (as a small group leader you’re encouraged to mentor potential leaders. Our Connections Minister can provide you with resources). Leaders, if you would, share one reason you enjoy leading your group.

 

TO START

This Sunday we started a new series called “Better Together.” Justin said, “There are things we do together that we can’t do alone, and there are things we become together that we can’t become alone.”

To begin your discussion, separate into two teams: men and women. Set a timer for two minutes and write down as many answers to this question as you possibly can. Longest list wins. Share your answers.

What’s something you can’t do alone?

 

TO DISCUSS

Some social scientists argue that modern America is the most individualistic society ever to live. Have you seen evidence to support that? We said on Sunday, “We’ve found so many reasons and ways to put distance between ourselves.” Share some examples.

What do you think we’re missing in our efforts to distance ourselves from one another? Do you personally feel like you’re in need of more, deeper community? Do you notice people around you/coworkers/family struggling in isolation?

The New Testament is chock full of instructions on how and why to be together. Choose a few of these passages about how we treat “one another” to read aloud.

  • What’s significant about the high number of passages on this topic?

  • Why do you think God requires us to be together? What doesn’t following God alone work?            

  1. “...Be at peace with each other.” (Mark 9:50)

  2. “...Wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14)    

  3. “...Love one another...” (John 13:34)                    

  4. “...Love one another...” (John 13:34)                            

  5. “...Love one another...” (John 13:35)    

  6. “...Love one another...” (John 15:12)    

  7. “...Love one another” (John 15:17)    

  8. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love...” (Romans 12:10)    

  9. “...Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10)                

  10. “Live in harmony with one another...” (Romans 12:16)    

  11. “...Love one another...” (Romans 13:8)                            

  12. “...Stop passing judgment on one another.” (Romans 14:13)    

  13. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you...” (Romans 15:7)        

  14. “...Instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14)                             

  15. “Greet one another with a holy kiss...” (Romans 16:16)

  16. “...When you come together to eat, wait for each other.” (I Cor. 11:33)            

  17. “...Have equal concern for each other.” (I Corinthians 12:25)

  18. “...Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (I Corinthians 16:20)

  19. “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (II Corinthians 13:12)

  20. “...Serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)                

  21. “If you keep on biting and devouring each other...you will be destroyed by each other.”    (Galatians 5:15)

  22. “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:26)

  23. “Carry each other’s burdens...” (Galatians 6:2)                         

  24. “...Be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2)            

  25. “Be kind and compassionate to one another...” (Ephesians 4:32)

  26. “...Forgiving each other...” (Ephesians 4:32)

  27. “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” (Ephesians 5:19)

  28. “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)            

  29. “...In humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)

  30. “Do not lie to each other...” (Colossians 3:9)

  31. “Bear with each other...” (Colossians 3:13)    

  32. “...Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.” (Colossians 3:13)

  33. “Teach...[one another]” (Colossians 3:16)

  34. “...Admonish one another (Colossians 3:16)

  35. “...Make your love increase and overflow for each other.” (I Thessalonians 3:12)

  36. “...Love each other.” (I Thessalonians 4:9)    

  37. “...Encourage each other...”(I Thessalonians 4:18)    

  38. “...Encourage each other...” I Thessalonians 5:11)    

  39. “...Build each other up...” (I Thessalonians 5:11)    

  40. “Encourage one another daily...” Hebrews 3:13)    

  41. “...Spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24)    

  42. “...Encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)    

  43. “...Do not slander one another.” (James 4:11)

  44. “Don’t grumble against each other...” (James 5:9)

  45. “Confess your sins to each other...” (James 5:16)

  46. “...Pray for each other.” (James 5:16)

  47. “...Love one another deeply, from the heart.” (I Peter 3:8)

  48. “...Live in harmony with one another...” (I Peter 3:8)

  49. “...Love each other deeply...” (I Peter 4:8)

  50. “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (I Peter 4:9)

  51. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others...” (I Peter 4:10)

  52. “...Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another...”(I Peter 5:5)    

  53. “Greet one another with a kiss of love.” (I Peter 5:14)

  54. “...Love one another.” (I John 3:11)

  55. “...Love one another.” (I John 3:23)    

  56. “...Love one another.” (I John 4:7)

  57. “...Love one another.” (I John 4:11)    

  58. “...Love one another.” (I John 4:12)

  59. “...Love one another.” (II John 5)

Share a time when you personally benefitted from the togetherness of belonging to a church family. Be specific. Tell a story.

This week we read from Hebrews chapter 10. Verses 24-25 read, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

  • What are we supposed to not give up doing?

  • When does our church “meet together”? Is it your habit to join in that meeting and encourage others? Do you make church attendance a priority? Why might that be hard/inconvenient/not a priority for you?

  • What kinds of sacrifices have you made in order to “meet together” with your church? What kinds of sacrifices might God be calling you to make?                                     

 

TO PRAY

Consider the list of “one another” passages above. Pray them together. Add the words, “Help us to.”

For example:

God, help us to bear with each other.

Help us to encourage one another.

Help us to love one another.

Help us to live in harmony with one another.

Etc.

 

TO DO

Brainstorm as a group something good you could do together that you couldn’t do alone. Make plans to do it.

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