God’s Word Encourages Us to Reach Out to Others “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” - Matthew 22:37-39 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”- Galatians 6:10

Reaching Out to Those In Special Need Is Especially Important “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” - James 1:27

Home, Family, & Diaconal Work Includes All Traditional Families Single Parent Homes Couples Without Children Single Adults Elderly Adults Those with Special Needs (Handicaps) Those Who Are Grieving Others

Diaconal Work – An Exhortation to Serve Our Neighbor Reaching Out to One Another Listening to and Honoring the Individual and Family Situation Visiting Around Meaningful Matters Remembering Those Who Do Not Have Anyone with Whom to Share Everyday Difficulties and Problems

How Do We Support Others? Visiting and Fellowship Babysitting Substitute Grandma and Grandpa Running Errands Providing Transportation Welcoming New Families and Individuals Needs can be very concrete.

Reaching Out to One AnotherReaching Out to One Another One may not have anyone with whom to share everyday difficulties and problems. Every individual, and every family, has struggles. Sorrows are part of everyday life, just as sunny days. Even challenging issues in everyday life should be kept in the forefront, openly and naturally.

Bear Ye One Another’s BurdensBear Ye One Another’s Burdens The connection of the believers is a source of strength that helps one to cope in the midst of everyday life and also many difficulties. God’s unchanging word offers a foundation for life which will not disappoint when all else fails. The gospel is the source of strength for all.

The Goal is HeavenThe Goal is Heaven Above all, living faith keeps hope and the future in our sights. In the midst of all stages of life we can have childlike trust that God will help. The Old Testament prophet expressed the thoughts of the Lord toward His own - thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give them a future and hope. (Jer. 29:11)

Discussion What is home, family, and diaconal work to you? What are some of the needs that you experience or see in our time that make this work important today? What is “preventive gospel work”?

What can we do to help married couples? young families? childless couples? single believers? youth and children? elders? one another?