Community groups [Parish Groups] can be understood as the incarnational ministry of the church. As Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp note in How People Change, “Change is a community project.” Sanctification takes place as we live out the gospel together. This means that the conviction that comes from the proclamation of the Word leads to […]
Essential Nature of Parish Bible Studies
During the gathering we proclaim the Word through preaching and respond in worship of Jesus. What this produces in the believer and nonbeliever alike is conviction through the Holy Spirit. Nature: Attractional Purpose: Corporate worship and proclamation of the Word Product: Conviction This in itself is progress for the gospel, but it should not end […]
To Confront
Whether we have been sinned against on a given occasion, or become aware that a fellow believer has a pattern of sin in his life, confrontation may be in order. To confront is “to bring face to face.” Here, confrontation is the process of getting face to face with someone to help him see a […]
Small Group Uses
… I would like to suggest that there are three primary function of the church for which community groups can and should be the vehicle. They are discipleship, pastoral care, and mission (Brad House, Community, p. 48).
Godly Resolution of Conflict
In fact, trying to avoid the godly resolution of conflicts just builds a dam between ourselves and others, allowing a reservoir of misunderstanding, bitterness, unforgiveness, and/or resentment to form. The dam eventually bursts, producing problems far more serious than ay we would have faced by dealing with our differences or concerns in the first place. […]
The Opportunity of Conflict
The Bible teaches that we should see conflict neither as an inconvenience nor as an occasion for selfish gain, but rather as an opportunity to demonstrate the presence and power of God….it encourages us to look at conflict as an opportunity to glorify God, to serve others, and to grow to be like Christ (Ken […]
Incomplete Without Community
No one really debates the need for people to exist within community. It is not merely a Christian understanding; it is a human understanding. But belonging in and of itself will never be enough. Hanging the need for community on belonging is like hanging the need for water on thirst. The need for both is deeper. […]
community that proclaims
But let’s be honest, we have all fallen short of community that proclaims the truth of God’s goodness and grace, as we are often censored by fear or muzzled by sin. The cross, then, is central to building community within the church. If the church is going to offer an alternative to the brokenness and […]
Encourage
To encourage means to inspire with courage, spirit, and hope; to hearten; to urge forward. Everyone occasionally gets discouraged. We face times when life seems difficult, progress slow, or challenges insurmountable. How important it is at these times to have someone give us a pep-talk based not on positive thinking or blind optimism but on […]