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Am I My Brother's Keeper? |
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LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
Wednesday Night, January 17, 2007
“Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”
5 Minutes - Welcome / Prayer
5 Minutes - OPEN
Make a list (not by name) of those people to whom you feel a “primary” level of responsibility and care for them (i.e., spouse, children, parents, siblings, colleagues, close friends, etc.).
How many people are in this circle?
( ) 20-30
( ) 30-40
( ) 40-50
( ) 50+
How many NEW people can you legitimately draw into your web of significant love, care, concern, support, and encouragement?
What is your capacity for effectively managing fruitful and fulfilling relationships in your life (know this number will be different for everyone and due to different circumstances and seasons in our life)?
15 Minutes - DIG
Why in God’s wisdom does he desire that we develop and maintain close relationships with others? Why doesn’t he desire our relationship to be exclusively a vertical relationship with Him?
In your mind, what does the calling to “love one another” include (1 John 4:7-12)? What are the primary responsibilities of being our brother’s keeper?
Discuss in detail these five significant aspects of being our brother’s keeper:
* We help each other overcome problems (Josh. 1:14; Luke 22:31-32;Rom. 12:9-16; Gal. 6:1-2)
* We hear each other’s sorrows and troubles (Mt. 25:35-40; Ezek. 16:49-50; Luke 16:19-26);
* We heal each others’ injuries (Ezek. 34:1-6; ;Rom. 9:1-4; Mt. 12:15-21);
* We hold each other accountable (Zech. 7:8-10; Mt. 5:23-24; Mt. 18:15-17; Luke 17:1-3; 2 Thes. 3:6; 2 Thes. 3:11-15);
* We hate the things that hurt each other (Gal. 5:13-15; Jam. 4:11-12; Rom. 14:19-21).
15 Minutes - REFLECT
What are the barriers that prevent you from more effectively drawing people into your circle of friendship and influence?
Is there anything you will have to change in your life that will enable you to become a better brother’s keeper?
Describe your concept of a “close friend.” How would you characterize the close friendships in your life?
Can you honestly say that you’ve got three close friends with whom you pray, confide, share your weaknesses and temptations, beg for mutual accountability, and live life? If so, write their names on a piece of paper. Is this someone with whom you’ve discussed some important issue going on in your life this week?
5 Minutes - CLOSING PRAYER
Based on the discussion tonight, what are the primary points worthy of our prayer time? In what way will prayer be integral to our becoming the people that God’s wants us to be?
Focus your prayer on these concerns:
* Some don’t have close friends that you can describe as your “soul mate”;
* Some have significant barriers that are preventing you from drawing others into your circle of friendship and influence;
* Some must release selfish tendencies to disregard God’s call to be our “brother’s keeper.”
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