Renew 2: Community Care

1. Ice Breaker: “My Mind This Week in 3 Words”

Invite each person to share three words that describe their mental or emotional state this past week.
(Examples: “Hopeful. Tired. Curious.” or “Anxious. Busy. Grateful.”)

Follow up:
“Which of your three words would you like more of this week?”

2. Scripture Reflection (10 minutes)

Read aloud: Exodus 18:13–23

Discussion Questions

1. In the story of Moses and Jethro, what was the problem with Moses’ approach to caring for the people?

2. What does this story reveal about God’s design for community and shared responsibility?

3. How does this connect to mental health in our context?

   • “You cannot carry this alone.”

   • “People need to be cared for, not fixed.”

4. What fears or assumptions make us try to carry too much (like Moses)?
   What fears make us withdraw (like Elsa in Frozen)?

   1. “Relationships are hurt when one side assumes ‘I can’ and when the other side believes ‘I should.” Thoughts?

5. Wesley said: We need to know our limit and care within it.

   1. How do you react to this statement?

3. Key Teaching Engagement (20 minutes)

A. Radical Inclusion & Fear

“Radical inclusion sounds beautiful… until the person we don’t understand shows up.”

Questions:

1. What kinds of people or situations feel intimidating for you to include or care for?

2. What fears make it hard to open up our own vulnerabilities?

3. Where have you experienced “fitting in” vs. “belonging” in Christian community?

C. The 3 Ps of Healthy Care

Dr. Merry Lin provided a framework called the 3 P’s Prayer – Presence – Practical Support

Questions:

1. Which of the 3 Ps comes most naturally to you? Which is hardest?

2. Why is listening without judgment more effective than giving advice?

3. Think of someone you care about: how could the 3 Ps shift your approach?

D. What Care IS and IS NOT

Care IS:

• Being present

• Listening without judgment

• Sitting with people in their pain

• Holding hope

• Practical help

• Prayer

Care is NOT:

• Fixing

• Minimizing

• Fragilizing

• Spiritualizing

• Rescuing

• Enabling

• Judging

Questions:

1. Which “NOTs” are you most tempted to do when you feel uncomfortable?

2. Why do you think we jump to fixing or rescuing? (Fear? Awkwardness? Exhaustion?)

3. How does Galatians 6:1-6 help us understand the balance between:

   • “Carry each other’s burdens”

   • “Each one should carry their own load”?

4. Closing Prayer (2–3 minutes)
“Jesus, thank you that you care for our minds and our stories. Teach us how to carry each other’s burdens with wisdom, humility, and love. Grow us into a community that listens well, loves without fear, and honours our limits. Make us a place of belonging for every person You bring. Amen.”