(Show video - Be the Church)
Let’s continue our conversation on becoming a church that makes a difference. Last time, we talked about worship being a priority for our church family, and we discussed how we might each help make our experience of worship more meaningful for our church family and
anyone who might happen to join with us on the Lord’s Day. Today, I want us to focus our thoughts on the priority of community.
(READ TEXT)
It is clear as we read this description of the early church, that they experience a level of camaraderie, of fellowship, of unity, of oneness, of community. How did this sense of community come about?
It came about through participation in worship and small groups. It is clear that the small group was the primary vehicle through which
community was developed and experienced in the early church.
“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” - Acts 5:42 (NIV)
“Also give my greetings to the church that meets in their home.” - Romans 16:5 (NLT)
“Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.” - 1 Corinthians 16:19 (NIV)
“Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.” - Colossians 4:15 (NLT)
The Bible is very clear about how God intends for His people to grow and have their needs met in the church. We will never be able to hire enough professional pastors to meet all the individual needs in our spiritual family. God never intended for it to be that way! Rather, as we meet in small groups, we can develop and experience the kind of community and camaraderie that will provide a means for us to care for one another and encourage one another to grow as a disciple.
There are four things that a small group should do to develop a sense of community among those participating. They experience community:
1. By connecting with God and with One Another - vs. 42b; 46b
“Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: “Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” The second is equally important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” No other commandment is greater than these.’” - Mark 12:29-31 (NLT)
There’s no better way to grow in your connection with God than to be part of a group who is committed to grow in their connection with God, for such a group of believers will certainly encourage one another.
The Greek word for “one another” is “allelon” which denotes a reciprocal and mutual work on the part of believers toward one another. It occurs 58 times in the New Testament, excluding the Gospels. The Bible is filled with admonitions concerning how we are to relate to one another, the majority of which are best fulfilled within the context of a small group.
At one church I served, I’ll never forget how in a service one Sunday evening, a lady who was to sing decided to share some things before doing so. She informed us how she and her husband were struggling in their marriage. I mean, she shared some very personal stuff! As you can imagine, we were ready for her to sing and then step away from the microphone. And her poor husband! I can imagine he felt like climbing under a pew! I know I did!
Now, did that couple need encouragement? Did they need prayer? Did they need acceptance? Understanding? Yes! But did they benefit from what occurred in that service? No. Such things are better shared within the context of a small group. In fact, some things might even need to be shared with only one or two close believing friends, but how can you develop such friendships? Through participation in a small group.
Now, I don’t mean to give the impression that a small group is all about people unburdening themselves. In fact, the majority of the time is built around fun and pleasant fellowship with one another. In fact, each group needs to have a time at least once a month, where they just have fun together! And such activity builds community!
2. By growing in Christ with maturity - v. 42a
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” - Romans 12:2 (NLT)
If you’ve ever listened to a Bible teacher or preacher and wanted to stop that person and say, “But what about...?” or “I don’t understand,” then a small group is for you!
Now, preaching is an activity that is biblical.
“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” - 1 Timothy 5:17 (NIV)
But preaching one way communication. You listen while the speaker speaks. It’s fine for imparting information; giving exhortation; and
providing inspiration, but not as effective for personal application as a small group.
In a small group setting, however, you can ask questions; participate in discussion; and hear others share insights and illustrations of the truth you are trying to grasp. The Bible must be applied to your own personal situation and that happens best in a small group. This is why, in our Transformed spiritual growth campaign, we will not only consider how God changes us through messages in the worship service, but also in study as small groups.
As we help one another along the journey toward growing more like Christ, we develop a sense of community.
3. By serving Christ and His body - vs. 44-45
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” - 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NLT)
Groups build a sense of community and camaraderie through serving together. One of the things we want to do is encourage each of our groups to sign up to serve together in some way. There are a variety of ways a group can serve within our church family.
For example, we’ll have our church-wide Thanksgiving dinner soon. A group can sign up to bring a particular dish. Another opportunity is our First Touch ministry. A group can sign up to help greet during one of our services, say, once a month. When we serve together, we build community, not just within our group, but within the church.
Our older men’s group has decided, for example to help hand out bulletins before the second service. They have been doing that for a couple of months now, and have been a real blessing. One of the group leaders, Don Davis, told me that he has had more opportunity to meet people in the second service through serving in this way that he thinks might ever have been possible otherwise.
When groups serve, they experience and build community.
4. By going locally and globally - v. 47
“He said to them, ‘Go everywhere in the world.Tell the Good News to everyone.’” - Mark 16:15 (Easy to Read)
Groups can develop a sense of community by reaching out to others with the Good News. One way a group can do this is by developing an “invite list” they can pray for and then invite them to their monthly fellowships; or to church-wide events; or to Sunday services, especially when we are having a special emphasis like the transformed campaign.
Halloween is just around the corner, and we are looking at hosting a “trunk or treat” for the community. Each group can elect to participate with this special outreach event by putting together a “trunk or treat” display. Groups can also raise money for mission projects or even send one of their own on a mission trip. In all these ways, as a group seeks to “go and tell” they can develop and experience a sense of community.
“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’” - Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
The disciples fished with a net, not a pole. So they understood what we need to understand and recapture, which is, that reaching out to others is to be a team sport, not an individual exercise. And as we learn as a group, how to reach out to those needing Jesus, there is a special sense of community that we can experience. There is nothing like the joy that is shared when a friend comes to Christ!
Conclusion: In the months ahead, we’ll be providing training for group leaders on connecting, growing, serving and going. For me, as your pastor, building community through our small groups will be a priority. But if it really is going to be a church priority, it needs to be a priority for you and me, because we are the church. As the old saying goes, “If it is to be, it is up to me.” Are you involved in a small group? If not, why not? If not now, when?
