The Real Way

NSE2 Brothers

Happy Birthday Louis! I hope your first caregroup with us has been a memorable one (we went esplanade rooftop!) and we’ve not let you down with the meager birthday cake and prayer (as compared to that huge present your previous cg gave you). Now we have a lot of expectations to meet..and that’s good!

Happy Birthday Mr Curry! This guy’s our latest caregroup member. In fact, he was just born yesterday! Or maybe today. It really depends on when the roots start sprouting. Yes he’s hidden in the pot you see in the picture above. I’ve no idea why Sathya’s carrying it and why it’s called Mr Curry (chosen from a range of names including Belsprout, Bulbasaur, Han Yang…) What’s the first caregroup covenant called again..?

Mr Curry’s the reminder to us that a caregroup needs commitment and nurture to grow, just like a seedling in its infancy. And before the fruits of our labour are borne, we must expect the occasional dose of fertiliser, pest infestation and the regular pruning.

Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Yesterday night is the beginning of the story of how a band of brothers came together with a covenant to keep and a way to uphold -  the true way of fellowship. It is not one of pretense or mere acquainting. Neither is it simply a weekend gathering or a weekday chore. It takes a lot of hard work and effort, and certainly a lot of love to upkeep.

There’s no such thing as excessive love. Like heat, love overflows from the excesses to touch the regions clouded in darkness, so that the light of Christ can be carried to the ends of the earth.

Let’s just start with our caregroups, by loving one another with real fellowship!

This is my benchmark for the group: to leave every possible caregroup/gathering knowing that you have understood significantly more about another person or have impacted him in one way or another.

What is your benchmark today?