Holistic Small Groups
Growing the Church God's Way All-by-itself • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 44:46
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Introduction
Introduction
A group is a collection of people who share a common element that brings them together. There are religious groups as seen in all the religions of the world. There are political groups, we call them political parties. There are social groups, some that emphasize common activities, like book clubs, motorcycle clubs and bike riders. There are groups that share a common heritage and meet together to promote that cultural heritage, a German club or the Mayflower Society, many different kinds of groups.
Our topic today is holistic small groups.
Bottom line: Holistic small groups are the best place for intimate community, practical help and spiritual interaction.
Groups have been a part of churches since the beginning. Shortly after the church began we read that
46 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,
It’s hard to imagine a church without some kind of small group. Having a small group isn’t going to make a church grow. The key is the kind of small group. This topic is like all the others that we considered in that we are interested in the adjective that Christian Schwarz identified as important because it describes a quality present in healthy, growing church. The quality here is holistic.
Holistic is a concern with a whole or complete system rather than with the parts. Holistic medicine treats both the body and the mind.
Holistic small groups will impact our heads, our hands and our hearts, three dimensions that characterize us as human beings. Let’s look at these three dimensions and how we can become emphasize them to build community.
There are a couple of complaints people raise about church. Regarding big church people say, “I couldn’t be a part of something so big. I want to know the people I worship with.” Regarding smaller churches people say, “I never felt connect, I never accepted, like I was part of the church.”
Atmosphere: transparency, sharing, trust
Spiritually oriented
Meeting felt needs
Relevance to daily life
Guest sensitive
Multiplication: disciples, leaders, groups
Active participation of groups members
1. Heads
1. Heads
We need information not for the sake of learning facts, but because of what that information can do for us.
A criticism of some Christians are “they are so heavenly minded, they’re no earthly good.” If by being heavenly minded it means we don’t think, that’s a valid criticism. A better way to see this is that a heavenly perspective influences our every thought and action. That would mean we would be an earthly treasure.
We have to use our minds, to know what God wants of us.
There are so many verses on the importance of and role of our heads, our minds, in the Bible. I will emphasize a few. You could add to this list!
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Learn the Word. 2 Timothy 2:15
We need to be students of the Word. The Bible contains Learn to do.
12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
Learn to live. Titus 2:12
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Learn to defend our faith. 1 Peter 3:15
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Learn to be transformed. Romans 12:2
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Learn to be on guard. 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 4:1
This is great, and it’s something I think we’re good at. Over the years I think we’ve been good at placing emphasis on our heads. But we can’t stop here. A holistic approach means there are other elements that are just as important. The second area is our
2. Hands
2. Hands
Our hands represent what we do. This is taking what we know and applying it to our lives. This is all practical.
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God created us to work for Him. Ephesians 2:10
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
God empowers us to work for Him. Philippians 1:6; Zechariah 4:6
There is a balance between our work and depending upon the Spirit.
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
God rewards us as we work for Him. Colossians 3:23-24
All of this is great! None of us would disagree with this. The question is, how do we do this? How can your group have a “hands” element to it?
This could mean the group works together on some project. It could mean the group uses it’s “hands” to help others in the group. The work may be in the planning, leading, coordinating, hosting, the group.
This shouldn’t be hard to figure out. Perhaps it’s a sign of problem that we don’t know how to do this.
There is one more area of emphasis for holistic small group
3. Hearts
3. Hearts
The completion of the cycle is our transformation. We learn, we do and we are transformed.
1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
We have experienced God’s goodness. 1 Peter 2:1-3
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
We worship God’s splendor. Psalm 29:2
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
We share God’s love. 1 Peter 1:22; Galatians 6:2
We aren’t going to start a new ministry at Longmeadow called “Holistic Small Groups.” The reason is we want these three elements to be present in every group, a Bible study, a prayer group, a choir or worship team or even a family. When these three are present we build community. In a sense, a holistic small group is a microcosm of the church as a whole.
Discussion Question:
Discussion Question:
What is a verse about our Heads (our minds) that we didn’t cover in this message that you have found helpful?
How do you or can you incorporate “Hands,” works of service in your small group?
What is one way you’ve experience God’s love through other believers?