Do You Want to Get Serving in Small Groups?
Get Your Group Serving Together
by Elizabeth Marks
Jesus even taught us that giving something as simple as a cup of water to another will have a reward attached to it. Jesus, the Son of God, did not come to be served as King, though He deserved it. He came to serve others. He is our role model. We are to follow His example.
Some groups like to dedicate one day a month to a community service project instead of meeting for Bible study. That’s a great way to integrate serving together into your small group time. Spend time together in prayer to determine where God would lead your group to serve. Ask God to show you where to serve.
Assign someone in your small group the responsibility to research various serving opportunities such as Workday in Compton – Volunteer at a local food panty – Become a Greeter at your church – Volunteer to pray for others – Start a letter writing ministry for prison inmates – Prepare / Send shoebox filled with goodies to someone serving in the military – Check the volunteer activities at your church – Visit a Nursing Home and become friends with the elderly living there.
When we serve others, we demonstrate love for one another. We show our faith in God’s love for us by allowing that same love to pour out on everyone we come in contact with. What God provides, we share with others.
The Bible offers several examples of how believers served one another. Here are a few to get you thinking about serving others.
- Acts 2:43 says “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”
- Acts 3:6 says “Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
- Romans 13:8 says “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
- Romans 14:19 says “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”
- Galatians 6:2 says “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
- First Peter 4:10 says “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
Lord, we thank you for the awesome privilidge of serving others in your name. Guide us where to serve. Open our eyes to the needs all around us. Equip us to share what we have with others. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
© ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc.
Serving Through Hobbies to Share Christ with Others
by Elizabeth Marks
Does your small group have any hobbies? Any one like to make crafts or scrapbook? Does any one like to paint or make jewelry or greeting cards? What about sewing, crocheting, knitting, etc?
Did you know any of these activities can easily turn into a way to share the love of Christ with others.
Set up an event where you come together for a couple hours to do a particular activity. Let's say you like to scrapbook. Arrange an afternoon where everyone comes to your house to scrapbook together.
Ask everyone to bring a friend who may not know the Lord. Keep it simple, have fun and be yourself.
As you scrapbook together, let your conversations be pleasing to the Lord. Speak of great things God has done in your life. For example, when I had a scrapbook party, I invited several co-workers over. Some did not know about my story. As I scrapbooked about my "miracle" baby, one woman asked me why I called my son a "miracle". That opened the door for sharing how the Lord changed my life, saved me, restored my marriage, and blessed us with a second son.
Find something you and your friends like to do. Invite them over to do that activity. Share the good news of God's love with them as you spend time together.
© ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc.