Draw the actions of God in this section.

Since this Spotlight is about the ways that letting someone help can add care-full speed to what one does, it’s well worth noting that God, himself, does this (though he does it within himself).

The Bible describes God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and because of this Christians have historically referred to God as a trinity or as triune (which means three-in-one). The triune God generally seems to observe a certain “division of labor” as it accomplishes the work of God. The Father seems to have his domain, the Son seems to do something a little different, and the Spirit seems to work as an extension of both the Father and the Son. Together, they (he) are (is) God—and you are loved.

Grab a scratch piece of paper (or digital notes app) and something for writing/drawing.

There’s a single paragraph in the New Testament that describes the Triune God’s work of loving you rather beautifully. There are basically four characters in this paragraph: God (the Father), the Son, the Spirit, and us. Have a look:

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Galatians 4:4–7

Take three minutes to draw the interactions taking place here, imagining you are trying to explain this to a small child who couldn’t read yet. When time is up, share what you drew.

(To be clear, Small Group is a crude-diagram-of-Galatians judgment-free zone. We are not all artists, and that’s OK. It’s in thinking it through together that we can help each other see what the passage is trying to communicate.)

Claim the Trinity as your partner.

In drawing the passage above, how did you (or did you? It’s OK if you didn’t…) deal with the phrase “when the set time had fully come”?

There is a sense in that phrase that God made sure everything was ready, and when it was, he did what was right. This is “care-full speed.” The Triune God always works this way—perfectly, and people throughout history have found ways to celebrate and proclaim this. One way they’ve done that is by writing “creeds,” which are simply statements of belief.

Watch this visualized version of a creed written in Turkey in the 4th century.

Teach a lesson learned the hard way.

Everyone learns some lessons through a mistake or bad experience—and therefore, everyone can help somebody else avoid that same mistake.

1. Hopefully at least a few in the group will volunteer a story of a time you learned a lesson the hard way.

2. Think through these questions: What mistake did you make, what was the result, and what did you learn?

Divide and conquer—references below.

Paul appeals to several Old Testament examples in 1 Corinthians 10:1–13 as he seeks to lead the church in Corinth.

Divide up the links with a digital device from within the text below amongst your group (or look up the passages in a paper Bible), reporting back to the group with context to make the section make sense. Facilitators, divide it up as makes sense, not necessarily aimed at getting to every single passage.

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food [Exodus 16] and drank the same spiritual drink [Exodus 17:1-7]; or they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness [Numbers 14:26-35]. 

Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” [Exodus 32:4-19] We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died [Numbers 25:1-9]. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes [Numbers 21:4-9]. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel [Exodus 12:21-23]. 

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 

While it might just seem like good practice, collaborating to avoid mistakes and increase efficiency is godly. God designed it, God loves it, and God wants to see it happen—as long as there is also loving care at the center of it. Efficiency for the sake of efficiency misses the point: it’s about serving those who need it, no matter who they are.

Discuss these two questions:

1. There is quite a range to the issues and consequences that Israel dealt with in Paul’s list, but Paul does say what they are all meant to do: “these things occurred as examples to…”

2. The last paragraph can seem like it is intended for an individual, but even though you can’t see it in English, some of the “you’s” are singular and some are plural! For example, “If you (s.) think you (s.) are standing firm, be careful that you (s.) don’t fall. No temptation has overtaken you (pl.) except…” Apply the last four sentences of this section to people seeking to help each other out.

3. 
   

Figure out how long therapy lasts.

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Proverbs 15:22

Professional counseling (or therapy) is a way of getting advice on a problem you struggle with—it’s asking for help from someone who (hopefully) knows how to help. “Care-full speed” can easily apply to a therapy-oriented relationship. If you’ve ever considered receiving counseling, you may have wondered how long the relationship with the counselor would last.

(Many do—and some suggest that the “inefficiency” of counseling is the main factor that stops them from pursuing a counselor.)

Watch this video to get some perspective from a counselor on how long the relationship should last.

(This is, of course, one perspective and one voice in a larger conversation.)

React to the thoughts here using the following questions:

1. What did you think of his assessment that a depressed client can be helped in 5 sessions (and if they aren’t seeing improvement, they need a different counselor)? Were you surprised? Does that seem “just right” to you?

2. If you were considering therapy, would you like a counselor to be clear about the time span for the counseling relationship?

3. You may not be a professional counselor, but you may have relationships where you offer advice to a struggling person. How do you decide when it is time to encourage them to find a different “adviser”?