Read 1 Thessalonians 5: 14-15.

1. What does it mean to be a child of God? (Hint: see John 1: 12-13)

2. In the book “The 6 Needs of Every Child,” the second need is

“support.” Why is support so important? What kind of support do

you long for as a child of God?

3. What are the three specific ways Paul urges us to support one another

in today’s passage?

4. Pastor Mick referenced the baptismal covenant when describing this

kind of support? In what ways is baptism a commitment to support

one another?

5. Pastor Mick described Paul’s urging to “warn” people as guiding them

by correcting them with love, humility and gentleness. Why is this an

effective way to “warn” people? What are some less effective ways to

“warn” people? What ways are most often used?

6. What did you think about the “5 Why’s” technique of addressing

issues? Is this a technique you think you could use in the future?

7. What does it mean to be disheartened? Have you ever been

disheartened? Recently? What did you think about Pastor Mick’s real

life church examples of encouraging the disheartened? (Hint: testing

God and believing the Bible)

8. To whom do you think Paul is referring by the term “weak”? Can you

think of a time when you were weak and someone helped you? How

about when you helped someone in their weakness?

9. How can God use our weaknesses to display God’s power? What does

this tell us about how we should treat the weak?

Prayer for the Week:

Lord Jesus, forgive us for the times we have torn each other down rather

than lifting each other up. Remind us that we all fall short of your glory,

but through your love, mercy and grace, we can still be called children of

God. Help us to patiently love and support one another, so the world will

see you living in us. We ask all of this in your precious, holy and strong

name, Lord Jesus. Amen.