Praxis: Helping Others

Helping Others

By Eley Moua

It is the way of God to lend a helping hand to your friends, families, and those who are in need because God is always reaching out his hand to help us.

Biblical Reference: Philemon

Location: Kitchen

Background / Setup

In all our lives having friends means a great deal to us. We all need each other to help us grow better in God, in ourselves, and to hold us when times our tough. The apostle Paul was a true friend to many. One to these was Philemon. When Philemon’s slave, Onesimus ran away from him Paul pleaded with Philemon to forgive Onesimus and accept him back in Philemon’s household.  Paul pleaded this way because of the help Onesimus was to Paul when he was in prison. Onesimus showing his kindness to help Paul deserved Paul’s kindness and help. As we read this book let us learn the kindness and humbleness of friendship.

Warm-up

Go to the kitchen and set up a few long tables and have chairs there for the students to be seated. Have each student tie a stick the length of their arms to their arms. Have them sit in front of each other and try to feed the other person in front of them ice-cream.  When you are done, ask how difficult it was for them to feed their friends. Ask what would have made it easier. "How difficult was it to feed the other person?" "Why is it so hard sometimes to lend a helping hand?" "What do you think are some of the ways you can help others, and what can you do?"

Study

Read Philemon - "What was the reason why Onesimus ran away from Philemon?" "Have you ever ran away from a friend to whom you have done wrong to?" "Care to share?" "What is the key point of this book?" "How does it apply tous?" "Would you have pleaded to a friend the way Paul did to Philemon?"

Application

If we learn to help others when they are in need of our comfort, in return they will help us when we need theirs.

Reflection

Ask: What will you do next time when a friend wants you to help them?  Let us pray and thank the Lord for giving us friends, people whom we can count on when we need their help. Pray that Lord will move us to help them in their times of struggles.