| Growing with Your Small Group A couple months ago, Amanda Seidler shared with us about the importance of encouraging our small group members to connect, grow and serve with one another. Last month, we focused on connecting, and today, we'll take a look at growing together as a small group. Our mission as a church is freeing people to follow Jesus. As a leader of a small group, your mission - by extension - is freeing people to follow Jesus. We know, however, that Jesus is really the only one who can free people to follow himself, so what then is our role? Our role, especially as leaders within the church, is to point people towards Jesus. Our role is to live our lives so that the gospel is on full display. Our role is outlined in Hebrews 10:19-25. "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Though these concepts may seem basic, the blood of Jesus, our faith in him and his washing us clean must be truths we remind each other of at all times. Growing together as a small group - stirring one another up to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, encouraging one another - must begin with a true understanding of and internalization of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Timothy Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, has written a variety of small group studies designed to help your group focus on the gospel and are available to you on RightNow Media and via PDF, including: Prodigal God: Finding Your Place at the Table, Gospel in Life, Galatians: Living in Line with the Truth of the Gospel. Set aside some time this month, whether through a specific study or the focus of your small group conversation, to encourage your small group to focus together on the heart of our faith - the gospel of Jesus Christ. |
