27/06/2024
Chances are that you’ve gone to some small group meetings over the last couple of months. Perhaps you’re a new group just getting to know each other; perhaps you’ve been meeting together for years. Either way, you no doubt want God to be at work in your group—so it’s a good idea to ask Him.
5 things for your fellowship together, based on Colossians 3 v 15-17:
Heavenly Father, please help us to…
1. Be at peace
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” (v 15)
This is more than the absence of arguing! Thank God that your small group are all “members of one body”, knit together as part of Christ’s body (v 15). Yet all of us have at some point had mean thoughts, angry attitudes and bitter motives in our hearts, however well we cover them up! Repent before God, and ask that Christ’s peace would rule in your heart instead.
2. Teach one another
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach … one another.” (v 16)
Pray that during your small-group Bible studies, you would not only learn together, but also revel in the glorious riches of the message of Christ. Thank God that small groups also give an opportunity to learn from the wisdom of people at different life-stages. Pray that all of you would be willing to listen and learn.
3. Admonish one another
Small groups should be an environment where Christians can “admonish one another with all wisdom” (v 16).
Pray for a group culture of intimacy and honesty; that as you share your lives together, you would hold each other accountable, lovingly point out sin, and earnestly warn one another against wrongdoing. This is hard; but pray you would love one another enough to have these difficult conversations.
4. Love each other…
… both in “word” and “deed”, “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (v 17).
Pray that you wouldn’t be a group that just meets once a week to talk about the Bible, but a group that truly loves each other with words and deeds at other times too. Then think of a way you can put this prayer point into action!
5. Be truly thankful
See verses 15, 16 and 17! “Be thankful … with gratitude in your hearts … giving thanks to God the Father.”
Paul tells the Colossians three times in as many verses to be thankful. So as you think of your small group, think of three things you can be grateful for; then thank God for them!
