Typical Small Group Bible Setting
A typical worldview approach to life looks something like this:
· Look out for number one.
· Life is short, so grab all the gusto you can.
· You can have it all in the here and now.
· Don't be a mat for anyone.
· If someone knocks you down, get up and hit him harder.
· Winning is everything.
· People only remember those who come in first, so don't settle
for second.
You see this worldview everyday, through television, movies, sports
events, newspapers, countless books, friends, and family. Getting what
you want, when you want it, as often as you want it, and however you
want it is our society's message. It's what we're supposed to go after,
to model. It's presented as the key to living happily ever after. But is it
true? Can it really deliver what it promises?
The Bible says no. Serving self first will never bring lasting happiness.
Sure, it may feel good for the short haul. In fact, you may even feel as if
you deserve to have your needs and wants met above those of others.
But if you really live with self-service as your maxim, you will miss
genuine, lasting joy. You will miss the Christian life and all the blessings
that come with it because the life we are to live through Christ begins
with other-service, which is just another name for self-sacrifice.[44]
Let's unpack a few verses of Scripture.
(Romans 12:1-5 NASB)
1 Therefore ?a?I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to
?b?present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, ?1?acceptable to
God, which is your ?2?spiritual service of worship.
2 And do not ?a?be conformed to ?b?this ?1?world, but be
transformed by the ?c?renewing of your mind, so that you may
?2??d?prove what the will of God is, that which is good and
?3?acceptable and perfect.
3 For through ?a?the grace given to me I say to everyone among
you ?b?not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but
to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to
?c?each a measure of faith.
4 For ?a?just as we have many members in one body and all the
members do not have the same function,
5 so we, ?a?who are many, are ?b?one body in Christ, and
individually members one of another.[45]
By bodies he means not only our skin and bones but the totality of
which we are composed. He adopted this word that he might more fully
designate all that we are, for the members of the body are the
instruments by which we carry out our purposes.[46]
Our bodies are all we have to offer, we live in our bodies. The body
enfolds our emotions, our mind, our thoughts, our desires, and our
plans. Thus, the body represents the total person; it is the instrument by
which all our service is given to God. In order to live for God, we must
offer him all that we are, represented by our body. The word offer has
also been translated "give," "yield," or "present." If our body is at
God's disposal, he will have our free time, our pleasures, and all our
behavior.[47]
The world (literally age) as used here means the society or system that
man has built in order to make himself happy without God. It is a
kingdom that is antagonistic to God. The god and prince of this world is
Satan. All unconverted people are his subjects. He seeks to attract and
hold people through the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the
pride of life. The world has its own politics, art, music, religion,
amusements, thought-patterns, and lifestyles, and it seeks to get
everyone to conform to its culture and customs. It hates nonconformists,
like Christ and His followers.
==> Christ died to deliver us from this world.[48]
Give yourself to Him completely, because of what He did for you.
Truly, it's reasonable to give yourself to the Lord, to say, "I'm laying my
life down for You, Lord, because You gave Yourself for me. You have
great things awaiting me. And I don't want to miss any of them now or
eternally."
You are either:
Are you a thermometer - adjusting to the temperature of the culture,
or are you a thermostat - changing the climate of the culture.
==> Don't be a thermometer. Be a thermostat. Don't be a
conformer. Be a transformer.
The purpose of small groups is to make disciples. This is in obedience
to Christ's command in (Matthew 28:18-20), that the church should
make disciples. There is one thing Jesus tells you that is crystal clear. It
is his command to "make disciples." As one of his disciples, you know
very well what he means.
The word discipleship is a catch phrase in the church today, often
without meaning. As a result, some people think of discipleship when
they think of Bible-study workbooks or adult Sunday school. What
they forget is that the process of disciple making is a dynamic
relationship between fellow Christians and their Lord, and that it is
marked by continued progress.
Disciples are to be like Christ. Have you ever watched a group of
people, perhaps children, who are devoted to a particular celebrity and
dress, talk and walk like the individual they idolize? It is only natural to
emulate someone you respect and look up to. And since "disciple"
means "imitator," disciple makers become models to those who are
learning to follow Christ. We must be careful not to duplicate ourselves.
Small groups can go a long way toward engaging people in personal
growth. Small groups help them to grow in relationships and stimulate
them to make a difference in their families, church and world. Once
formed into small family-like groups of partners-in-discipleship, people
begin to know themselves and others better. They move past surface
conversation and the preliminary fears of opening themselves up to
others, and they begin to experience real fellowship.
(Koinonia - Fellowship)
2842. koinonia, koy-nohn-eeŽ-ah; from 2844; partnership, i.e. (lit.)
participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction:- (to)
communicate (-ation), communion, (contri-) distribution, fellowship.
Strong, J. 1997, c1996. The new Strong's dictionary of Hebrew and
Greek words. Thomas Nelson: Nashville
There are five fundamental small group tasks within the framework of
the Christian community:
· Worship
Many groups do not worship together, perhaps feeling that worship is
something that is solely for the benefit of the corporate church. Yet we
are made for worship, and are encouraged by God to worship him.
Worship opportunities, like singing, reading psalms, sharing in giving
God thanks, and praising God together in prayer, belong in small
groups. When we feel close to God, a significant part of our being is
filled.
· Prayer
Prayer is communication, and small groups are called to communicate.
Since prayer is communication, and since humans are better at talking
than communicating, prayer must be learned. Small group is a good
place to start. Take time in your group meetings to invite God in and
then to talk with God. Healthy prayer allows God to become an integral
part of the group situation.
· Study
"General revelation" and "special revelation" are theological terms
which deserve some analysis. The Bible is the special revelation. We
need the Bible for the message of salvation, and for the knowledge it
gives which is the key to general revelation. But the general revelation,
that which God has made and which we are and that which surrounds
us, shows forth the existence of God and gives a true revelation of Him.
General revelation and special revelation constitute a unified
revelation.[49]
Encourage the group to understand that they are to respond to their
relationship with God and others. Above all, let your Bible study be a
personal ministry of prayer and the Holy Spirit.
As an example, the following key Bible passages are written in a general
manner so that they can also be used in a small group setting.
Passage
Lesson Emphasis[50]
Luke 1:46-56 - Importance of a humble and open spirit
Luke 5:1-11 - Answering Christ's call: "Follow me"
Luke 5:27-32 - The negative attribute of self-righteousness
Luke 9:1-17 - The importance of an empowering community
Luke 9:46-50 - The destructiveness of pride
Luke 14:1-24 - Unhealthy competition in groups
Luke 16:19-31 - Learning to do inductive Bible study
Luke 19:28-40 - The importance of seeking God in worship
Luke 24:36-49 - What it means to be God's witness
Acts 1:1-11 - Being called to mission
Acts 10:1-48 - Finding our unique calling
· Evangelism
God made the church to be an ever-expanding kingdom that reaches
with Christ's hands into the community, workplace and family to bring
others to Christ. Sooner or later the development of a group will be
stunted if it does not begin to have a desire for the lost of the world.
o Exposing Man's Total Lack of Righteousness Before God.
(Romans 1:15-3:20)[51]
o Revealing God's amazing gift of His own righteousness. (Romans
3:21-26)
o How a person receives this gift of God's righteousness. (Romans
3:27-4:25)
o Explaining how Christ has provided His own Righteousness to us.
(Romans 5:1-21)
o Explaining God's means of transferring our sins to Christ and His
righteousness to us. (Romans 6:1-10)
· Mission
This is where some groups will decide to support missionaries, go on
short-term trips, participate in local cross-cultural mission work,
sponsor mission conferences, or other possibilities. How blessed the
people of God are when they serve alongside each other to bring
Christ's love to those with need!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[44]Hayford, J. W., & Watkins, W. D. (1997, c1993). Kingdom
Living : Growing Steadfast in the Faith: A study of Romans. Spirit-Filled
Life Bible Discovery Guides. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
?a? 1 Cor 1:10; 2 Cor 10:1-4; Eph 4:1; 1 Pet 2:11
?b? Rom 6:13, 16, 19; 1 Cor 6:20; Heb 13:15; 1 Pet 2:5
?1? Or well-pleasing
?2? Or rational
?a? 1 Pet 1:14
?b? Matt 13:22; Gal 1:4; 1 John 2:15
?1? Or age
?c? Eph 4:23; Titus 3:5
?2? Or approve
?d? Eph 5:10, 17; Col 1:9
?3? Or well-pleasing
?a? Rom 1:5; 15:15; 1 Cor 3:10; 15:10; Gal 2:9; Eph 3:7f
?b? Rom 11:20; 12:16
?c? 1 Cor 7:17; 2 Cor 10:13; Eph 4:7; 1 Pet 4:11
?a? 1 Cor 12:12-14; Eph 4:4, 16
?a? 1 Cor 10:17, 33
?b? 1 Cor 12:20, 27; Eph 4:12, 25
[45]New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ro 12:1).
LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[46]Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 12-13:
New Testament commentary : Exposition of Paul's Epistle to the
Romans. Accompanying biblical text is author's translation. New
Testament Commentary (Page 399). Grand Rapids: Baker Book
House.
[47]Barton, B. B., Veerman, D., & Wilson, N. S. (1992). Romans.
Life application Bible commentary (Page 230). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale
House Publishers.
[48]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible
Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Ro 12:2). Nashville: Thomas
Nelson.
[49]Schaeffer, F. A. (1996, c1982). The complete works of Francis A.
Schaeffer : A Christian worldview. Westchester, Ill.: Crossway Books.
[50]Arnold, J., & Black, S. (1997, c1992). The big book on small
groups. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.
[51]Northrup, B. E. (1997, c1996). True evangelism : Paul's
presentation of the first five steps of the soul-winner in Romans.
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Small Group Bible Studies
Advantages of Small Groups
" Disciplined multiplication (mitosis).
" Free of growth barriers.
" More are "involved" participants.
o People are eager to stand and share something they've learned from
God this week, in the form of praise reports.
o Lives being changed before your eyes as people ask for prayer and
others pray for them.
o Heads turning this way and that, as one person's praise or teaching
builds on another's.
o Each person has a opportunity to give a clear, impassioned message
from the Bible message.
o Occasional cheering or clapping as the group praises God for
something He's done in the past week. Even new converts understand
and take part!
o Even members who never spoke before find the courage to speak
from their hearts.
o Others are quick to offer support. And in the midst of it all, you
plainly feel the overwhelming presence of the Lord Jesus Christ as He
leads and directs the order of worship.
o Time disappears as everyone gets caught up in the excitement of
lives being transformed and hearts being healed, and after two hours, no
one wants to leave.
" Personal transformation & accountability.
" More effective for new Christians.
" Solves the leadership crisis.
" More Biblical.
" Persecution-proof structure.
" More efficient: lower cost.
Characteristics of Small Groups
" Organic not organized; relational not formal.
" Persecution-proof structure:
o Matures under tears;
o Multiplies under pressure;
o Flourishes in the desert;
o Sees in the dark;
o Thrives on chaos.
" Its only boast is the Lamb.
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All Blessings,
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