Summary of May 19 Care Group

After enjoying some refreshments lovingly provided by Sue and Doug, we discussed the ESGC meal for May 31st. Here are the details: Meatball Subs - Versaces, Macaroni Salad - Bennetts and Browns, Angels - Veggie Tray, DeVivos - Dessert.

Then we continued to discuss evidences of God's grace in some of our care group members. It was very encouraging to identify the gifts God has placed in each other. It motivated us all to be more like Jesus, and to be quick to recognize His work in others. In doing this we put into practice the community aspect of our walk with God the way that Paul Tripp prescribes.

For our next care group Wade will bring a scripture that all of us can use to pray about, meditate on and hopefully memorize. Also, we will begin to discuss areas of difficulty in our walks with God in an effort to build transparency and provide encouragement and help for our small group.

Summary of May 5 Care Group

After a short time of conversation and apple crisp, we again had an opportunity to point out areas of God's grace in action in some of our members. We realized that our self-perception is usually not the same as what those around us see. We need each other to identify where God is at work in our lives, as well as to see areas where we need to pursue His loving discipline. Everyone was encouraged to see the hand of God moving to encourage each of us.

Scriptures read: Hebrews 3:12-13 "Take, care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Summary of April 21 Care Group

We met at the DeVivo's home. The Angels, DeVivos and Versaces attended. We briefly discussed the first message in the Paul Tripp series about how God wants us to demonstrate his fruit in our lives as we grow in effectiveness and productivity. We also talked about how walking together as a community of believers is a multi-faceted process including encouragement, long-suffering, and helping one another in trials, as well as pointing out areas of weakness or sin. The bulk of our time was spent encouraging one another in the God-given gifts and talents that are evident in each other's lives. We all were thankful for the opportunity to point out evidence of God's grace in each other.

Summary of April 7 Care Group

All attended. The meeting occurred at Tony and Maria's house. Tony had previously assigned listening to the first CD of "your walk with God is a [community] project". See the side bar for more information about this CD. Tony lead us through the first 9 questions of the 17 he compiled (see below). We will pick up the remainder of questions for discussion at the April 21 meeting.

The group discussed God ruling in the mundane moments of our lives, God sending his grace to us through the thoughtful and sometimes challenging words of friends, and our desperate need for each other as we navigate through this Christian life.