The one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life (Galatians 2:8).

The Group Project. Cue the groans. 

Whether in the classroom or the workplace, we don’t enjoy being grouped with other students or coworkers we haven’t chosen, then given an assignment or goals we didn’t choose. I used to think such projects were the lazy way out for a teacher or a boss; it seemed like we were doing the work for someone else who was perfectly capable of doing it herself. But then I was a teacher myself, and yes, at the college level, I did occasionally form groups and assign a project. I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m really not, for what my students didn’t realize was the considerable time I spent constructing what I hoped would be a valuable experience for them. 

Even dedicated teachers must admit, though, group projects were rarely, well, group projects. Inevitably, one or two people took charge, either willingly (ah, those teachers’ pets) or, more likely, grudgingly. Forced collaboration doesn’t distribute the workload equitably, and it certainly isn’t freely offered. I never heard, “Say, Prof. Kiser, you look tired today; why don't we break into groups, analyze these poems together, and present our interpretations to the class in, oh, twenty minutes? You go get a coffee.” 

But in the household of faith (which is our priority - see v.10b), isn’t that exactly what we’re supposed to do? See a need among our brothers and sisters “as we have opportunity” (v.10) and meet it? Those “opportunities” arise every day, and while not every one of them has my name on it, some do. Paul talks about sowing and reaping (vs.7-9), and we all know from experience the kind of harvest that emerges from enforced participation in poorly-prepared group projects. Contrast that with the harvest from my hypothetical students willingly offering to work together to meet my need? That harvest would have benefited those students the rest of the semester. 

Some harvests are just that immediate, but most of the time, we have to wait for results. Like farmers tasked with preparing for a harvest, we see a need, lay the groundwork to start meeting that need, and gather others to help. Yes, I see the ”group project” embedded there - but how different from the boss or instructor saying, “choose a group, here’s your assignment, get busy.” When someone in our small group is hurting or when we hear of a neighbor in need, as believers, we want to be part of the response to help that person soar again. As we prepare the soil, plant the seeds, water and tend the ground, we tune our hearts to soar at harvest time as well.

Those Group Projects bless the doers and the recipient.

The early church just might be the originators of the group project. Emboldened by the Holy Spirit and with joyful, obedient hearts, they saw and continually met needs as a group. Are you alert to needs in your home group? Have you considered signing up for a Chatham Serves opportunity? Let’s soar together.