An Opening Thought

Letting someone help can naturally lead to unity with them.

As you think and talk about “letting someone help” in this series, know that you’re thinking and talking about how to be the answer to this prayer. Every connection that you share with another person is part of making Christ’s goal a reality, so don’t miss out on the beauty of when it’s happening.

Sometimes the oneness Jesus prayed for comes naturally out of mutual admiration, love, or respect. Other times it doesn’t, and God is able to forge this unity by other means - things like need, crisis, or confusion. When the end goal is unity, we can appreciate the way we got there, even if it’s hard.

Pray along (and sing, too, if you want) with this song about becoming one.

Read aloud, rotating readers for each of the following paragraphs. (The sections are separated by a gray divider line.)

There’s something about an arena of voices singing “make us one” that makes it sound so close you can almost feel it. At the same time, you’re probably realistic enough to understand that this unity will not be fully achieved until you are with God in heaven.

Here’s how it’s described by John, one of Jesus’ disciples, after he was given a glimpse of the end of time and the goodness of heaven.

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

Revelation 7:9

And that is only possible because of the total victory of Jesus, the lamb of God.

And they sang a new song [to Jesus], saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood you purchased for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
    and they will reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:9

The very idea that

• you have unity

• with people of every tribe and language and people and nation

• because Jesus has saved all of us

is the ultimate example of how “letting someone help” creates “unified diversity.”

Know the needs you have that can make this happen.

The triangle image above is known as “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need.” It’s a simple way to categorize the types of needs each person has.

Pray through this list for yourself, starting from the bottom (the more essential needs) and moving up.

Try to get specific as you pray. For example, instead of just praying for “air” (the first in the list of physiological needs)—what is it about air that you would ask for? Air quality improvement? Help against asthma? For everything on the list, try to dive into your particular need, since the more clearly you see the need the more clearly the potential solutions can be.

This prayer activity can be done in person or in families or in other subdivided groups. This is a big list, and hopefully can provide a pretty focused session of praying for you.

Use as many as six minutes to pray through this, allowing getting through this list to be attainable.

(The ambient background audio below can help govern your allotted time.)

Takeaway

Everyone has needs and knowing yours can help you reach for unity.

Think through the metaphors in this video about mutual need.

All I need is
the air I breathe,
the time we share,
and the ground beneath my feet.
All I need is the love that I believe in.
Tell me, love, do you believe in me?

Switchfoot, “All I Need”

Suggestion: Watch the music video and then after that browse through the lyrics.

(The rest of the song’s lyrics are posted below the video.)

All I Need by Switchfoot

Sometimes I feel so small,
like a picture on your wall—
like I’m hanging on just to fall
no matter how I try.
So, love, sing to me gentle
that I’m more than just accidental—
more than just inconsequential,
burning out tonight.

All I need is the air I breathe,
the time we share, and the ground beneath my feet.
All I need is the love that I believe in.
Tell me, love, do you believe in me?

There’s a place down by the ocean
where I take my mixed emotions
when my soul’s rocked by explosions
of these tired times—
where love sings to me slowly,
even when I feel low and lonely,
even when the road feels like
the only friend of mine.

All I need is the air I breathe,
the time we share, and the ground beneath my feet.
All I need is the love that I believe in.
Tell me, love, do you believe in me?

One light, one goal,
one feeling in my soul.
One fight, one hope,
one twisting rope.
I’m ready to run
where the ocean meets the sky—

where all I need is the air I breathe,
the time we share, and the ground beneath my feet.
All I need is the love that I believe in.
Tell me, love, do you believe in me?

All I need is the air I breathe,
the time we share, and the ground beneath my feet.
All I need is the love that I believe in.
Tell me, love, do you believe in me?

Tell me, love, ‘cause you’re all I need.

Discuss the key metaphors (now that you have listened through the song) using the following questions:

1. Why were the characters in the video children instead of adults?

2. Why did the message of hope come through broken TVs?

3. What place does “helping” have in this video’s story?

4. Did anything not make sense to you about the video? Can anyone in your group shed light on it for you?

Dig into the “Gentile offering” of the New Testament.

Navigate through the interactive experience below by clicking through using the arrows.

Generosity needs need.

While it often feels worse to be a “taker” and feels better to be a “giver,” be careful. We are all meant to be both. Humanity has a core desire to be generous like God is generous—but generosity requires a recipient.

Our sinfulness makes us greedy and puts a scarcity into our approach to others, but that’s not God’s dream for us. God’s dream is perfectly shown in Jesus’ willingness to give his entire self to meet our need.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1–2

Takeaway

Nothing overcomes diversity’s divisions like love meeting needs.

Distinguish between the different types of counselors.

Previously, we’ve looked at letting someone professional help.

At this time we look at the variety of different kinds of counselors that exist.

Consider taking some time on your own to distinguish in your mind between the different types of counselors. On your own sometime, click the button below to go to an article that explains different types of counselors.

Feel free to share your prayer request using the link below (which opens in a new tab).

Pray together for the help God gives.

Rotate reading through Psalm 20—a prayer for hope—verse by verse, in order of birthdate (month/day) within your group.

Close by appreciating every voice.

Unified diversity is a godly goal that will only truly be realized in heaven—but it can also help you to persevere until you’re there.

This is the spirit and drive of the song “Lift Every Voice & Sing,” which you can use to close out today.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.

(2 Corinthians 13:14)