BIBLICAL MANDATE FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS

Last week I shared with you common fears people have about starting small groups. Let me share with you positive side and the purpose as it is outlined in the Word of God.
We are studying letters of John, and the practical expression of love, commanded in 1st John 3:18 “dear children, let us not love with words of tongue but with actions and in truth” is taking place when we are bearing others’ burdens, rejoicing with others, helping one another, listening to one another, sharing goods with one another. This “one-another” concept is impossible in the formal setting of a large gathering. It comes to reality only in small groups, where vulnerability, trust, openness is a reality.
So here are five reasons why groups are necessary:
1. Small groups restore relationships. The command to “love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31) is Jesus’ invitation to form a horizontal person-to-person (p2p) relationships, broken ever since the fall in Eden.
2. Working together is better than working alone. Combined strength of two is greater than double strength of one (synergy!). Just read the wisdom of Ecclesiastes (4:9-12)
3. Jesus modeled the Use of Small Groups. The legacy of Jesus was twofold – the Message and the Method. For Legacy to work it cannot be separated. We love the Message = Gospel. What about the Method = Group? Discipling is possible only through small groups.
4. God ministers through groups of people. Read stories in Daniel 1 & 2 where young men banded together to maintain their relationship with the Lord and support one another through prayer. Paul’s teaching on “body parts” (1st Corinth. 12:12-27) Jesus teaching (John 13:34-35), stories from the Acts of the Holy Spirit all show that it was original practice of Christian church.
5. The “Body” concept requires the Small Group. Interdependency of body parts to function and the fact that no one has all the gifts, and no individual can claim to be Christ pulls together believers in the community where we become the “Body of Christ” together, ready for His Spirit to fill us and use us.
Over the next few weeks you would see regular blogs on this topic, as we are planning our implementation strategy. Let me share with you what is expected from people in a Small Group. First – Extra Grace! Then – regular participation, consensus, honesty, confidentiality, acceptance, active listening, prayer, punctuality, positive attitude, and love. Listen to God’s Call in your life – go and build the community!