BelongSample

A Vital Ingredient

You’re nine days into this Bible Plan. Hopefully in addition to learning some of what Scripture has to say about friendship, you’re also learning from Jeff, Tiffany, Viv, Jonathan, Rodney, Kevin, and Carrie what it looks like to function as a group. Maybe, like an aspiring cook in a kitchen, you’re paying attention to some of the ingredients of healthy, Jesus-centered, conversation. If so, your recipe might look something like this:

     - 1 pinch of nerves

     - Add hospitality to taste

     - A few spoonfuls of honesty

     - All of your listening

     - Some unplanned God-moments

     - Add food

     - Laugh as needed

     - Top off with encouragement

     - Briskly whip together and place in a pressure cooker on high

Scratch the last item off. Yes, that’s what this group went through, but your group has plenty of time. Also, there’s an ingredient missing from the list. A vital one. What is it?

Prayer. 

LifeGroup without prayer is like dessert without sugar. Prayer is not just for before meals and after tragedies. It’s for wisdom before decisions and celebrating after victories. It’s not just how we share our hopes with God—it’s how we come to know His hopes for us. Prayer can heal broken hearts, broken bodies, and broken communities. Prayer is your group text thread with the living God. 

Don’t leave prayer out. 

Next time you meet, pray out loud for each other. Don’t know what words to pray? Paul says the Holy Spirit can pray through our wordless groans. So, just about any words you can muster up will be a great start. Remember, we grow in the game.

After you finish Episode 3 and read today’s Scriptures, spend some time talking and listening to God.

What does group prayer look like?