Christians certainly aren’t the only ones to lament the fragmentation of society. Christian or not, we all have an intrinsic need for community. We all suffer from the isolation that sin breeds. Our neighbors are desperate to belong and be connected to a people. Some try to rebuild community through social action, campaigns, planning better […]
turn a bad thing into a great one!
The Christian approach is to solve all problems, not just solve some problems or solve them part way. Romans 5:20 tells us about the fullness of God’s grace: ‘But where sin abounded, grace far more abounded.’ That assurance means that when Christ meets sin, He more than meets the need. It is not His concern […]
Reasons to Gather
There are lots of small groups meeting these days. From Alcoholics Anonymous to your local chapter of Hell’s Angels, folks gather for a variety of reasons. Scripture provides three good reasons to gather in small groups: to promote sanctification, to extend care, and to develop true fellowship. (Mark Mullery in C.J. Mahanney ed., Why Small […]
We belong To One Another in Christ
“Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this. Whether it be a brief, single encounter or the daily fellowship of years, Christian community is only this. We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, p. 21)
Union with Christ
“Union with Christ necessarily involves union with his people. The church is not simply a ‘means of grace,’ useful to our growth; it is a necessary part of Christian experience, to be taken with utmost seriousness” (Bruce Milne in C.J. Mahaney Ed., Why Small Groups?, p. 47).
Exercise God-Given Gifts
“Sunday meetings are obviously great times for God’s Word to be preached, but where and how will the Word be applied? Sunday meetings are great places for people to come together, but how will these people move from being mere acquaintances to becoming accountable to one another? Sunday meetings present great opportunities for the ministry […]
Didn’t Give Up
“There is no other way to grow in anything apart from constant practice and risking. The only good athlete you will ever see is a bad one who didn’t give up. The only good disciple you will ever see is a bad one who didn’t give up…If we don’t risk, our gift will not grow, and if our gift […]
Keep the mission in mind
“I find it sobering that my small group is the size of most church-planting teams…or bigger. When I hear of a church-planting team being sent out, I fully expect it to multiply until it has made a lasting impact on the city it has targeted. Do I have similar expectations of my small group? The […]
On The Way
“[as you drive to your Bible study] Ask God to send his Holy Spirit in power. Ask him to direct your leader. Ask him to bless the other members. And ask him to help you participate enthusiastically in worship. I can almost guarantee that a few minutes of prayer on the way will revolutionize your […]