Gifted for Leadership

Comments

I think this is very true. Small groups are a very important way of getting to our true selves. Only when Christ is the standard, do we really begin to see ourselves as the flawed beings we are. And when placed in a small group with people who annoy or irritate us, we are able to identify those feelings, repent of them and make lasting changes to our character. God places us in these situations for the purpose of changing us. He is NOT interested in our comfort, only in our character.
One quick point I would like to emphasize: Meaningful change can only occur if the desire is there. In other words, the "spiritual disciplines" you speak of include a contrite spirit and a moldable heart for God and others.
Thanks for the insight and for reminding me how important it is to stay connected to other believers.

Posted By: Cee | October 3, 2007 8:15 AM

Yes small groups are essential.
What we have found in New Zealand is that people are increasingly unwilling to commit to a small group- life is so busy- in many families both husband and wife work to cope with the cost of housing in particular- and a general post modern malaise that says "I'll go maybe, if it will give me what I need."
My husband and I have led small groups for years- and we made a simple observation. I hope no one is offended- but when our small group can talk/joke about sex or toilets, then we have a group that's willing to connect honestly with each other and with God. Maybe it sounds a little out there- I know America is more conservative in church circles- but it's true for us everytime and it's become one of our goals. (We eventually tell our groups- and they laugh too.)
You see I'm convinced we have to talk about the real issues of life and then we can mould as a group and be Jesus to each other. If we can be honest that life is not easy- that we fail, that we are human- maybe we can know Jesus as human too- because that's what the evangelical church seem to hide- Jesus' humanity. We preach a very divine Jesus- but he is fully human too- and our small groups need to embody that full humanity. Then we can laugh with those who laugh and cry with those who cry.
I am fully supportive of developing spiritual disciplines- but it's got to come from a place of reality and asks Jesus into our real lives- our broken lives. That's the power of the cross- that's having jesus as Lord- he can only be Lord when we admit we're broken- and it's so powerful when we go there collectively.
A friend of mine works in high level business consultancy- and one of his target aims is to make people spontaneously laugh- because it builds trust amongst the parties. It's real, it's documented, it works. We have to laugh and have fun together, if we're going to go deeper together. It's a very tangible small group objective. We've found if we can laugh- we can also cry- and if we can cry with each other we can hear God cry with us when we're broken. This is a place of power and grace- and people are looking for transparency and truth.
On another note- we have 2 rosters traditionlly in our small groups- worship and dessert. Connecting with God is so vital and great food is a good way to start. We don't do cakes or biscuits- we have real food- real conservation over great coffee (no instant) and sometimes we eat together and add a bottle of wine. Again- in NZ that is very normal- wine with a meal is very acceptable. And as I read the escahatological picture of the heavenly baquet in Is 25:6- I think we'll be drinking fine wine in heaven!

Posted By: Sarah | October 3, 2007 7:28 PM