Dare To Care

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Ephesians 4:1–3 (11-13) [NLT]

Main Idea: The needy humble helpers are the best helpers.

To build a caring church family, the Apostle Paul prioritizes .

“ Always be humble & gentle … ” Ephesians 4:1–3 [NLT]

• Humble helpers are by gospel power.

John 10:11 [NLT] 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.

• Humble helpers reject the prideful strategy of .

• Humble helpers acknowledge their for Jesus and his people.

• Humble helpers ask for .

We can use this process of asking for prayer:

1. Identify trouble in your life.

2. Connect that particular trouble with God’s Truth, not yours.

“Sometimes I find it hard to even pray for difficult things in my life. Would you pray that I know—deeply, in my heart—that God cares and invites me to pour out my heart to him?” (Ps. 62:8)

CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION:

1. What are your thoughts on the idea that God does His work to care for & build his church family primarily through the work of its “ordinary members” more than it’s “extraordinary ministers”?

2. In your opinion, how might it help the American evangelical church to :

• ”Always be humble and gentle.”

3. Why do you think the sacrifice of our “Good Shepherd” is such an important fuel for us in powering up our own humility?

John 10:11 [NLT] 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.

4. In what ways could your own humility & gentleness compel you to better…

• provide care for your church family? OR
• receive care from your church family?