In the past 15 years, the Lamb's Bride Project has changed our primary focus of having the Togethers of Scripture applied in the organizational church to the more effective venues of the Christian friendship group, the Christian family, the Christian marriage, the Christian workplace, and Christians together in secular employment. These are where there is more time for biblical relationship, more natural transparency, and more critical need for the Togethers.
However, we still believe that the Togethers can be powerful within the organized church and offer the following examples from an unpublished manuscript of many years ago.
However, we still believe that the Togethers can be powerful within the organized church and offer the following examples from an unpublished manuscript of many years ago.
Vignettes that Show the Vision of a Local Church
that is Obedient to the Togethers
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Examples of the
TOGETHERS OF RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
in Church Fellowship & Small Group Community
Examples of the
TOGETHERS OF RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
in Church Fellowship & Small Group Community
Many of the things that God commands us to do together relate to our relationship with Him. These 5 Togethers are to be obeyed by the church in relating to our majestic God.
Individual worship is valuable, but God wants the worship of his people together.
Worship God Together
Submit to God Together
Together Be Led by Jesus Christ
Communicate with God Together
Serve God Together
Worship God Together
The leadership team of Fourth Street Church has a unique understanding of God's desire to be worshiped by His people. They emphasize worship when the whole church is together as a congregation. They also ask their small groups to spend some time praising God in prayer and discussion. Often small groups will spend unhurried time telling God how special He is. In this way, many people praise the Lord in specific ways that they would never think of as individuals. God gets extremely valuable praise when people of Fourth Street Church worship together in small groups.
Submit to God Together
Occasionally the pastor of Fourth Street Church asks the people to recommit their group submission to God. In congregational fellowship he will ask all church members to stand as a sign of their commitment to follow God together, as well as individually. He will also ask each small group leader to see that once each quarter the small group together recommits to being under God's authority, putting individual rights behind. Small group leaders usually have their groups discuss what this means for their relationships with one another and with God. Sometimes they recall all the times when the group let God have His way.
Together Be Led by Jesus Christ
One of the most challenging aspects of true biblical fellowship and community at Fourth Street Church is when the leaders ask members to discuss and discern what it is that the Lord Jesus Christ wants done in their midst and in their ministry to the world. In guiding the people to follow Jesus Christ, there is usually preparation in prayer and also sermons on the life of Jesus Christ as the supreme example of how to live on this fallen planet. Small groups discuss where they think Jesus is leading them as a group and also where the Lord is leading the whole congregation. The way they do it at Fourth is to submit small group reports on a Sunday evening followed by congregational discussion for a few weeks. The leadership team then submits their discernment about what they think Jesus Christ as Lord of their church wants done. After confirmation by the members, the leaders, through the avenues of fellowship and community, see to it that Fourth Street Church and all of its small groups follow the Lord's leading and get done what the Lord wants.
Communicate with God Together
While they seek the Lord's direction and after they receive their "marching orders", the people of Fourth communicate with God together in fellowship and community. In the larger congregation people hear the Word of God and are led in prayer. But especially in their small groups do the members of Fourth Church more precisely communicate with God. When Perry brought up a prayer request for a job change, his small group carefully evaluated his situation to come to agreement before prayer. All agreed that what Perry needed was different than what he had presented. After becoming of one mind, the group prayed. The next workday, Perry's supervisor called him in unexpectedly and offered him the very job the group had asked for.
Serve God Together
Fourth Street Church is careful to serve God as a corporate body. They follow the example of the nation of Israel, where tribes as well as individuals had special assignments to accomplish great things for the Most High God. Rarely do individuals serve alone at Fourth. As Jesus sent disciples out two-by-two, Fourth Church has teams do just about everything. Often it is stressed how great a privilege it is to serve God together rather than as individuals. It is often remarked that this is so different than in the world where everyone looks out for “number one." Fourth Street Church has found that teams get more done for God than individuals with the same tasks.
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Examples of the
ATTITUDINAL TOGETHERS
in Church Fellowship & Small Group Community
Some of the "Togethers" are powerful attitudes that automatically control behavior. Having such attitudes brings spontaneous obedience to God's ways. For example, an attitude of devotion, being set aside or consecrated for each other, compels individual believers and believers in groups to prioritize other Christians above such things as recreation, material goods and personal security. Likewise, an attitude of spontaneous forgiveness brings with it an ability to automatically put up with the imperfections of others.
When a whole group holds one or more of these attitudes, great power is available for the work of God. For example, eight accepting people can break down strong barriers erected by nonbelievers, heal the parental rejection of a group member or outsider, or create the safest environment possible for people on earth. Ten individuals with servant hearts can together witness to a whole community through their ability to give to others in supernatural ways. Eleven people who belong to one another can make a wonderful spiritual family.
Love One Another
Belong to One Another
Be Devoted to One Another
Accept One Another
Bear With One Another
Forgive One Another Without Being Asked
Submit to One Another
Serve One Another
Love One Another
Pastor Harold Jones has been teaching the people of Grand Avenue Church to hold certain attitudes. In his preaching and teaching and example he has encouraged the people of the congregation to deny themselves for one another's good. As a result, there are many times when individuals and small groups give up their own comfort, pleasure, money or safety for someone in the church. There are even instances of this love given for the sake of someone outside the church, someone not even a Christian.
Belong to One Another
The members of Grand Avenue Church have also been taught that they belong to one another. Pastor Jones gives example after example of this belonging in his sermons. As a result, the deacons decided to ask each family to set aside one evening per week when they would be available for others to call on the phone or to drop in. Leaders in the church are always steering lonesome or confused members toward the homes and company of others to make sure they go over for fellowship or counsel on a family's "open house night."
Be Devoted to One Another
Members of Grand Avenue reach out to one another regularly, especially through the small groups they belong to. Most group members make at least three phone calls per week to others in their own small group, to see how things are going. They also check on other members of the larger congregation.
Accept One Another
The attitudes of accepting, bearing with, and voluntarily forgiving are most obvious in the small group meetings of Grand Avenue Church. People just accept one another's strengths, weaknesses and sins with understanding and without judgment.
Bear With One Another
They put up with each other's shortcomings with tolerance.
Forgive One Another Without Being Asked
And they even forgive one another's insensitivities without requiring an apology.
Submit to One Another
What strikes the outsider who gets to see the people of Grand Avenue Church up close is that they are so responsive to each other and readily give way to another's need. Individuals do not look out only for their own needs. The different needs of members and visitors alike are thoughtfully considered and provided for both in activities of the larger congregation and of the small groups. The church's leaders always help people give way to the greater need whenever there is a conflict of interest. Disputes are usually settled by analyzing who has the greater need. It is amazing to see people voluntarily give up their legal rights because they are submissive to God and to one another.
Serve One Another
Pastor Jones always exhorts a servant attitude in church members and each of the small groups. Not only do the members serve one another with their talents, but each small group takes on two major projects for the benefit of the larger congregation each year. Last year one small group painted three Sunday school rooms during the summer and shoveled the snow off sidewalks of handicapped persons during the winter. Another small group ran the nursery all year. A different small group put on a fun fellowship night as an alternative to Halloween and cleaned all of the church windows in August. With 30 small groups serving the church in this way, things have gone very smoothly at Grand Avenue Church.
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Examples of the
TOGETHERS THAT HOLD TOGETHER
in Church Fellowship & Small Group Community
Christians need to be held together. Cohesion is important for every local church. It does not glorify God when Christians hop from one church to the next. "Restless" Christians never get to know one another well enough to obey God in what He wants from Christians when they get together.
And the witness of the church is damaged when members leave. Church hopping may or may not be a sign of spiritual immaturity. But it is definitely a sign that many Christians are either desperately searching for more meaning in their church experience or trying to run from their responsibilities to other Christians.
While there are some individual expressions of the Togethers that Hold Together, only groups of Christians can give God what He has truly requested in the eight commands listed in this section. There are no countries with a population of one. The same is true of heaven. Unity, peace, humility, harmony, mercy, and compassion only have meaning in plurality.
Live as Citizens of Heaven, as Foreign Ambassadors on Assignment
Meet Together Regularly
Live Together in Unity
Live Together in Peace
Be Humble with One Another
Live Together in Harmony
Show Mercy and Be Compassionate With One Another
Meet One Another's Needs
Live as Citizens of Heaven, as Foreign Ambassadors on Assignment
The Christians of Central Church know that Earth is not their real home, so they live radically different lives. Not only do they own fewer things than the average person, but they deal with each other's sins in a loving way. Being harshly judged for a mistake doesn't happen at Central. Church members always remember that they are, first of all, citizens of heaven in the kingdom of God. Their values are just plain different than most of the citizens in their town. Central Church members are not out for themselves; quite the contrary, they support one another.
Meet Together Regularly
All members of Central Church are strongly encouraged to regularly meet together to implement all that the Lord asks of His church. Most members not only come to Sunday services, but they are in small groups that meet for at least two hours every other week.
Live Together in Unity
The Christians of Central Church identify with one another rather than with the citizens of their community. In larger fellowship gatherings church members are unified through their commitment to Jesus Christ. You can often hear them saying things like, "I want that success for you," or "We must do something about that," or "I'm that way too. I don't do what I should in that kind of situation. Why don't we work on success together and pray for each other?" In the small groups, where individual differences are more obvious, Central Church members remember their identity with one another. They do not let individual viewpoints separate them from feeling close to one another or keep them from remembering they are on the same team for the same cause.
Live Together in Peace
Christians of Central Church keep the peace of the faith. They do not let individual differences develop into arguments. Everyone is watching out for explosive situations. Whenever a disagreement heats up, there is likely to be another church member around who will intervene and give a reminder that a lack of quarreling and peacefulness is vital to the success of the church and its work for God.
Be Humble with One Another
The pastors and leaders of Central have taught humility to their congregation by example. Pastor Jack even admits his own shortcomings and sins from the pulpit! As a result, when Central Church members meet together in congregational fellowship or small group community, everyone is accepting and humble. Aware of their own sinfulness, the Christians of Central do not have to hide from one another. They do not pretend to be righteous, interact superficially, or avoid being genuine with each other. They are unimpressed with their self-importance and do not put on airs because they are aware of, accept, and are thankful for Christ's provision on the cross. They actively but humbly go assertively about the Lord's business, depending on Him for all results.
Live Together in Harmony
Because they de-emphasize individualistic Christianity, the people of Central Church think in terms of teams. They always ponder how each of them can add something to the effort. Harmonizing with each other in the work of the Lord is uppermost in their thinking. Individual glory is seen as inferior. And so they are continually pointing out each other's strengths and value to ministry. They go about their community in unison, like well-tuned chamber orchestras. Living together and working for God in harmony with each other is a thrill the people of Central Church would not give up.
Show Mercy and Be Compassionate With One Another
What strikes the visitor to Central Church is the overabundance of unconditional love. The genuine relationships members have with each other in congregational fellowship and small group community have led to strong cohesion and a feeling of heavenly safety. The people give undeserved love and unmerited favor to each other. Such mercy characterizes their relationships and functions. They are humble and do not judge one another so that everyone can count on receiving mercy and compassion whenever needed.
Meet One Another's Needs
People take care of people at Central Church. The larger fellowship has an adequate pantry for the physical needs of members. Under the guidance of the deacons, the congregation even has a storeroom of crutches, wheelchairs, walkers and other medical supplies. Emotional needs are cared for in the small groups. Church leaders direct anyone with such a need to a small group if they are not already a member of such a community. For example, single parents in the church are asked to join groups made up of a mixture of married couples, single-never-been-marrieds, older singles, and seniors. Because they have been clearly taught, the small groups know through the chain of leadership that it is their job to see that the children of the single parent have substitute "aunts," "uncles," and "grandparents". Each small group gives their single parent a weekend off at least once a month, taking care of the children in their homes. To alleviate concerns about mistreatment of the children, two small group members are always present until trust is firmly established. Even the pastor's needs are met at Central Church and his burdens lightened.
Postscript
Rarely does a member of Central Church think of leaving or switching to another church. Members are fulfilled by biblical fellowship and community, and identify with one another. They are used to peace and harmony. They realize they are much more like each other than like nonbelievers. They are comfortable because of the Church's humility and are well taken care of physically and emotionally. They are thrilled to receive more love and compassion than they deserve. To consider leaving Central would be a strange absurdity. They have implemented "The Togethers That Hold Together" and their church is cohesive. Being so close knit together allows them to do wonderful things for the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Examples of the
THE TOGETHERS THAT STRENGTHEN
in Church Fellowship & Small Group Community
The Strengthening Togethers fortify believers and the church. Every believer and the church as a whole needs to be built up for whatever lies ahead in the walk of faith. It is a privilege to be included in the Holy Spirit's work of strengthening fellow believers.
The small group can strengthen believers in powerful ways that one-on-one relationships cannot accomplish. Consider how being treated as an equal by one other person makes less of an impact than being so treated by a whole group of people. Being honored by only one other person falls short of what God has in mind for His servants. Encouragement by a whole group has a much more powerful impact.
Personal growth can certainly occur in one-on-one relationships. But healthy small groups can simply help people to mature at a much faster pace. Suppose a Christian had a bad habit of snubbing others. Outside the dynamics of a small group, that kind of behavior could go on for a lifetime. But the effective small community group would deal with the problem.
Outside the small group, an individual with problems dealing with others is likely to simply dismiss the constructive criticism of a single fellow believer as an unjustified attack. But the loving and thoughtful correction of the small community group is not so easily dismissed, particularly in a group where the members have already learned to love and respect one another. Expressions of caring will be offered with the criticism. If some in the group are coming on too strong in their criticism, others can ask them to back off. If someone in the group has overcome a similar problem, that information will be shared. A small group simply has many more resources, many more ways of communicating effectively, many more strengths, many more insights, and many more ways to bring about godly change than a single person, no matter how gifted.
Be Hospitable With One Another
Treat One Another Equally
Share With One Another
Administer God's Grace To One Another
Speak To One Another Truthfully and Helpfully
Encourage One Another
Honor One Another
Commend One Another
Spur One Another On To Love and Good Deeds
Be Hospitable With One Another
Larry had very little self-respect when he first came to Community Church. He sat alone, seldom spoke and usually avoided eye contact. Because it was the policy of the church to strongly encourage each member to become a part of one of its many small group communities, Larry joined one with a diversity of ages. After Bob and Mary regularly invited him into their home to spend the day or a relaxed evening with their family, Larry began to feel more worthwhile.
Treat One Another Equally
The small group also treated him as an equal. Week after week they valued his insights on a par with the more educated members, recognizing that Jesus could be speaking through Larry.
Share With One Another
When it came time for Larry to take a vacation, a group member offered his fishing boat and equipment, insisting Larry take them in spite of Larry's inexperience and the very real possibility that something would get ruined. Larry was very excited and felt very special to have a chance to use things he could never afford.
Administer God's Grace To One Another
When a member of the group with the gift of exhortation merely mentioned that Larry seemed to have a very sensitive way with people, Larry realized for the first time that God had given him something special, a trust from the Holy Spirit to use for others.
Speak To One Another Truthfully and Helpfully
When some of Larry's sinful habits were discovered because of the closeness only possible through small group intimacy, the group spent an hour one night speaking truthfully and helpfully. The group member who identified Larry's subtle lust gently suggested that this kept him from being attractive to single women in the church. Naturally, Larry was defensive. But others in the group were supportive and non-judgmental, helping him to face the truth of the observation which the whole group carefully analyzed and confirmed. Larry respected himself much more once he began to eliminate his lustful thoughts and behaviors with the help of his group.
Encourage One Another
But Larry floundered in finding acceptable ways of meeting women -- he was just plain scared to approach them with nothing but his unique personality. The group leader knew that only the whole group had the power to place courage in Larry. The leader also wanted to push them to a new level of obedience, so he gave the task of encouragement to the group. He merely said, "Does the group want to put some courage into our friend so that he can be himself with the single women he meets?" Without any help from the group leader this time, the group members discussed how they could encourage Larry. Some members told how they had survived embarrassing moments long ago when they had been dating. Others showed Larry how he had already acted genuinely himself in group meetings and social outings.
Honor One Another
After Larry successfully acted honestly and sensitively at a single's retreat without any lustful thoughts or behavior, the whole group celebrated with a thankful prayer, brownies and ice cream, and a few "hoorays!" They honored Larry for his obedience and celebrated their shared victory.
Commend One Another
Then one Sunday night the church met for a time of congregational fellowship when the whole church could interact. During a time for praise, thanksgiving and commendation, someone in Larry's small group stood up and told the assembly that Larry could be counted on to sensitively understand if anyone needed a patient listener to help save a hurtful marriage or understand an angry teenage son or daughter.
Spur One Another On To Love and Good Deeds
A few months later, when it came to the group's attention that a couple in the church had separated, the group gave Larry the assignment, even though he had never been married, to contact the husband and help him to see the need for repentance. Meanwhile, a couple in the group who had overcome their own trials made themselves ready to counsel the couple after Larry did his part successfully.
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Examples of the
TOGETHERS THAT HEAL
in Church Fellowship & Small Group Community
People come to faith in Jesus Christ broken and damaged. The effect of sin in the world, including Satan's many ways of destruction, injures everyone. But God has designed a healing process through fellowship and community. The Togethers that Heal are five very potent commands for us to help in the process of one another's mending.
The Lord seldom chooses to heal us miraculously. Since obedience during trial is the most powerful way to say, "I love You" to God, He often lets us recover from evil's effect in our lives over a period of time. Very often our recovery requires the help of our Christian brothers and sisters.
For years it has been known to believers and nonbelievers alike that physical and emotional illnesses heal faster when healthy social interaction surrounds the patient. Yet, in our individualistic culture, most people try to heal alone. Christians, in particular, miss the great power of the church when they live so independently and autonomously.
The group's power to absorb hurt, to comfort, and to carry burdens is almost limitless. When others confess ugly sins, we feel freer to look deeper within ourselves. And the group's assurance of the faith can combat doubt effectively. These five “Togethers that Heal” are powerful ways God heals through the power of the community of his people.
Hurt With One Another
Comfort One Another
Confess Sins To One Another
Carry One Another's Burdens
Restore One Another In the Faith
Comfort One Another
Confess Sins To One Another
Carry One Another's Burdens
Restore One Another In the Faith
The Situation
Sally grew up in a very dysfunctional and poverty-stricken home. Her father was an abusive alcoholic. Sally was not doing well a short while ago.
Joe's wife just kicked him out of the house six months ago.
June is very unhappy in her marriage. Both she and her husband Bob are aware that she would just like to get a divorce and find someone else to marry.
These three people who are in a lot of emotional pain go to Calvary Church. Fortunately for them, their pastor and leaders have a serious concern for the "Togethers of Scripture" and for biblical fellowship and small group community. Small group leaders at Calvary meet together every other week for training in how to disciple groups. Last year the training covered "The Togethers that Heal". Therefore, Sally, Joe and June were placed in small group communities where healing could take place. June and Bob were also in another small group as a couple. (In the one, June could freely express her dissatisfaction and receive the Healing Togethers freely. In the other group, June could practice growing closer to her husband.)
Hurt With One Another
In each of their respective groups these three hurting individuals could see the pain on other faces when they unburdened their hearts with truthful expression of their despair. In silence, in holding their hands, and in expressions of pain, each group hurt with their brother or sister who was facing severe negative feelings and circumstances. Slowly the hurt decreased as it was accepted and absorbed by others.
Comfort One Another
After some of the pain was shared, various members of each group shared comfort from the Bible and their own experience of God's provision. Sally, Joe and June were often called back to hope. Sally grew tremendously in the strong atmosphere of caring in her small group. By comforting their members, each group helped their wounded brother or sister to regroup and go on with life.
Confess Sins To One Another
In the safety of the small groups, members of Calvary can freely admit their sins. With everyone else in her small group admitting their sins, Sally eventually shared her awful negative feelings about herself. She explained that she felt she was not as good as others, even though she knew the Bible said clearly that in God's sight she is as worthwhile as any other, especially in Christ.
The same sort of confession of sins occurred in Joe's group. All of a sudden one evening Joe called up one of the group members and confessed all sorts of horrible mistakes he had made with his wife. He and Joe prayed for Joe's forgiveness. Then at the next small group meeting Joe confessed these sins against his wife again and, after prayer, the group gave him suggestions for repentance and reconciliation with his wife. Then group prayer sought the Lord's power for Joe's life. June also admitted her vanity and judgmental nature in her group and received forgiveness from the Lord.
Carry One Another's Burdens
Probably the biggest challenge for the Coordinator of Fellowship and Community at Calvary Church was teaching the small group leaders how to give the work of bearing the consequences of one another's sins to their small groups. The Christians had been living an individualized faith for many years before Calvary saw the importance of community and significant biblical relationships between believers. It certainly wasn't an automatic response to help a person out of the mess he had created. But the three leaders of Sally's, Joe's and June's small groups frequently encouraged all the members to bear burdens for one another.
Sally's group bore the burden of her bitterness and slowly helped her leave her past behind. As for June, a couple of women from her daytime ladies' small group have befriended Bob and taken time to see his good qualities. They meet regularly with June to point out how she might better appreciate Bob. June also sees how others in the group better appreciate Bob's qualities. Her heart is softening.
Joe's small group actually contacted his nonbelieving wife and cleared the way for him to apologize. A husband-wife team from the group went with him when he talked to his wife to keep Joe from digging himself into a deeper hole. Joe's wife could not forget or forgive him, so another woman from the group, one the group thought would be able to more easily relate, began to befriend Joe's wife and help her eventually heal of bitterness. She and Joe were reunited by the group and are struggling to make it together under the group's supervision. (No, Joe's wife is still not a believer. But the group is her friend, and they are praying for her.)
Restore One Another In the Faith
Sometime before he admitted his mistakes in his marriage, Joe came to group and expressed his doubt that there is a God who cares. Everyone in the group understood this tendency to doubt our faith when things are going wrong. Little by little they helped restore Joe's faith by the gentle teaching of Scripture and clear admission that they too have pouted and thrown tantrums when God did not give them their way or work out the messes they had put themselves in. By restoring Joe in his faith, the group made the confession of sin possible that eventually led to reconciliation of Joe's marriage.
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Examples of the
TOGETHERS OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH
in Church Fellowship & Small Group Community
Powerful, life-changing spiritual growth must be done together! Biblical truth means "knowledge practiced." Christians must be with one another to fully "know" (understand and do) any passage of Scripture with plural applications. Additionally, in knowing God through His Word to us, we need each other's help, for God is much larger than our own individual understanding.
Consider the power and necessity of small group community, over and above one-on-one relationships, in the commanded task of examining each other's faith (2 Cor 13:5). It is a touchy task to look into another's life and faith. The individual may not like it and get angry. In one-to-one discipling, if the disciple gets angry with the mentor, the relationship could be suspended and spiritual growth delayed for a considerable time. But in the small group, a defensive reaction to one member's comments can be dealt with by other members (even while the issue is still being addressed). Those closest to the defensive person can reassure him or her that the group is safe and that the other's comments were not malicious. Others, hearing the original on-target statement, can put the concept into other, less-threatening words. And the power of group agreement must be taken into account by the defensive group member. Eventually, he or she will deal with the issue. In the meantime, the defensive individual's friendship with other group members and the group's need for that person's participation will keep him or her from running away from the group and the painful confrontation.
Seek the Kingdom Together
Pursue Holiness and Perfection Together
Examine One Another's Faith
Teach One Another
Counsel One Another
Disciple One Another
See That Each One Does His or Her Part
Face Discipline and Judgment Together
Pursue Holiness and Perfection Together
Examine One Another's Faith
Teach One Another
Counsel One Another
Disciple One Another
See That Each One Does His or Her Part
Face Discipline and Judgment Together
The folks at Northside Fellowship know that the most dynamic spiritual growth occurs in a small group. Therefore, the small groups at Northside actively pursue the "Togethers of Spiritual Growth." Even in the larger congregational fellowship, the members of Northside Fellowship ask each other what they believe to be true. They ask each church member to have a significant job in the church. They stick with each other when things are tough for the church. They make sure their gatherings are holy, and they do the other things that Christians do together to grow spiritually.
Seek the Kingdom Together
Take the small group led by Jose Sanchez that meets every other week on Friday nights from 7 to 11 pm. Jim's group (well, it really isn't his group, it belongs to itself and it is everyone's responsibility) seeks together the kingdom of God. They try very hard to live together those three hours every other week as subjects of the High King, the Lord Almighty. Their group meetings are run with great flexibility, because they start in prayer asking the Lord what He wants for their group that very night, as well as for the future.
Pursue Holiness and Perfection Together
It is not unusual for someone to come into a meeting of Jose 's group disgruntled. The group is able to handle it though, because it is committed to "group holiness," as the people of God are commanded, "Be holy, because I am holy." (Lev 19:1-2; 1 Pet 1:15) The group lets people expose their nasty side and gently interacts until the devil no longer has his way in the person's life. Just the other night a deacon named Sam said that he had not been able to pray for almost two weeks. The group heard him out, shared relevant scripture passages with him and prayed for him. Before the prayer was finished, the deacon was back in communication with the Lord. The group that night glorified God with purity and holiness. Although one group member had a sinful attitude and said some sinful things, the group itself remained holy and did what God asked of it. Each member of the group probably sinned that night, but the group as a whole offered holiness to the Lord.
Examine One Another's Faith
One night, as Jose's group was considering what the Lord might want them to do, Nancy asked Jerry if he was able to pray in most all circumstances. The group picked up the question, making it easier for Jerry by many admissions of weakness in the area of prayer. Soon Jerry told how very difficult prayer was for him. The group heard him out, shared experiences and truth from the Bible, and then prayed. The group then remembered over the next year to regularly come back to Jerry about his prayer life. Of course, others also worked on their communication with the Lord.
Teach One Another
Whenever someone explains a portion of God's Word in Jose's group, the group knows that together they can dig out more truth than any one member could explain. The other night the group was studying John's statement about Jesus in John 1:5, "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." Suzie mentioned that she sees God trying to do something about the drug crisis the nation faces. Much discussion followed about the dark areas of society. Then, all of a sudden, Jack said that he thought that the light also tries to shine in our own minds, but sometimes the darkness of our selfishness gets in the way and we do not see the change that the Lord wants us to make. Later that night the group thanked God that they were growing spiritually together and not just individually. They realized that they had seen so much more in the John 1:1-5 passage than they could have as individuals.
Counsel One Another
There were many reasons Jose's group decided to meet every other week for three hours. One was that the members were incredibly busy for the Lord. Another important consideration was that the members felt with a longer time period they could move more easily from superficiality to depth. As a result, during almost every meeting the group goes around the circle and checks to see how everyone is doing in life. Then they counsel each other to help with the more difficult struggles. When Mandy shared that her teenage son wouldn't mind her, the group gave her many suggestions.
Disciple One Another
Jose's group as a whole disciples each of the individual members. They see discipleship as far more than learning the Bible and praying. One of the other things they emphasize is training. One of Jose's main jobs during group times is to continually consider what each member has to teach others. Some time ago Jose asked the group if Sadie, an older saint who is quite a prayer warrior, should be asked to train Sam in prayer. They thought it a good idea and then asked Sam and Sadie about it. Sam met with Sadie and she shared her way of thinking about prayer until Sam "got it." They prayed and prayed over the months until Sam's relationship with the Lord became dynamic for spiritual warfare through prayer.
See That Each One Does His or Her Part
In the small group community, strengths and abilities cannot be well hidden. Jose noticed the group's surprise when, at a picnic in the park, Gus was so friendly that he brought bystanders into the action. Jose passed his knowledge of Gus' skill in outgoing friendliness to the other small group leaders at their monthly coordination meeting. Another group leader said that one of his group's members, Ted, was having trouble with loneliness in a large apartment complex he moved into. The pastor also mentioned that the church needed greeters at the doors on Sunday mornings with such welcoming skills. Jose went back to the small group community with these two requests for Gus, but Gus balked, saying that he was "just a plumber." The group argued with him, exhorted him, encouraged him and kept asking him to try to serve the Lord with his gift. Eventually Gus believed in himself and acknowledged that the Lord had given him something special he was to use for the good of others. Gus finally tried greeting at the church on Sunday. He loved it so much that he decided to spend a Saturday with Ted at the apartment complex. With Gus' help, Ted met 35 people in one day and is no longer lonely. Now Gus is very committed to greeting and welcoming others at the church.
Face Discipline and Judgment Together
It happens often in Jose's group that members get in touch with sins that they are very ashamed of. When this happens, it is not unlikely to see a lot of self-hatred as God goes on with correcting the person. When Vic and Andrea both were reprimanded by the Lord for their love of money, the group tolerated their many moods, facing God's discipline with them. Vic and Andrea had a lot of things, and a lot of money. They would give joyfully one week and resent it the next. God seemed to keep after them, for their small fortune came under attack when one of their tenants in one of their apartment buildings sued them. The group stayed close to them, especially showing them that relationships were more wonderful than things.
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Examples of the
TOGETHERS OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE WORLD
in Church Fellowship & Small Group Community
Christians have a critical responsibility to impact secular society. It is tragic for the culture to be without Christian influence. But God is gracious to nonbelievers. He sends sun and rain and many other good things for all people. Likewise, God shows grace to the nonbelieving world through the good acts of His own people. Christians together are to impact society for the overall good. They are not to just watch out for their own good and get the reputation of being self-centered and self-serving.
It is in being useful to those outside of the faith that Christians earn the right to evangelize. If we do not prove our usefulness on the turf of our non-Christian counterparts, why would they listen to our witness or think that we have anything useful for them? We have to at least outdistance nonbelievers in loving actions to gain their ear. And we can do so, especially by acting together as the church. Two or more people loving and serving in the Lord’s name by the power of the Holy Spirit can get some really good things done and catch the eye of non-Christians.
Be Salt Together in a Bland, Tasteless World
Be Wise and Win the Respect of Outsiders
Be Wise and Win the Respect of Outsiders
Trinity Church doesn't mind being on a mission of mercy for the Lord Jesus Christ. They really love non-Christians. Both as a total congregation in fellowship and in their small groups they are a strong witness for Christ in their community.
Be Salt Together in a Bland, Tasteless World
Trinity provides a soup kitchen and free medical clinic for the poor and homeless. Additionally, each of their small groups takes on a project once a year to better the community. The members of Trinity Church are always looking for new ways to love the people of their community.
Be Wise and Win the Respect of Outsiders
One of the reasons that the members of Trinity Church are tolerated in their city and respected by community leaders is that they take the time to be careful about how they act with nonbelievers. Even though the non-Christians of their community know they are very different morally and spiritually, the members of Trinity never act better than others. In fact, in the larger congregational fellowship, they will act out scenarios of dealing with outsiders and discuss alternative ways of handling the sticky situations that can arise with non-Christians. But it is probably in the small group communities that individuals wrestle with the negative reactions of nonbelievers and find from one another wisdom to continue on with a strong love.
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Examples of the
TOGETHERS OF EVANGELISM
in Church Fellowship & Small Group Community
When Jesus sent people out to tell the good news of salvation and God’s kingdom, he sent them in pairs. Yet most material teaching Christians how to present Christ to the spiritually lost emphasize individual approaches. Why is it that cults stick more to the model of Jesus? Maybe it is time to get back on track.
Group prayer and group witness cannot be equaled by individual performance. Two or more Christians agreeing in prayer or acting as a team in witnessing cannot be beat. And at the same time discipling and mentoring would be occurring.
Uphold the Gospel Messengers in Joint Prayer
Proclaim the Gospel and Be the Light of the World Together
Proclaim the Gospel and Be the Light of the World Together
Jay Smith and Bill Jones are close friends. They both attend the same church and each is involved in a different small group. Their church encourages each group to develop its own personality.
Uphold the Gospel Messengers in Joint Prayer
Each of these two groups has adopted missionaries to pray for at least twice a month. Jay's group meets every week and prays for missionaries every other week. Bill's group meets for a longer time, but only every other week. So they pray every meeting for their missionaries.
Proclaim the Gospel and Be the Light of the World Together
Each group is aware of each of its members' concerns for unsaved friends and family. Each group prays specifically that the individual members will have a clear witness. But each group has decided to witness together in a different way, based on the Lord's leading.
Jay's group has decided that each member's friends and relatives will be witnessed to by two or more from the group. Group members are included when a member is entertaining a non-Christian friend or relative. Whoever has a skill in a needed area is the group member invited. Members of Jay's group have even agreed to be "drafted on the spot" for immediate involvement to be of help to unsaved friends and relatives in order to show love and also to increase exposure to the Christian lifestyle.
When Tim's uncle, an opinionated agnostic who teaches anthropology at a state university, came for a visit last Summer, the group recruited Dan to help Tim witness. Dan's parents were archaeologists, and he has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering. Dan was able to "hold his own" while talking with the professor. Tim's uncle didn't become a Christian, but he has told Tim he would like to meet with Dan again next time he visits.
When Carla's sister was institutionalized because of a drug addiction, the group asked Julie to go with Carla to visit her sister. For many years, Julie struggled with alcoholism. Through God's power and the love and acceptance she has found in her small group, Julie has overcome her problem. She has become a powerful witness to Carla's sister who has just accepted the Lord.
Bill's group has a preponderance of outgoing people. That might be why God seems to have led them to do openly courageous things in the community as their witness. Every Christmas they set up a booth in a shopping mall to counsel people how not to overspend, how to most enjoy the holidays, what to do about conflicting situations, and how to accept God's love through Jesus Christ. At other times the group has manned information tables at flea markets and given out cold water in the heat at sports events. They'll try anything that seems like a good way to witness for the Lord. Once they even entered a float in an all-city parade.
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Examples of the
TOGETHERS OF BATTLE
in Church Fellowship & Small Group Community
One person cannot fight a war. Christians are in the army of God. The battleground is the world and the enemy is the fallen angel Satan and his dominions with their resultant attacks of evil. With so many battles to be fought, Christians must attack as the church, two or more gathered in Christ’s name.
No self-respecting believer in the crucified Christ would dream of entering heaven without battle scars. Following in Jesus’ footsteps leads to conflict with the forces of evil. Only short-sighted and careless Christians will go into battle alone.
Contend for the Faith Together
Arm Yourselves
Warn and Admonish One Another
Battle Temptation Together
Stand Up to the Devil at One Another’s Side
Test the Spirits Together
Together Hate Evil and Defeat It
Die For One Another
Rescue and Restore One Another
Arm Yourselves
Warn and Admonish One Another
Battle Temptation Together
Stand Up to the Devil at One Another’s Side
Test the Spirits Together
Together Hate Evil and Defeat It
Die For One Another
Rescue and Restore One Another
Grace Church has readied itself for battle against Satan. Pastor Harold has taught them well from the pulpit that the devil has determined to rob God of His glory. The members of the church have decided together to go to battle against the evil one.
Contend for the Faith Together
Abe Kingston, who attends Grace Church, works at a tire factory. At lunch he would eat with a friend who is deeply involved in a deceptive cult. Soon Abe began bringing some strange interpretations of biblical passages into his fourth grade Sunday School class. When one of the children mentioned these ideas to his parents, they contacted their small group leader who in turn talked to the elder in charge of church fellowship and community. Grace Church leaders handpicked a team of two men to meet with Abe and explain how Satan had deceived those in the cult to which his friend at work belonged. This kind of straying away from the truth and coming up with untrue interpretations and applications of Scripture is usually caught early in the small community groups of Grace, but Abe had been resistant to attending a small group. Now, seeing that he was very vulnerable to the teachings of cults and false religions, he has joined a small group and attends diligently. (Note: As of 2012 we recommend Energy Groups -- Natural Relationships Groups [N-R-G Groups] -- for this purpose. Click here to learn more.)
Arm Yourselves
Abe's small group then made sure that he was fully armed for battle. They fastened around him the belt of truth by asking him to memorize critical doctrinal Bible passages. They would test him on these at their meetings. Since he was particularly vulnerable to accusations from the evil one that he was not good enough to share his faith with his work friend, the group placed on Abe the breastplate of righteousness. They taught him that it was Christ's righteousness, not his own goodness, that cleared the way for him to share the gospel.
Warn and Admonish One Another
In another of Grace Church's small groups, Martha had decided to make a local bingo parlor her "witnessing territory". When the group discovered this, they asked her many questions and found out that she was at one time a compulsive gambler. The group stopped Satan in his tracks and warned Martha that she was playing with fire. Then they admonished her, and powerfully resisted the devil as a group on her behalf. She stopped playing bingo, but she has had many of her bingo friends over to her house for a Bible study.
Battle Temptation Together
Terry Hampton shared with his small group that he was addicted to pornography. It took much courage to do this, but his wife threatened to leave him if he did not stop. Through tears, his wife Gloria told the group how humiliating it had been for her. Terry and Gloria's small group knew they had to fight this temptation together. They began by praying. Then they warned and admonished. Then they found out where Terry bought his pornography and went there with him and asked the owner not to sell to him. When the owner refused to help, the small group began to plan some negative publicity for the x-rated bookstore. (Note: As of 2012 we recommend Energy Groups -- Natural Relationships Groups [N-R-G Groups] -- for this purpose. Click here to learn more.)
Stand Up to the Devil at One Another’s Side
Alice Barker ran into an old school friend last month. When she and the friend, Tamara, got together, she learned that her friend had become involved with witchcraft. Immediately she made more plans to meet with Tamara, but now she began to invite Joan, a woman from her small group. The two from Grace Church would face Satan together and attempt to free Tamara from her bondage.
Test the Spirits Together
When Ira came into his small group one night with the praise that God was going to give him a Mercedes because he had "claimed it" in the name of Jesus, the group decided to ask many questions. After hearing Ira's thoughts, testing his heart, and praying, the small group decided that Ira was not listening to the Holy Spirit but to some other spirit that had to be ignored.
Together Hate Evil and Defeat It
Jean came to her group one night really angry about what was happening on the town's streets. Prostitution and drug sales were increasing. Soon all of her small group were concerned, for they all hated these sins. After much prayer and thought, this small group approached the larger fellowship to join them in their hatred of and battle against these two evils. In congregational fellowship, Grace Church regularly sends "patrols" to walk the target streets. Various groups go along these streets, talking to the prostitutes and those selling drugs.
Die For One Another
One evening, during her small group meeting, elderly Mrs. Jones mentioned that the building she was living in was roach infested and run down. The group learned that the landlord was a Mr. Smith. Mrs. Jones' small group leader took this concern to the meeting of small group leaders at Grace. All the small group leaders asked their groups if anyone knew Mr. Smith. It turned out that Gladys held a fairly responsible position with Smith, Inc. and received a very good salary. But her small group impressed upon her that she should talk to Mr. Smith, even though it would risk her employment. It was the right thing to do. Gladys laid her job on the line for Mrs. Jones and the other elderly tenants of the dilapidated building.
Rescue and Restore One Another
And Gladys got fired. Gladys then had a crisis of faith, doubting the Lord if she fell upon hard times for doing good. But her church in congregational fellowship and small groups prayed for her, shared their finances, and asked everyone they knew about possible jobs for Gladys. Soon Gladys recovered from her discouragement. Then the Lord gave her another job through the church's search efforts.
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Examples of the
TOGETHERS OF PERSEVERANCE
in Church Fellowship & Small Group Community
We need each other in order to endure to the end of this life.
The perseverance of the saints is one of the main agendas of God. He has promised it and He will carry it out. However, God’s main method of delivering his promise is empowering his people to take care of one another so that they do persevere.
God’s perseverance doesn’t merely mean “lasting it out.” Instead, it is a victorious perseverance. Christians persevere together. The more an individual Christian separates himself or herself from Christian fellowship and community, the less likely that believer’s perseverance will be victorious.
Pray For One Another
Run the Full Race Together
Preserve One Another's Hope
Face and Endure Hardship Together
Hold To the Truth Together
Look Out For One Another's Good
Forbid Mistreatment of One Another
Keep One Another From the Love of Money
Keep One Another From Revenge
Run the Full Race Together
Preserve One Another's Hope
Face and Endure Hardship Together
Hold To the Truth Together
Look Out For One Another's Good
Forbid Mistreatment of One Another
Keep One Another From the Love of Money
Keep One Another From Revenge
Pray For One Another
The members of Downtown Church are poor, very poor. But they persevere and continue to do good in the Name of the Lord. Reverend Johnson has taught them "the togethers of perseverance." You would have to search far and wide to find people who prayed for each other as intensely. Prayers for kids, education, finances, safety, and a host of other concerns are always on their lips for each other at the Throne of Grace.
Run the Full Race Together
Heaven is mentioned often at Downtown Church. It is the end of the course in this sin-contaminated life. Members want to complete the race with their heads held high, happy that they have been true to their Lord all the way. It is refreshing to see that foremost in their minds is the success in this earthly race of everyone in their church. They are always picking each other up from despair. Their songs are particularly powerful in keeping them going.
Preserve One Another's Hope & Face and Endure Hardship Together
When Shirley's husband ran off with another woman and her financial support disappeared, she had a trial of hope. Then one of her children came down with a serious disease, requiring much medical care and personal attention. Even all of the help of the church did not restore her hope in the Lord and His final deliverance. She said her hope was alive, but everyone could tell that it was not very strong. But Shirley's church friends patiently stood by her, helped her, prayed for her, and reminded her of God's promises. Even though nothing was changed, one morning Shirley woke up with renewed hope that has not wavered to this day. (Note: As of 2012 we recommend Energy Groups -- Natural Relationships Groups [N-R-G Groups] -- for this purpose. Click here to learn more.)
Hold To the Truth Together
The people of Downtown Church hold to the truth together. They study the Bible in just about every church gathering. And they meet together in small groups weekly, spending at least a little time studying the Word of God. Particularly, they remind one another of the truth whenever they have contact. When 84-year-old Mr. Stephens was crying the other day in church, the pastor stopped the service and asked him what was the matter. (Everyone loves Mr. Stephens!) Through tears Mr. Stephens said that he was tired of living and wanted to go Home. Then Rev. Johnson asked people in the congregation, as they were led by the Holy Spirit, to share with Mr. Stephens verses of Scripture that assured him that heaven would wait for him as well as verses that promised strength. Since he was so hard of hearing, individuals had to leave their pews and come stand right in front of him to say what they had to say and to read loudly their Bible verses.
Look Out For One Another's Good
To persevere in this difficult world, the members of Downtown Church look out for each other's good. Single parents without families nearby are given a break from child-raising regularly. The living quarters of the church's older people are kept in repair. No one goes without food or any of the other basic necessities of life.
Forbid Mistreatment of One Another
Whenever anyone at Downtown Church has trouble getting help within the church or from governmental agencies, a church leader goes with them and advocates for them to the church committee or at the social agency.
Keep One Another From the Love of Money
Having so little money, by and large, the people of Downtown Church are very prone to fall into the love of money. Since so much security is attached to having it, the love of money and the things it can buy is very attractive, especially since most other people in the city have things they do not have. Unlike Christians in wealthier churches who have to help one another fight the urge to hoard, the members of Downtown Baptist have to remind each other that happiness will not come with a new television or toaster.
Keep One Another From Revenge
The hard pressures of daily life put people on edge at times. Sometimes the people of Downtown Church get mad. When Bobby Smith's car was stolen by another neighborhood teenager, he got a few of his friends from church to plan revenge. However, Elder Carver heard of this and met with the boys, talking them out of their plans, praying with them, and then taking up the long wait to see how God would bring justice.
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If you are concerned about the same things we are, we invite you to join our Advisory Team. This means that we will occasionally send you emails asking your thoughts about an issue we are thinking through. If you would like to be a part of our team, please email Dick Wulf at Dick@Wulf.com and let him know of your willingness to help.
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If you are concerned about the same things we are, we invite you to join our Advisory Team. This means that we will occasionally send you emails asking your thoughts about an issue we are thinking through. If you would like to be a part of our team, please email Dick Wulf at Dick@Wulf.com and let him know of your willingness to help.
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Copyright 2012 Dick Wulf, Colorado, USA