Session 5: Developing God's Heart for People

16 August 2009

ROR Cell: Session Five – Developing God’s heart for people

1 Thessalonians 2:13 – 20

Three lessons about developing God’s heart for people:

1. Look for ways to encourage and praise people.
1. Have to be observant in order to encourage people; challenge: praise 5 ppl per day for the next 7 days
2. Tenaciously protect those you love from spiritual harm.
3. Develop a personal passion for people.
1. Intimacy and relationship

Questions/take-away from video:

What are the barriers that stop the group from developing the relationships deeper?

What are the steps we can take to deepen the relationship?

It is in relationship that we experience the richness of life

What is the difference between authentic praise and flattery?

Discussion:

1. Are we an encourager? > spiritual
2. Serene: is there difference between encouragement and praise?
1. Encouragement > is something for the person to move forward/and make something happen
2. Praise can serve as an encouragement and is two-ways. (Encouragement may not be praise)
3. Sharon: What is spiritual encouragement?
1. Serene: To grow in our walk with God.. comes with a deep relationship.
2. Emma: cannot categorise what is spiritual encouragement, but it is the values that we hold that encourages others.
3. James: help to turn people’s attention to God
4. Sets the environment > ref previous cell material: how to create a safe environment for sharing.
4. Belle: Encouraging non-christian friends may sometimes be harder because the relationship may not be as deep, Emma: it takes time to invest in the friendship and before they trust and be willing to open up for us.
5. What are the barriers/fear that keeps us from opening up?

a) Level of relationship

b) With non-christian friends – afraid that we may give the wrong impression and cause them to stumble.

c) Trust – abused trust and will not believe again.

d) James: When you share openly, it makes you vulnerable, if the group doesn’t have openness or vulnerability then we don’t share, Emma: but we should also have some courage. Rachel: sometimes the vulnerability is necessary. Emma: sometimes it’s a pride issue.

6. How is our cell doing? Serene: we’re doing good, growing. (multiplying?)
7. How can we improve?
1. More organised activity outside of weekly cell. Ladies’ night? Men’s night?
2. Commit to our prayer partners.