How are you?

When was the last time that you asked that question with genuine interest in the answer, prepared to handle any sort of emotional spewing that might come along with it?

Or better yet, when was the last time that someone asked you how you were doing and they cared enough to listen to what you had to say. I have had two seperate situations this week where people not only asked how I was doing but listened intently and even asked follow up questions to things that were happening in my life at the time. It was incredibly refreshing and it made me feel valued and it was a way of letting me know that there are people who think that I am important and care about my life.

Take a moment and think about how that might impact your small group if you were the catalyst for creating a community that truly demonstrates care and concern for one another. And even more importantly imagine that care and concern taking place outside of your normal meeting time. In the world that we live in there is a plethora of ways that you can take a moment to let someone know that you do care about what is going on in there life. I challenge you to take a moment to text message, email, instant message, call, or even the old fashioned things like visiting, writing, or inviting people over and engaging in real conversation. Imagine what kind of thriving community your small group could turn into when people start truly caring about each others well being more than they care about themselves and where each part is involved in the spiritual strengthening and caring for each of the other parts.

"Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled."
Hebrews 12:12-15

Through the study of Ephesians this week my eyes were opened up in new ways to a truth that I had understood but it seemed much more real in my life than ever before. Eph. 4:11-16 speaks about how God is doing the work of growth in peoples lives by giving the tools to other people so they can do the work. Henry Cloud has said, To be truly Biblical, as well as truly effective, the growth process must include the body of Christ.” There is nothing new about or earthshattering about this thought but it is worth mentioning because this is Gods number one plan for spiritual growth in the lives of believers. It has to be in the context of community and if a Christian is not a part of a spiritual family of some sort, it will be impossible to grow.
As I was reading and meditating on this thought I started to think about my home improvement projects that I've been working on. when I started remodeling on my house I knew next to nothing about plumbing, electrical, framing and anything else asscociated with building a house, but I do have very good friends that know alot about those things. In time I have grown in my knowledge of these areas because my friends have spent time teaching, equipping and sharpening my skills in these areas. The same is true in my spiritual life. I am surrounded by a multitude of people who God has placed around me to be a catalyst for spiritual growth in my own life. All that I have to do is be willing to give them a voice in my life. The flipside is also true, God has placed many people around me that I am commanded to be a catalyst for spiritual growth in their life. All that I have to do is open my mouth.

I spent some time meditating on Ephesians 4:11-16, here are some of the words of Paul from this passage.

"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. And He himself gave some to be apostles, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

For a small group to be a healthy, these are characteristics and aspects of ministry must be present and encouraged. A group will survive and maybe even appear to thrive if only one aspect is present but the group will almost certainly be unbalanced.

For example, if a group is led by an individual with a heart for teaching the natural tendency of that person would be to teach every single week because it is the gift that the Lord has given him/her. Even though teaching is the spiritual giftedness of this individual, using it in this manner actually stifles the growth of the entire group because other areas of ministry that the Lord has given to His church would not get utilizied. As mentioned in earlier posts one of the most beautiful things about the church is when people are unified in purpose despite diversity of gifts and interests. Which is exactly what Jesus called the church to be! Each of the gifts have been given "for the equipping of the saints for ministry and for edifying the body of Christ." The ultimate goal of a small group in response to this particular passage is that every individual in that group can come to the full measure of who Christ has called them to be. That can only be done through the contributions of people with different gifts ranging from Apostles and Evangelists to Pastors and teacher and everything in between. Each of these giftings are to be celebrated and utilized for the building up and equipping of the body.

There is alot of talk in the Small Group world about "the empty chair" Now, the empty chair is usually a reference to every small group always having room for another person to join them. I do want to make a point though that an empty chair is not always an open chair. It is always easy to have an empty chair or make a reference towards an empty that could be filled but the idea of an "open" chair is a little bit different. The use of the word open is more than just a change of terminology. It is also an attitude of openness and inclusivity.

The following excerpt is from the book "7 Deadly Sins of Small Group Ministry". Bill Donahue quotes Bill Hybels on page 129. 'As much as God loves uplifted hands, he may love outstretched hands even more. Our God is radically inclusive. Listen to the angel's announcement: "I bring you good new of great joy that will be for all peoples" (Luke 2:10) Listen to the Savior's plea "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us" (John 17:21) Outstretched arms, radically inclusive community: that's our standard.

The open chair is an essential part of the daily walk of each believer and in the small group the chair needs to be open and inclusive, not just empty.

"Your words have been arrogant against Me, says the Lord. Yet you say, What have we spoken against you? You have said, 'It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning before the Lord of hosts? So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up, but they also test God and escape.' Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name. And they will be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him." (Malachi 3:13-18)

This has involved two very encouraging times with small groups/spiritual families. I feel that both of these experiences correllate with this passage of scripture from Malachi somehow. In the midst of a wicked group of people there is a select number that still fear the Lord. Isn't it interesting how those people are described?

"Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another."

This group of people were in relationship with one another. Relationships are important! It is not vain to serve God, to be honest after spending time in my mission field I can see where it is easy to start thinking that it is vain to serve God. But then Tuesday night comes and I gather together with my small group and I speak with them and we share our spiritual journeys and once again I am reminded about the importance of following God and that there is a group of people that I am in an authentic community with that are walking the journey of life with me. This group encourages my soul as I encourage them and together we sharpen one another to follow Christ and to pursue His mission.