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Why Change Things?
Brian Mashburn
August 15, 2010
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Why Change Things?
If you were instructed by God to go to Canada for a weekend, you could obey in several ways. You could fly, drive, ride a bicycle, skateboard or even walk. All of these ways are fine, but might one way be better?
Below are some “one another” instructions from Scripture. Read each one and circle whether it is best followed in the (L)arge or (S)mall group context.
S or L Rom. 12:10 – “Be devoted to one another.”
S or L Rom. 12:10 – “Honor one another.”
S or L Rom. 15:7 – “Accept one another.”
S or L Rom. 15:14 – “Instruct one another.”
S or L 1 Cor. 1:10-11 – “Agree with one another so that you may be perfectly united.”
S or L Gal. 5:14 – “Serve one another in love.”
S or L Eph. 4:32 – “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other.”
S or L Eph. 5:21 – “Submit to one another.”
S or L Col. 3:16 – “Teach and admonish one another.”
S or L 1 Thess. 5:11 – “Build each other up.”
S or L Heb. 3:13 - “Encourage one another daily.”
S or L Heb. 10:24 – “Spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
S or L 1 Peter 4:9 – “Offer hospitality to one another.”
S or L 1 John 1:7 – “Have fellowship with one another.”
Of course you can attempt to obey these in either the large or small group settings, just like you can attempt to either walk or drive to Canada. But it’s pretty obvious that these expressions of Christianity are more easily expressed and experienced in the small group context.
Do you agree that both the members of our church family and the people of our city need the atmosphere that these commands, when followed, create?
This is just one of the many reasons that we are changing from a church with small groups, to a church of small groups…to better offer this atmosphere to more people.
It will take some getting used to, and it will require us to learn, but it will have an incredible payoff. Our prayer is that others will come into relationship with us and with Christ, our kids will stay with church as they grow up, and that we will better meet each others needs.
We could walk to Canada. But let’s try flying! We’ll face our fear together…in the name of Christ, for the good of the world.