Pastor's Connect Blog
Pastor’s Connect Blog
“I Will”
“I Will Grow Together with Others” (chapter 3)
May 20, 2018
This post is meant to help direct your Connect study … These are some of the pastor’s thoughts and insights … ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to speak to you and through you ….
FOUR INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS ABOUT CHURCH MEMBERSHIP:
(1) Church membership should be instrumental in the spiritual journey of its membership toward becoming a devoted follower of Jesus Christ.
(2) Church membership offers the opportunity to invest in the lives of others.
(3) Church membership should serve as a point of connection.
(4) Church is a place where relationships are formed.
*** The above statements are best accomplished through small groups.
The context for early church gatherings was two-fold: (1) Large group, “Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple” (Acts 2:46a). This is the equivalent of our Sunday morning worship service. (2) Small group, “and broke bread from house to house” (Acts 2:46b).
What are the small groups at FBC Atkins?
What are the differences between a worship service and a small group?
DISCUSS: “Those church members who became involved in some type of group in the churches were five times more likely to be active in the church five years later compared to the worship-only attenders” (Pg. 37, para. 3). Why do you think this would be true?
Four Reasons Small Groups are more effective for member faithfulness:
(1) Small groups are more advantageous for personal relationships
Fellowship, fun, personal intercession, doing church together build strong Christian relationships
Discuss “If you are not in a group, you ae not really committed to your church. If you are not in a group, you are, at best, a marginal church member.
*** You make church most about you when you only attend the worship service; you make church more about the collective body when you attend small groups.***
(2) Small groups are more advantageous for ministry and missions
Ministry is not done in isolation, but in conjunction with each other. Small group allows for mission and ministry involvement with others.
What are some ways we can do ministry together as a group?
What are some projects your group might could adopt?
(3) Small groups are more advantageous for teaching
Three venues for learning:
1. The Preaching Service (Little, if any interaction with the group)
2. Personal Bible study (No interaction)
3. Small Group (Interaction among its members)
Small lends itself to learning because of the interaction among members. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).
“We cannot grow effectively as a believer in isolation” (Pg. 37, para. 6).
(4) Small groups provide for evangelism
Invite an unbelievers, or non-church attenders to the group, YOUR group.
Why groups matter: (1) Small groups are tied to the spiritual health of the church. (2) Those who attend small groups are five times more likely to remain faithful.
From page 44, why do you think a pastor might not promote small groups?
Points to Ponder (Pg. 45)
#4. Give some common excuses why some members are not in a group. What are your responses to these excuses?
Excuses:
Responses: