Providing Care for One Another

"so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." Colossians 1:10

As we have started working through Colossians we have discovered that it is essential to create a healthy culture where people can mature in faith and demonstrate love for one another. Paul puts an emphasis on “bearing fruit in every good work”. At New Life, one of the primary places we demonstrate this type of mutual care is in the context of Community Groups.

Scripture is clear concerning the importance of mutual care. Here are some examples of how the Bible refers to the concept of caring for one another:

Be of the same mind with one another (Rom. 12:6)
Accept one another (Rom 15:7)
Love one another (Jn. 13:24)
Through love, serve one another (Gal. 5:13)
Be devoted to one another in love (Rom. 12:10)
Regard one another as more important than yourselves (Ph. 2:3)
Bear one another’s burdens. (Gal 6:2)
Speak truth to one another. (Eph. 4:25)
Comfort one another (1Th. 4:18)
Encourage and build up one another (1Th. 5:11)
Spur one another on to love and good deeds. (Heb. 10:24)
Pray for one another. (Jas 5:16) Be hospitable to one another (1Pe 4:9)

So, here is the important question we should consider: how does care within Community Groups work? Here are a few practical ways care works within our community group structure:

1. Members of a Community Groups should pray for and with one another. Prayer can take place in your weekly meetings, or it can happen one-on-one when needs arise. You can pray for those in your group and ask those in your group to pray for you. Prayer is cherished when everything is going great or when life is falling apart.

2. In times of need, members and leaders of your Community Group are like first responders. Your group leader is a great person to contact during times of crisis. Your group can pray for you, organize meal support, handle tasks or errands, or help with any other practical needs that arise from difficult circumstances. If you are in need of care, encouragement, and prayer, don’t assume everyone in your group, or your pastor knows it just because you posted something to social media. Make sure to text or call your group and your pastor when you have an urgent need.

3. Give permission for others in your group to care for you. It’s easy to isolate yourself when things get hard, but remember we are eager to follow the “one another” commands in the Bible. Don’t rob another person of the opportunity to obey God by loving you well.

At New Life, we desire to provide care for you during your time of need. Having a group of gospel-centered people in your life is both Biblical and practical. This is part of the healthy culture we are seeking to establish.

Pastor Billy