I read a quote this morning when I sat down to my desk: "We are not put on this earth for ourselves, but are placed here for each other. If you are there always for others, then in time of need, someone will be there for you."
Jesus put it like this, "give and it will be given to you."
In other words, when I open myself up to relationship with others, I receive relationship and community in return.
It costs doesn't it. It costs our time and effort, but are the rewards great or what!
We talked yesterday about the dream that God has for all of us - to live in community. Today let's ask the question. What are some of the things we need to consider to make God's dream a reality? What are some strategies that allow the prayer of Jesus (that we might be one) to be experienced by more and more people?
Well, we must clarify our goal. What is the point of our church? We can get so busy as a church family and get caught up in the "tyranny of the urgent."
Let's ask ourselves these three questions:
1. What do we want people to become? In other words what do we want the result of our small groups to be?
A lot of churches are either skill-based churches (people becoming proficient and effective in certain skills. There are classes, seminars, courses, conference, training, and lots of it. And "lots of it," is better right? Or not?
A lot of churches are Bible-knowledge churches. Their core purpose is to help people become biblically literate. Let me quote Andy Stanley, "on the surface, this seems to be a very noble goal. What church that believes in the divine inspiration of the Bible doesn't want its people to be biblically literate...But in and of themselves, I would suggest they aren't the goal."
What is our goal? Jesus said it well in Matthew 28 to, "...Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them everything I have commanded you."
We are to make disciples. And here's an important quote from Andy, "Jesus was saying that as we go through the NORMAL STUFF OF LIFE - as we go to work, interact with our friends, and do all the things we normally do - our purpose is to relationally connect with people in such a way that it encourages them to follow Christ.
2. What do we want people to do?
The first question is the what? The second is the how?
We want people to love God and love people. Jesus said to, "love the Lord your God with all your heart...And love your neighbor as yourself."
This is not a one time love but a love that shows itself on a continual, daily basis.
I would suggest to you that spiritual growth is not one more seminar or conference but a process measured by demonstrative growth in our love for God and for others. I quote, "it is not a complete program or the acquisition of a skill, but a continual expression of love in our vertical relationship with God and our horizontal relationships with one another. Saying spiritual maturity is a point in time is like saying physical fitness is a point in time."
Intimacy in any relationship just doesn't happen.
So we are to love others within our church family, and those outside our church family.
What do we want people to become? We want them to grow in their relationship with Christ. What do we want people to do? Continually pursue three vital relationships - intimacy with God, community with insiders, and influence with outsiders.
3. Where do we want people to go?
What is "home plate" for our church?
Is it a "class" where someone learns more?
Is it a service group that impacts the community or an area inside the church?
Is it a doctrinal seminar for new members?
All of these of good in and of themselves.
Or is it a small group where people are relating and growing in Christ together?
What do we want people to become? People growing in their relationship Jesus Christ?
What do we want people to do? Pursue three vital relationships. Where do we want people to go? Into a small group.
Love God and Love people!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I'm struggling with small groups this week. I was at the point of giving it up. Some of you may be surprised at that, some of you will understand it completely. Small groups are like families. They can get disfunctional at times, they can be frustrating, they can be downright difficult to make happen. So, I'm struggling this week as I try to figure out where to go or how to adjust in meeting the needs of our people and the goals of our group/church.
When small groups are working, it's an exhilirating feeling! It's top of the world, ma, stuff! (Cagney fans, explain that to the non-Cagney fans) In today's film experience, it's DiCaprio on the bow "I'm the king of the world!" stuff. But, it's also hard work! It doesn't come easy and it requires immense patience and flexibility. It takes knowing when to push forward and when to slide back, when to accelerate and when to brake, when to speak and when to listen. Leadership is an art form...it is not set in stone but is flowing and fluid, melding and matching.
Yesterday, in response to the blog, a number of you spoke (typed) about the need to be "outside the box" in group. There is no cookie-cutter, sure fire, perfect scenario small group. Your group works one way, my group another. A new group works different from an established group. Groups by age or interest work differently than multi-generational groups.
Small groups are important, both in our church and in our lives. But, I think we have to avoid small group burn-out as well. That's the challenge that we seem to be walking through right now. Pray for us.
The bottom line is loving God by loving people. We are His people!
May God bless and keep you.
Jon
I think this statement above says it all for me “our purpose is to relationally connect with people in such a way that it encourages them to follow Christ.” I pray I do this in my day to day walk and small groups gives us another way of reaching people for Christ, especially when the majority of us are not walking evangelists. I also love this quote in what we want, which is “intimacy with God, community with insiders, and influence with outsiders.” For me I always desire to influence others for Christ and know I fall way short. Small groups give me another area of serving that is in a comfortable and “safe’ environment, not only for me as a leader, but those coming in. It seems to level the field that we are all busy people, with busy lives, taking time out for one another. Small groups shows that the people coming are a priority to you and to those coming together. We go to church on Sunday, we have our “faces” on and we show up and do the cordial thing. When small groups are scheduled outside of the church, people feel important and loved in a different way than when they walk through the church doors. When people invite me to their home I feel loved and cared for and even important. We all need a place we feel needed and appreciated and small groups create this environment to build upon current relationships and create new ones. In the end my actions and the sincerity of love is what will reach people more than anything. I in turn learn from others when I see sincerity in their heart. They can sit and express their extreme knowledge in many forms, but without love “they” are nothing, it is meaningless to me. In the end, I will rarely follow someone without sincerity.
This is the challenge I see with small groups, ensuring we love all those as Christ loves them. For me I believe this is why small groups can be so powerful for the Lord’s kingdom and for people to grow in God. Small groups provide a time for relationships to be built and nurtured, all while showing the love of Christ that is evident in how we live. It does costs something with any relationship that one is building in the lives of others. But as I tell my children, anything in life worth having is worth working for…Relationships are a beautiful thing when the Lord is at the center of them.
Jon: I recall when Randall Neighbor (SP?) was here that he said there are times when you need to let them go. If your group has served it's purpose for the time that you have done it, praise God! Move on without guilt! You should not feel guilt in any way if you feel God is directing you at this time to cancel your small group. I think he also said something to the effect that if they are no longer growing and people are getting burned out it's time to stop. They are not meant to go on forever to be a burden.
Thanks all for your words of encouragement. They have helped to lift my spirit back toward where I should be. Thanks especially Rick for the knees thing...it really helped me to get centered again!
I love you all.
Praise Him from whom all blessings flow!
Jon
Post a Comment