Y Small Groups?
I.
Biblical Background: God is the inventor of small groups
a. Family: It makes sense that the God of the Bible and universe who
created the first people Adam and Eve could have established a similar pattern
for beginning of life. It is entirely
possible that God could have allowed us to be placed on earth instead of being
born to a mother and father. Go back to
a time when fertility meant that a man and a women must be together in order to
have a baby. God is purposeful. God made
sure that family a small group is the way that humans are introduced into the
world and from there are to grow, in all areas of physical and spiritual
development.
b. New Covenant Examples: God himself
chose to introduce humanity the use of a small group/human family by way of
Joseph and Mary. While Jesus was
conceived not of Joseph but by the Holy Spirit his physical development began
in Mary’s womb.
c. Calling of the Twelve Disciples: Each of the 4 Gospel accounts of
Jesus life recall the establishment of a small group of 12 people along with
Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:2-11; and John 1:35-42). As Jesus went about his ministry we find
these twelve men. They were being taught
a new way of life. They were taught that
two loaves of bread and fish could feed a crowd of 5,000 people. The found out that spending time with tax
collectors, prostitutes, and others who were the outcast of society desperately
needed to be in community so that they could be restored to God.
d. After the Resurrection in the Upper Room: Jesus appeared to those who waited
for him in the Upper Room after His crucifixion. Jesus’ students gathered there in the Upper
Room just as just as they had while they were sharing their last meal with Him. Mark
14:12-26; Matthew 26:17-30; Luke 22:7-23
e. On the Beach: Here we find Peter
and his fishing friends going back to what they knew before Jesus. They were on a boat fishing. To illustrate the importance of community the
God of the Universe, Jesus, makes the men breakfast. He talks to Peter and encourages him. In fact Peter is restored. It was less than 24 hours earlier that he had
disowned Jesus and wouldn’t confess that he knew him. John 21:12-17
f.
Pau’s interaction with Small Group
Community: Saul who would later be called Paul was
helped just after his conversion to Jesus by a small group as he recovered from
his blindness. Acts 9:19
g. Paul continued to encourage and begin Small Group communities:
Evidence of how important community is to God can be seen in the
instructions communicated by Paul to people like the church in Corinth. Leaders like Timothy, were instructed on how
to handle disruptions in Small Groups for the encouragement and betterment of
the community.
II.
Personal Experience with Small Group
Community
a. Now that we have taken a very brief
look at the Biblical examples laid out in Scripture I would like to personally
share my history in Small Group communities.
b. I began to follow Jesus in 1997. It was through an experience I had called
Beach Reach. Beach Reach is a ministry
where groups of college aged believers go to minister at the most populated
Spring Break cities. The ministry
included van rides at night to ensure the safety of the spring breakers who
were there. In the morning breakfast was
passed out free of charge to those who may have spent all of their money
getting to their Spring Break destination.
As God worked around those people and the friends I had travelled with
to Panama City, my heart began to soften to the realization that I had never trusted
Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross as the payment required by God for my sin. In addition, this was my first contact with a
Small Group community of believers in Jesus.
c. God continued to put me in contact
with wonderful believers who at their core where Jesus followers and committed
Small Groupers. I have to confess though
that over the past few years I had forgotten the importance and the blessing of
Small Group community. I began to live
my Christianity isolated from community and it has hurt my growth in
Jesus. I’m very happy to say that God in
his faithfulness has brought me back full circle. He has shown me again the importance of the
Small Group Community. God has given me
a peace with his people that is very seldom if ever found in isolation. Why you ask?
Because God never intended for the Christian to live in isolation. I am able to encounter God in a deep richness
through community. As Rick Warren in the
Purpose Driven Life stated plainly, this life is not all about me.
d. Small Group Community must be sought
intentionally by the Christian. If you
are not purposeful about reaching out and allowing others to reach you then by
default you are choosing isolation. As
Jesus stated in scripture you are either for me or you are against me.
e. I encourage anyone reading this but
especially to those who rely on Jesus for salvation. Rely on Jesus to continue to grow you through
the relationships he brings into your life through community living. Your life will become richer than you can imagine!
f.
To
God be the glory, he is always making away for the wayward. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,
as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to
perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” -2 Peter 3:9
