How are you?

When was the last time that you asked that question with genuine interest in the answer, prepared to handle any sort of emotional spewing that might come along with it?

Or better yet, when was the last time that someone asked you how you were doing and they cared enough to listen to what you had to say. I have had two seperate situations this week where people not only asked how I was doing but listened intently and even asked follow up questions to things that were happening in my life at the time. It was incredibly refreshing and it made me feel valued and it was a way of letting me know that there are people who think that I am important and care about my life.

Take a moment and think about how that might impact your small group if you were the catalyst for creating a community that truly demonstrates care and concern for one another. And even more importantly imagine that care and concern taking place outside of your normal meeting time. In the world that we live in there is a plethora of ways that you can take a moment to let someone know that you do care about what is going on in there life. I challenge you to take a moment to text message, email, instant message, call, or even the old fashioned things like visiting, writing, or inviting people over and engaging in real conversation. Imagine what kind of thriving community your small group could turn into when people start truly caring about each others well being more than they care about themselves and where each part is involved in the spiritual strengthening and caring for each of the other parts.

"Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled."
Hebrews 12:12-15