Praxis: Burden Breaker

Setup:
Throughout the ages, people have had many struggles in life. Even people in the Bible days had struggles to make ends meet. They learned their lessons early that if they share the load, the burden grows lighter. we need to be willing to share our load with others and to take their load upon us until Christ removes it from both.

Warmup:
Have each person take a brick or raock and tape a label of a burden or problem that is common to them. Have each person put their "burdens" in a box large enough to contain them. The box should be very sturdy and have handles on it. Then designate one person as the burden bearer. Ask them to pick up the box by themselves. Then ask a couple of people to share his/her load. Finally have everyone help carry the box and see how it seems lighter. Then place it at the foot of a corss-like structure. Talk about how much lighter the load gets when they were working together.

Study:
Acts 2:44-46 - Do you think you could truly give of yourself as the early Christian did to help one another? How does this relate to the world today?
Gal 6:2 - Why do you suppose the Lord commanded us to bear each others burdens? How can we do this?
Psalm 145:14-19 - How does David perceive God in realtion to burdens? What does God promise to do with our burdens?
Matthew 11:28-36 - What simple thing do we need to do before Christ will bear our burdens?

Application:
If we will be willing to admit our burdens, our brothers and sisters in Christ will better know how to help lighten our load. If we bring our burdens to Christ, he will give us a rest.

Reflection:
What are some problems that you are facing that seem bigger than life? What or how are you going to deal with them this week? Who has a burden that you could share? How will you respond?
Let's pray and ask God to take our problems and burdens upon his shoudlers. Ask him to give us the insight to see when others are weighted down and how we can help them.
By Unknown