How to Help Each Other works for individuals, and even better in groups. It can work with small group, even 2 or 3 people, as well as a larger group of 10 or 12. If more people than that are involved, the group can be subdivided.
We have a process for running a group. The intent is to make it very simple to lead a group. You
- Opening
- Explain the purpose of the group if people need reminding or if there are newcomers.
- “The goal of this group is to understand our deepest and most important needs, and to help each other with them.”
- “Inasmuch as you have helped one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you have done it to Me.” (Matthew 25:31-46)
- “God loves each and every human being; and because He cannot do good to them directly, but only indirectly by means of other people, He therefore breathes into people His love.” (True Christianity 457:3)
- “We are not born for our own sake; we are born for the sake of others. That is, we are not born to live for ourselves alone; we are born to live for others.” (True Christianity 406)
- Pray.
- This can be a short prayer by one person, simply asking the Lord to be present and guide our thoughts. You may use your own words, or use a prayer such as one of these:
- “Lord, thank You for bringing this group together. Teach us how we can love one another and help each other.”
- “Lord, be with us continually. Lift us up and turn Your face to us. Teach us, enlighten us, and lead us, since on our own we can’t do anything that is truly good.” (Apocalypse Explained 1148)
- “Lord, You are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me.” (Psalm 86:5-7)
- There can be more prayer later.
- Check in.
- If time is limited, each person can say just a few words about how you are feeling now.
- Some groups take a lot of time to share how their day or week has been.
- Be grateful.
- Each person say one or two things you are grateful for.
- We are better able to listen to others and help them if we are feeling grateful for what the Lord has done for us.
- Explain the purpose of the group if people need reminding or if there are newcomers.
- Identify needs.
- Look at the “What do I need?” sheet for a few minutes.
- Each person say what their foremost spiritual need is at the moment.
- If one person has a particularly urgent need, you focus on that person to learn more about their needs.
- The sheet titled “How Can I Help? Questions about the Six Human Needs” may help you explore a need you have identified more deeply.
- Help each other.
- The next step is to identify ways to meet needs you have identified. Again you may go around the circle with this, or else focus on helping one or two people with urgent needs.
- Look at the sheet labeled “How Can We Help Each Other Right Now?” and ask, “Is there something on this list (relating to your present need) that we can do for you right now?”
- Pick something from the list or discuss other thoughts about what might help that need.
- If you can discover you are willing to do that would be helpful, try to do it now or else make plans to do it later.
- Closing.
- Go around the circle with each person saying any closing thought.
- Say a closing prayer. Some groups close with the Lord’s Prayer.
- If you have not already prayed for needs identified earlier, you could do that now, or give thanks for the wisdom, effort and support that people showed in the meeting.