WES HUMBLE

Community: We’re in this together A few years ago there the story was told of a church that looked as though they were really thriving: they had about 500 people attending, and had many outreach ministries reaching their community, and many people were coming to Christ and to church through their ministry.

The problem was that the church was not growing in numbers – people were leaving as quickly as they were coming in. They began to do some research on the people who were leaving and they found that the majority who left were not attending another church, they just stopped going to church all together. Those who were leaving were almost impossible to bring back into any community of faith.

The senior pastor realized that something had to be done, so he called up that last 12 people to be baptized and invited them to supper at his house. These were all new Christians and after supper he sat them down and asked if they wanted to know the future. They all said “yes!” So he said, statistically speaking in the next 2-3 years… two of your marriages will have broken up and the shame will cause you to leave the church, three of you will have a conflict with someone in the church and you will leave the church, one will have a tragedy and lose faith and leave, two will have a moral failing and leave, and two will lose interest and drift away. In two to three years, out of this group only two of you will be attending church, and only one of you at this church. There was dead silence in the room. Finally one of them spoke up and said, “What can we do to change the statistics.” The pastor said, “You can get together and as a group decide that you are not going to let anyone go.”

That is exactly what they did – these strangers formed a small group and supported each other through the tragedies, divorces, conflicts and failings and in four years, only one had left the church never to come back. The church went from losing 10 out of every 12 converts to losing only one.

That church that was so great at evangelism learned the hard way that Small groups are essential for the growth, encouragement and perseverance of any Christian.

We are a church that functions by small groups. We believe that belonging to and participating in a small group is critical to your spiritual growth if you are a part of this church.

Small Groups Were Modeled in Old and New Testament

Noah in the ark with his family. Families were a very strong unit. They took care of one another and did life together in groups.

On the day of Pentecost, the church went through exponential growth. They grew from around 120 people to 3,120 in one day, and then it says that they continued to add more people daily.

This is how Luke describes this brand new and ever growing Church.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

When it says that they met in homes, we really need to know that their homes were not as big as ours – most of the people would have been working class or poor. The most you could fit in the home was 8-12 people – the same number that we say is ideal for a small group!

They would have gathered in mass at the temple, had congregational sized meetings in larger houses and some synagogues, and gathered in small groups in their own homes. It was in these small groups that they could have deep fellowship, intimate worship, and work out the teachings of the apostles together.

Small Groups Were Modeled in History

Let me give you a quick history lesson. The Church of the Nazarene is a denomination that has its roots in Methodism. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church began what were known as class meetings. They were more accountability groups than Bible Study groups and they would begin with the question “how is it with your soul?”

In China it was house churches that caused explosive growth in the church after the missionaries were kicked out of the country by the Communist party.

What is a small group? It is 8-12 people (could be smaller or bigger) who gather weekly or every two weeks for worship, bible study, ministry and prayer.

Why Do we Believe So Strongly in Small Groups?

According to Psychology Today, 90percent of those who go for counseling don’t really want answers, they just want someone to hear them out and listen. People of our society hunger for relationships that will provide concern and understanding. As Dr. R. B. Robins told a large group of physicians, “The psychiatrist’s couch cannot take the place of the church in solving the problems of a frustrated society.”

“How to Select a Supporting Cast,” John Maxwell, Sept. 1995, Injoy Life Club; The Twenty-Third Psalm, Charles Allen, 1961, p. 30

1. Small Groups Encourage Spiritual Growth.

The verse from Acts 2 said, “They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

The call of the church has never changed it has always been about making disciples. Glenn Martin in the book, Creating Community suggest that there are three elements to discipleship: evangelism, assimilation and education. I would add suggest that connection to a group is important to spiritual growth because it should lead to community which leads to discipleship and leadership.

2. Small Groups Nourish Relational Growth.

Community is being a part of God’s family and spending time with the other “children.”

Hebrews 10:25, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Community is experiencing the power of God when we gather together. It was Jesus who said, “Where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.” Matthew 18:20

Community presents a picture of Christ to a unchurched or lost world. My neighbors are very aware when people come together at my home. I have been asked about it before. There is almost a wishful attitude that comes through as though they are saying, I wish someone would come and share in my life like that.

3. Small Groups Build Emotional Support

Americans are suffering from depression in record numbers. Often this depression is caused by the gap that we feel exists between what we want, where we are and where we want to be.

Small groups should provide a natural setting for support and encouragement. They should allow people to be themselves, admit their weaknesses without fear of rejection or retaliation, and promote healing as people are able to admit they have problems.

4. Small Groups Stimulate Service.

1 Peter 4:10: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” The gifts that God has given us are not for ourselves. They are for the entire body. They eventually are to be for the community and world we serve.

I want to talk about that for a minute. Do you know what touched me the most about Friday nights concert? For those of you that don’t know, over five hundred people showed up to attend and worship. It was impressive and God showed up in a powerful way but what impressed me the most were those who served. I especially want to commend those who were taking care of kids, out of sight, allowing others to enjoy this great gathering.

5. Small Groups Help Assimilate New People.

There are 3 things that will cause people to want to stay in a church: friendships, a ministry and a small group. We are going to undergo some changes in the way we do small groups. I am not prepared to lay out the plan but I know that small groups can suffer from saturation in two ways: facility saturation and fellowship saturation. Both are solved by forming new groups. People who study these things suggest that 18 to 24 months is about max for the effective life of a small group. There are exceptions of course but I have to ask are you assimilating or bringing new people in to your group?

6. Small Groups Develop Leadership.

Leadership is more caught than taught. It is often discovered rather than developed, initially. Jesus modeled effective leadership in a small group setting. The twelve disciples had many needs both individually and as a group. For three years Jesus taught them and walked with them and in the end allowed them to lead the formation of the church.

7. Small Groups Help Sustain the Great Commission Focus and the mission of our church.

Great Commission: “19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Our mission: “Leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.”

The Great Commission is the heartbeat of the church. If churches aren’t doing this they are not doing God’s will. Just because a church is open and the lights are on doesn’t mean they are doing effective ministry according to the biblical requirements. The biggest difference between the corporate world and the church world is in the corporate world most churches would be shut down or torn down because they were not producing. Instead, in the church world, they are propped up, babied along, nursed along and very rarely allowed to die.

Do you know why we do what we do here? Why this church is so different from so many other churches? We are pursuing effectiveness. We are not perfect, we don’t claim to have it all together but I believe that God is honoring the courage and willingness to do something that will reach the culture with His message. I am always shocked when I get around people who want to hold on to the past even if it means that the world around them will never hear the message of Jesus Christ.

Do you know why we are investing in the Eastside church? Because with a new vision they have a chance of becoming effective again. They have a chance to really touch people with the message of the gospel.

Love One Another – to obey this command in the way that Jesus meant it, we have to get up close and personal. Even in a congregation of our size, it is very difficult to get close enough to people to truly love one another.

“The One Another” CommandsJohn 13:34 - 35"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Romans 12:10

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:16

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Romans 14:13

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. Romans 15:7

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Galatians 5:13

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 5:19

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, Ephesians 5:21

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Colossians 3:13

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 1 Peter 3:8

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 4:9

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

You cannot obey these commands without being in close relationship with others – to do this the large group is nearly impossible. You can live out your faith in relationship with others.

“Communion is strength; solitude is weakness. Alone, the fine old beech yields to the blast and lies prone on the meadow. In the forest, supporting each other, the trees laugh at the hurricane. The sheep of Jesus flock together. The social element is the genius of Christianity.” – C.H. Spurgeon

Lessons from Geese

Ever since someone had the bright idea of saving the Canadian Goose we have been blessed by having them around every spring and fall. If you try to walk through certain fields, parks or golf courses you will not feel nearly as blessed but just think of it as free fertilizer compliments of our friends from Canada.

As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an "uplift" for the bird following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% more flying range than if each bird flew alone.

LESSON: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds immediately in front.

LESSON: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will join in formations with those who are headed where we want to go.

When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.

LESSON: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership-with people, as with geese-interdependent with one another.

The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

LESSON: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging-not something less helpful.

When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow their fellow member down to help provide protection. They stay with this member of the flock until he or she is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation, or catch up with their own flock.

LESSON: If we have as much sense as the geese, we¹ll stand by one another like they do.

Some of you are really afraid of joining a small group and so we did a little more video work this week to try to allay any fears you might have.

2005/05/01

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