#139 Biblical Foundations
Summary of Readings
The Trinity is how God chooses to present Himself to us. The Trinity “dwells in perfect unity and community. God is not a lone individualist, and this fact should stir God’s people away from rugged individualism.” It is profound that God is communal in His very nature. This fact gives us information about the nature of God. While knowing that we are called to be like Christ and Christ is in community teaches us to be in community as well.
As God calls us to be in community like He is, He also calls us to bring people to Him. We cannot accomplish any good thing apart from Jesus. As “Jesus himself says a believer cannot bear fruit by himself; he must remain in the vine to bear fruit. As believers remain in the Trinity, his power and transforming love molds and shapes them to live in love and unity.” When we live in community as the Trinity is in community we are shaped by those relationships. We learn on earth what it is like being in community which helps us to be in community with God. These relationships are characterized by love. We cannot reflect the relationship of the Trinity without being in community here.
When we are in community we learn to see others the way that God sees them. God “helps us see his presence in others and to love them like he does. We begin to see how he is molding people and transforming them into his image. Community, in fact, is the very nature of God.” Being in community blesses us with both an understanding of what God sees in others, to see the blessings of changed lives, and to learn to love like Christ. God leads us by example as Jesus was also a small group leader. Consider, “One of the main things Jesus did was invite a handful of men to be gathered together with Him in an intensive, ministry-focused small group. Jesus was a small group leader.” As Dempsey writes, “Those who would be the disciples of Jesus must practice the disciplines of Jesus.” Jesus led His disciples in something akin to a small group and we too may imitate Him and grow in community with one another. Jesus is “our first and greatest model for how small groups can stimulate faith and growth in others.” It may be said that, “Small groups that focus on serving their own members rather than reaching out to others quickly become stagnant.” Finally our motivation for “being a disciple and making disciples is the glory of God.” It is only when all of these things line up that we may start to see real growth and change in the heart of believers for the Kingdom of God.
Primary Passages for Small Group Ministry
The primary passages for small groups in my opinion are:
Acts 2:42-47
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved
Hebrews 10:24-25
and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near
1 Corinthians 14:26
What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
Principles from The Primary Passages
Acts 2:42-47 shows us that we are to be in fellowship until Christ returns. We are to continually grow and work towards being more like Christ. This is something that is best done in community. It is not a thing for new believers, or something that is a one and done, but rather an ongoing process for all believers.
Hebrews 10:24-25 shows us that we ought to build each other up. In our assembling together we are to show love to each other. Following the “one another” phrases found in the New Testament. We all have a role when we come together.
1 Corinthians 14:26 shows us that we all bring something to the table. God has given us gifts and they need to be used and grown together in community. By regularly meeting together and using our gifts we prove ourselves to be good stewards of what God has given us.
My Church Structure
The church that I am a part of First Street Church (FSC) is more or less an “Attractional” church with “Of” groups. The church is different in that there are two co-lead pastors. The church also has a fair bit complexity in that it is an amalgamation of five different churches that have come together over the past ten years. Each church was from a different denomination and much of the staff and small group leaders remain. That being said there are competing structures of leadership and small groups at the church that are supported by the lead pastors. The church is open to change and experiences change often as new converts join the church and failed churches join FSC. The church has a spiritual formation class that is taught once to twice per year. The main growth of the church comes from three things. First is failed churches combining with FSC, second is people in recovery coming to faith, and third is people who are disenfranchised with their current church switching to FSC. The church has had monetary problems in the past and has a large staff to support. Funds are mainly directed at staff and buildings. Except for the one missionary they support who is myself. Preaching is aimed at young people who do not know much about Christianity. The senior pastors are very charismatic socially. Programs are run by paid staff and volunteer staff with titles. There are not many small groups outside of this but several exist. The church has no plans for further growth at this time except to make a bigger impact in the local community.
The church is filled with “Of” groups. These groups are generally the idea of the pastors and staff at the church. But due to the unique structure of the church there is both “Of” groups and “Is” groups. Men’s ministry, woman’s ministry, celebrate recovery, etc are run by paid and volunteer staff. While groups like married over 40, and remarriage group, are run by volunteers. There are also many classes, and overlapping men’s ministries. Most of the groups are seeker sensitive, while a few are aimed at the growth of believers. Discipleship is currently done through an eight week class that is done yearly. But a one on one discipleship program is being developed by one of the senior pastors. The church strongly supports being involved in small groups in various forms. Some groups are sequential where you can only join at the beginning, others are always open to new people, and some are only aimed at certain groups, and others are closed due to attendance.
Bibliography
Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying, Small Groups (Wordsearch, 2018), 26.
Joel Comiskey, Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church: New Testament Insights for the 21st Century Church (CCS Publishing, 2012), 43.
Jeffrey Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups (Revised Edition) (InterVarsity Press, 2017), 18.
Nelson Searcy, Kerrick Thomas, and Jennifer Dykes Henson, Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2018).
Rod Dempsey, “Beginning on a Sure Foundation,” in Disciple Making Is . . .: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2013), 21.
