The church we want to be:
Caring for one another (1 Thessalonians 5:12-24)
Homegroup questions

The third part of our church vision statement – The church we want to be – is as follows:
“By grace through faith we are prayerfully committed to becoming a community of people who care for and disciple people of all backgrounds through Christ-like relationships.”

•	Look over this part of Magdalen Road’s vision statement.  What do you find most attractive about it?  What do you find most challenging about it?  

•	Read over 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 & Romans 12:1-16.  What do we learn from these passages about what it looks like to care for and disciple one another?  

•	1 Thess. 5:14-15 makes it clear that we are all called to care for and disciple one another.  Why do you think God calls ordinary believers to these different tasks (warning, encouraging, helping)?  

•	Think about the people in your group.  How might your different personalities and gifts help care for and disciple one another?  How can you develop one another’s gifts in these areas? 

•	How would you describe a ‘Christ-like relationship’ to someone?  What do you think Jesus teaches us about what it means to love one another?  Think of examples.

•	In what ways do you think the relationships in your group already reflect the love of Christ?  In what ways could they become more like Christ?  Ask the same questions about relationships in the wider church at Magdalen Road.

•	Pray for both your group and the wider church that we ask God to help us better care for and disciple people of all backgrounds.  Perhaps meditate on 1 Thess 5:23-24.