Starter: [In pairs]. Describe the work of your favourite charity. Worship: Jesus said that we are to love our neighbours as ourselves. Thank God for the way in which he has made each of you special, for the love you receive from others and ask for his forgiveness for those times you have not loved others. Reading: Colossians 3:9b-13 Read aloud, then allow time for everyone to re-read for themselves along with the commentary and the questions – and reflect alone. Commentary: Being a Christian involves a process of renewal in which we become more and more like God. It is not always a forward movement but He works this change in us if we allow it. And since God loves all his people so we are enabled to love others. In this way barriers arising from birth or nationality [Greek or Jew], ceremonial [circumcision] culture [barbarians] and class [slavery] are taken down. All that we wish for ourselves we must make available to others, because that is the way God treats us [v.13]. Personal Focus Questions: 1. What thoughts about service in the community come to mind as you read this passage? What might God be saying to you?

2. In what ways are you involved in the community? Are there opportunities to become more involved? 3. What concerns do you have about injustice in your community or in the wider world? Share together in threes the results of your individual reflection. Return together as a group and share any insights. Then all individually complete the two statements below. It would be useful to think of your answers from the point of view of yourself and of your church community. Share your thoughts and then deal with question3. Life Focus Questions: 1. We have served our community well when…. 2. We would serve our community better if…. 3. What plans and targets should we make for improving our community involvement over the next year? Review: What did you find most helpful about this time together? Prayer concerns: Let members of the group look through a few pages from newspapers and then share their concerns for the world. Now pray for those places and issues.