Bible Study

A few weeks ago, Roomie and I decided to visit a small group thing that was going on at Cornerstone Christian Church in Albany/Slingerlands. We went with the hopes of finding a small group that would be able to cater to our age group so we could meet other people our age. There are not a lot of people in my church who are around the same age as me and I was looking for some fellowship with people right around my age group. So we happened upon this one small group that is located in Delmar every Wednesday night and we decided to check it out. Well I missed last week, which was the first week, but was able to make it this week. Now we had a bit of homework as well. We've been working through a study called Made: Created To Make a Difference.

This study is all about using the gifts and talents that God gives each individual to serve others and make an impact on the world, both individually and as a body. Each day you have a chapter to read that is on a topic that ties in with making a difference for Christ. In one of the chapters it really brings home the need to be using the giftings that God gives us in order to show others Christ's love through servanthood. It references Mark 10:43b (MSG) which says "Whoever wants to be great must become a servant." In part of the workbook section to this bible study there is a Living Out section. It's basically active homework. This weeks question was this:

Look at the list below and pick one person, from the categories listed, that your are going to seek ways to serve in this coming week.

Talk about your plans with the group.

Why did you pick this person?

How do you plan to serve them?

And the list is as follows...

• Spouse


• Parent


• Work Associate


• Friend


• Someone with whom you have a strained relationship


• A person who you know is in need


• Child


• Extended Family Member


• Neighbor


• Stranger
  

We then went around the room and shared who we were picking and why. It was an opportunity to become vulnerable with each other, some of us being complete and total strangers, and to know that this was something to be worked on this week and to keep each other accountable.

Needless to say, I picked my mom.

I feel like I'm not always there for her the way I should be, being her only child and all. And as much as I know she needs help cleaning the house, getting to the grocery store, the pharmacy and anywhere else she may need to go, I often find myself unable to accomodate her needs because I'm already too busy or I'm just plain selfish. ( Yes, I'm now being vulnerable to all of you readers as well.) So I shared with the bible study group about the rough year she has had with everything and how I would make it a point to get over to her house to clean it up this week.

This seemed to spawn a whole other concept where several others involved in this bible study offered to help me clean her place if they thought she wouldn't mind. Someone even wanted to do a covert operation in which I get her out of the house and we all sneak in and clean it while she's out. I don't know that that will be happening although it does sound kind of fun and sneaky. But they also offered to take her to the store to get groceries, to take her to the pharmacy, or even to just swing by and see if she needed anything at all. The leaders decided to make her a priority.

Considering the fact that I don't even go to church with any of these people it was such a blessing to see a group of people come together and be so generous and accepting to someone they don't even know yet. So willing to serve others as Jesus would. It really means a lot to me!!!

I really look forward to continuing on in this study and serving others as I go. I know that there will be many opportunities to serve people through this bible study and I will be keeping my eyes open for any and all opportunities that may arise. I want to be able to use the gifts that God has given me to serve his people and those who are in need of His merciful salvation. After all, what's the point in recieving a gift from someone if you never open it or just put it in storage?

Well I will keep you all posted as I continue on in this bible study. Looking forward to your thoughts and ideas on serving others! And I will be sure to follow up when I have completed the mission of cleaning my mom's house this week. Until then, so long...