Review: Last week we discussed the posture of our hearts and hands.  Any further thoughts?  We were encouraged in a few ways: to practice asking/giving forgiveness, continuing to spend 2 minutes of quiet with the Lord, practicing a regular sabbath.  How did that go?

Take a moment in prayer, welcoming the Spirit's presence. Then read Ecclesiastes 4:7-16, and discuss the words, phrases, or verses that stand out to you and why.

Phil quoted the African proverb:  "If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together."  Discuss this together.  What challenges might you face if you took this seriously in daily life? 

Verses 7-8 talk about the person who has no one else to share the load.  He is consumed with self, with work, with money, and there's no place for anyone or anything else.  At what point does self-sufficiency actually become harmful? And how do we stop living that way? 

Verses 9-12 talk about how necessary and valuable cooperation and community can be.  What are the major threats to cooperation and community in our society today?  (Hint: Consider all the things we can do online today that we used to do face to face.) 

Genesis 2:18 says it is not good for man to be alone.  As Phil mentioned, this has to do with far more than just living single or married.  In what other ways is it harmful for us to be alone or isolated from one another? How have you seen this in your own life? 

 It is not good for us to be alone, and yet, as Phil said on Sunday, we often can believe the lie that it is.  When and for what reasons might you be prone to "go it alone" ? How can you move toward "going together"?

 Phil shared four ways we can practice the truths from this passage. Which of these do you struggle with the most?  Which will you commit to improving in your own life?

1. Show up–schedule it.

2. Open up–raise your hand.

3. Follow up–lend a hand.

4. Keep it up.