OK, so it's been few weeks since I created the small group blog and we all agreed to read the first section, or "part one" as it reads in the book, of Leading Life Changing Small Groups. I'm very curious to hear what you have been thinking about the topics discussed in this section of the book. There is also a section that I wanted to zero in on about what a Biblical Community looks like.
On page 27 Donahue talks about the day of Pentecost and how he sees this as the creation of Biblical Community. I could go on and bore you with the details of doctrine on this topic and why I think he's not totally correct on making this wholesale assumption, but I wont. Instead what I want to focus us on is the statement he makes about what the Biblical Communities in Acts looked like. He states that, "These new communities were characterized by mutuality, accountability, servanthood, love, and evangelism." I believe that he is spot on in this characterization and I believe that this is what we should be striving for in our small group communities.
If you were to evaluate the small group experience you have today based on each of these elements, how would you say things measured up? What areas do you think are strongest in your groups and what areas are there improvement for? Just a couple of questions to think about and maybe share here on the blog. I'd also love to hear any other thoughts you have had on the reading.
Remember the whole idea of this blog is to foster discussion and draw out the best parts of the book so that we can apply them to our small group experience.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Our Values
We believe that in the right environment life flourishes. The following statements frame the values which create an environment that produces healthy lives.
Relationships. People matter to God, so they matter to us.
God is all about building healthy relationships. He led the way. He created us to be the objects of His love. We chose otherwise but God undeterred came into our world in the person of Jesus, the Christ. He lived with us, built a relationship with us, then gave His life for us. All because we mattered to Him. Now we respond to God’s love by learning to love Him. As we learn to love Him, we grow in our ability to love others.
Creativity. Serving matters to people, so we strive to be our best.
Everyone needs a helping hand from time to time. God has gifted each of us with the opportunity to share the love with one another. We love others by helping them in their time of need. Since people matter, it matters how we share the love with them. Creativity is the key, since no two people or situations are alike. We develop the skills God has given us and in God’s name we offer what we have to anyone who asks.
Life’s Journey. Attitude matters in serving, so we live with enthusiasm.
Hope. It’s contagious. The more you know God and His love, the more infected you become with hope. That’s what love delivers. Life is a gift from God. The walk through life is our search for God, the search for love. We embrace the journey each person is on and we engage them with love. The possibility of who God might bring our way and the life transforming wonders He is capable of ignites compassion for others.
Truth. Focus determines attitude, so we stay true to God & His Word.
Negativity. Seems the world is full of it these days. The toxic nature of the negative can easily turn one's attitude south. To prevent the negative drift, an anchor is required. We have found truth to be the one stabilizing anchor in a sea of negativity. Truth stays true. God is unchangeable and His Word will never leave you guessing. We hold firm to Him and the Truth recorded in the Bible to keep our attitudes faith full.
Relationships. People matter to God, so they matter to us.
God is all about building healthy relationships. He led the way. He created us to be the objects of His love. We chose otherwise but God undeterred came into our world in the person of Jesus, the Christ. He lived with us, built a relationship with us, then gave His life for us. All because we mattered to Him. Now we respond to God’s love by learning to love Him. As we learn to love Him, we grow in our ability to love others.
Creativity. Serving matters to people, so we strive to be our best.
Everyone needs a helping hand from time to time. God has gifted each of us with the opportunity to share the love with one another. We love others by helping them in their time of need. Since people matter, it matters how we share the love with them. Creativity is the key, since no two people or situations are alike. We develop the skills God has given us and in God’s name we offer what we have to anyone who asks.
Life’s Journey. Attitude matters in serving, so we live with enthusiasm.
Hope. It’s contagious. The more you know God and His love, the more infected you become with hope. That’s what love delivers. Life is a gift from God. The walk through life is our search for God, the search for love. We embrace the journey each person is on and we engage them with love. The possibility of who God might bring our way and the life transforming wonders He is capable of ignites compassion for others.
Truth. Focus determines attitude, so we stay true to God & His Word.
Negativity. Seems the world is full of it these days. The toxic nature of the negative can easily turn one's attitude south. To prevent the negative drift, an anchor is required. We have found truth to be the one stabilizing anchor in a sea of negativity. Truth stays true. God is unchangeable and His Word will never leave you guessing. We hold firm to Him and the Truth recorded in the Bible to keep our attitudes faith full.
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