Small Groups (meeting April - September in 2008)

A Discussion of Small Groups:

God Wants ‘Intentional Relationships’

George Gallup has said, “Americans are among the loneliest people in the world.” In the midst of busy lives,

overcommitted schedules, and congested cities, we feel alone. Yet we are a culture craving relationship. In

the midst of our crowded existence, many of us are living lonely lives. We

live and work in a sea of humanity, but we end up missing out on benefits

of regular, meaningful relationships.[1]

That is not God’s intention! We were never meant to live in a state of functional

isolation. We were created to be relational beings. None of us was meant to live

alone, away from meaningful connection.

Spend only two minutes looking at Genesis 2:18 and the words “not good” ring out. “It is not good for man

to be alone. Now the context is speaking of the man noticing from the animal kingdom that there was none

suitable for him.

It seems God creates inside this man a kind of “human-shaped-void” that God himself will not full. Living

life alone does not accurately reflect the One whose image we bear. Alone and isolated were never to be used

to describe His children.

Henry Cloud says it well: God created us with

a hunger for relationship – for relationship with

Him and with our fellow people. At our core we

are relational beings.” He goes on to say, “The soul

cannot prosper without being connected to others.”

I believe one of God’s biggest dreams for us is

authentic community – the kind of meaningful relationships

that are best characterized by oneness with Him and with one another.

Remember the prayer of Jesus with His disciples just

before His betrayal and death? He prayed they would experience the same quality of relationship with each other that

He had been enjoying as part of the Trinity since before the beginning of time.

As important as it is for each follower of Christ to give and experience this unique kind of relational life,

the benefits go beyond ourselves. They influence a watching world. Notice Jesus’ concluding words: “…so

that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Do you feel the weight of that statement? Jesus is saying

that the credibility of His life and message in the eyes of unbelievers is dependent upon the way we as His

followers relate with one another.

I believe that life change happens within

the context of intentional relationships.

Groups don’t really impact a local

congregation until they become part of

a church’s culture. Randy Frazee says it

well: “The development of meaningful relationships where every member carries a significant sense of belonging

is central to what it means to be the church. That is what God has called the church to be about: creating environments

where authentic community can take place. Building relational, transforming communities where people

are experiencing oneness with God and oneness with one another. Communities that are satisfying, so unique,

and so compelling that they create thirst in a watching world.

 Mission to Follow Jesus Christ

Jesus made it clear that our mission is to make disciples. As we go through the normal stuff of life – as we go

to work, interact with our friends, and do all the things we normally do – our purpose is to relationally connect

with people in such a way that it encourages them to follow Christ.

We need to ask a simple question: what is it that we want to do at Parkway? Which areas are most crucial?

Do we want to know more? Is that our goal? Certainly we want to learn God’s will for our life and then do it!

Do we want to serve more? Of course, we must serve one another as we learn from the model of Jesus.

What is our greatest spiritual purpose? I suggest that it should be that we we want people at Parkway to

be growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ! Spiritually speaking, we want all members to be moving

the ball down the field…to make daily steps in that faith relationship.

Where does it begin? With loving Him and loving others! Both are processes that never end. Both

involve spending time (with God and others) together, encouraging one another and supporting one another.

We will also be involved in small group events in the congregation: Bible classes and service projects, etc.

Parkway needs to continue to develop toward firm belief that we are a relational church. We want to

do ministry in the context of relationship in communities, not on committees.

I would like to suggest that we spend the next few weeks analyzing and updating our entire ministry system.

Let’s get together between now and the start date of our 2008 Small Groups and declare that our involvement

will be at a greater level and the commitment to the highest possible degree.

Let’s get to know each other better.

Let’s get more involved in each other’s lives.

Let’s work toward intentional relationships more and more.

A Strategy For Sustained Spiritual Growth

Once the commitment is made to the use of small groups, a strategy must be in place for the achievement

of the mission or goal. It begins with the selection of capable people, trained and empowered, to focus their

efforts on the ministry.

And it involves one powerful acknowledgement: sustained spiritual growth is not well nurtured by an

environment where people simply sit in rows, listening to messages in complete anonymity. Sustained

growth takes place where people are personally challenged and encouraged in their relationship with God and others.

The reality we must face is that “some want to belong before they are willing to believe. They want to “taste

and see” if it is good before they are willing to jump in.

We seek to be an authentic community, with three ABC’s paramount:

A – accountability: inviting other people into your life to challenge you in your priorities and relationships.

These relationships include your relationship with Christ, but also those with other believers and unbelievers.

B – belonging: a person who has a sense of belonging is someone who feels accepted, connected, and

comfortable with a group of people. This sense of connection is more important than ever because we live in

a culture that is prioritizing belonging with believing. People need to know they matter and that they will be

missed if they don’t show up. People who are experiencing a sense of belonging are experiencing an important

part of authentic community

C – care: a by-product of people connecting well is that they care for each other. People who are accountable

to one another and are experiencing a sense of belonging naturally care for the people they are connected to.

You don’t have to program it. You don’t have to force it. People care for people they know well.

Small groups should be a planned effort (closed) where people stay together for a good period of time.

A group that has history together knows each other’s tendencies and how to keep one another moving in the

right direction. One legitimate concern of closed groups is that they become stagnant and inwardly focused

over time. That’s why they are closed for a season. They eventually are encouraged to multiply after

their covenant period, usually in 18-24 months. This keeps the group experience fresh and focused. When the

group multiplies, it allows new people to bring what they most have to offer: new vitality to the group experience.

[1] All these ideas come from  Creating Community: 5 Keys to Building a Small Group Culture by Andy Stanley and Bill Willits.

Parkway church of Christ Small Groups

We want to have at least 10 groups of 12-15 meeting this year and prefer they be located in all geographical areas of

our county. Of course, groups will be meeting here at the building for adults and the teenagers. We’re also going to offer

groups for teen parents at the building.

We plan to put every family in our congregation into a group based on geography for purposes of visitation/edification

and food teams for the future. Continue your prayers on behalf of this ministry.

We’d also like to implement a variety of themes so the groups will not grow stale: we’ll rotate between themes of Bible

study, service projects, fellowship, and a season of song/prayer.

We’re also going to implement a more disciplined time frame in the meetings. A time of fellowship (eating

is optional for each group and a shorter study time (20-25 minutes) is more than sufficient. Of course, if the host

is willing, the time can continue but we should aim for 90 minutes as a goal.

All these ideas come from  Creating Community: 5 Keys to Building a Small Group Culture by Andy Stanley and Bill Willits.

Click the link below to see the 2009-2010 lesson plans