Small groups have been a part of Denbigh Church of Christ for many years and on September 16 we begin our 11th Body Life season. I came across a quote that I believe sums up the purpose of Body Life small groups.
Small groups are a PLACE TO BE and not just another THING TO DO.
To me being in a small group is a no brainer. I've been either a leader or a participant in a group for almost 20 years. During that time I've gotten to know other group members more intimatly and they have gotten to know me. Had it not been for these groups the deep sharing of our lives would not have happened had I just relied on Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday night church gathering.
In the 1980’s sitcom “Cheers” their theme song mentioned the bar as a place to go where everyone knows your name. We all need relationships and our reason this ministry exists is to provide a place for relationships to grow. Whether you choose to connect with an affinity group, or with an intergenerational group you will find family. It will be a place where everyone will know your name. It will also be a place for you to be ministered to and to minister to others through friendship, service opportunities, prayer, and bible application. Paul said in Ephesians that when we share with one another our gifts out of love we build up the body of Christ and grow to be like Him (Eph 4:14—16).
True friendship is not to be taken lightly. It is a risky adventure that draws one into the life of another. Jesus told his disciples that no greater love exists than to lay down your life for a friend (John 15:13). This is the opportunity we have in Body Life, to lay down our life needs so that the needs of others are met. It was not just a nice bit of teaching on Jesus’ part because he goes on to tell them in chapter 16 that that is exactly what he was about to do for them…and us.
When you commit to a small group you commit to serve and be served. In the show Star Trek Mr. Spock would sometimes say “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” but another episode he said “the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many.” This is true in small group ministry. At times service is giving your needs up for others and at other times it means allowing others to serve you.
A third opportunity in Body Life is the privilege to pray for one another’s health (physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually). Spending group time in prayer is an important task but everyone is also encouraged to pray throughout the week for the group concerns mentioned.
Finally, spending time together and sharing with one another what we’ve learned from God’s word is immeasurable. When we allow God to make us new through his word we will come to live more like we were always intended to live. This year many groups will use the Sunday morning sermon as a discussion starter and seek ways to apply the message to their daily life.
Your Response Desired:
Have you ever participated in a small group? If not why not and if so do you plan to be a part of another group?
What have you gained (good or bad) from your small group experience?
What would you change about small group ministry to make it more effective?
What are some common mistakes you've witnessed or heard about in a small group setting?
Roger, over and out!
3 comments:
No, I have never been asked to attend a small group like the one you describe in your blog. I have been invited to many fellowship dinners and lunches but always decline the invitation because, “I do not want to get tangled up in any “social club”. It has been my experience that some people “make up” what they don’t know using what little information they have they build on it with there own imagination. “A little knowledge” can be a dangerous thing, intimacy is an all or nothing proposition either you open up completely and risk someone exploring old wounds or you wait for those wounds to heal and take a chance latter by helping others. It has to be your choice noone can or should enter into your life on a personnel level without being invited in by you personally. I like the idea of small groups were people can “open up” in a secure and safe environment to check and be checked to be ministered to on a personnel level and to minister to those who will if able to let down the defenses open up and let the love flow in and around like a soothing salve on a tired and battered soul. What a good thing it must be to fellowship with those who have set themselves apart from a cruel world. Tuck has told me a little about the importance of small groups and I see no reason why we shouldn’t support them if they are operating in the spirit of love!
I have and plan to participate in a small group. I only find good in them as they tend to deepen relationships and allow those (like me), that do not speak very well in open forums like auditorium bible class/formal bible study structure, to participate much more freely and interact in a manner that addresses their individual concerns (if any). The only bad thing is that some may tend to not join small groups, basically using the ministry as a means of avoiding twice Sunday worship. I haven’t witnessed anything personally, but I’ve heard that some mistakes might be: using the study as more of a social gathering, thereby neglecting the importance of prayer, bible study, and ministering to each other. And violation of the non-attribution ethic.
Ike
(No one can or should be forced to worship it is the free will of the participants involved that enables them to offer it up.) (There are those who are not able to “let down in a large group”
About the Non-Attribution Policy
‘To promote rich discussion and free exchange. . .
Encourage all participants to be responsible for the substantive content of their
statements, yet protect all participants from having their remarks and opinions publicly quoted or
otherwise attributed to them without their express consent.’ (Personnel responsibility for what comes the mouths of all participants should not go unchecked but could if responsible over sight is not present) this is one possible danger I see when things are done “in the privacy of small groups” or gangs.
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