In my sermon Sunday - http://www.mtoak.org/Sermons/2009/3rd%20Quarter/080909.mp3 I mentioned our emphasis on small groups this fall. We will be putting more and more information out as the time draws near.
How about sharing some uplifting experiences you have had in small groups in the past! How have they helped your sense of belonging, your sense of community? How have they helped your spiritual walk, your daily journey?
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When Quoting Scripture Inflicts Harm
6 years ago
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A while ago Pastor Ray held a couples group based on the Fireproof movie. The movie features a book called The Love Dare, which is a biblically based excersice that you do each day for 40 days in an attempt to strengthen your marriage. I learned a great deal about being a Husband and the role I am called to by God.
For instance in Ephesians 5 we read "For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church." I'm sure many of us have heard this, but we dove much deeper to find the true meaning of that passage.
Yes husbands are called to be spiritual leaders of the household, however Christ loved the Church with a servants heart, and gave his life for The Church (US) We as husbands are called to do the same for our wives.
Serve Her
Colossians 3- Never treat her harshly
Protect Her
Pray with and for her
Lead her
This is called Agape Love or God's Love.
Just one of many lessons I learned in a small group. Of course I'm still nowhere close to perfect, but I'm trying. It also helped to talk with other couples, and hear uplifting stories of triumph in their marriages. I learned that we all WILL encounter trials, but learning from those trials is the true key to success.
Thanks Pastor Ray!!!
I think that small groups are very important in a larger church.
Small groups are crucial for spiritual growth. I also think it is a major weakness within Mt. Oak.
I know we are supposed to join groups to meet knew folks but at the same time you have to be with folks you trust and have things in common with to really open up. I have been in groups where I had no relationship with anyone and it was very awkward every time we went. We struggle every year when we look at groups to join, and more often than not, we find none that even remotely interest us.
i think small groups are very important and i plan to attend one this fall. i am sorry some have not had a good experience. my experiences have all been good.
A new video was found on www.tangle.com and we loaded it on our website. It speaks about our church and we think it is very good. Please check it out when you get a chance by going to our web page www.mtoak.org and clicking on the link near the bottom that reads Welcome to Our Church Video (or if this link is live click here).
In the weeks, months, and years to come we want to continue to transform our church into the
church God wants it to be. I say that knowing we have an awesome church now, yet we are not all that God wants us to be and so the work continues.
At my previous church, as I mentioned Sunday, I was told often, that I was never satisfied. They were right. Until I or the church I love and serve reaches perfection, there is always something to strive for and to focus on!
Right now our laser focus is on our small groups at Mt. Oak. We have some, they are functioning, yet there is room for improvement. Jason & Julie Craig have stepped forward, along with Bill & Tricia Patterson, and will help us focus on small groups this fall. Our goal is for 100% of our church family to be nurtured in a small group. Read Jason’s material on Small Groups later in this E-News edition.
http://www.mtoak.org/ENews/2009/3rd%20Quarter/August%2014%202009%20E-News.pdf
From Jason Craig
Time for Action – Meet Together
“Twelve years ago I was a small group skeptic. I wasn’t even sure what a small group was but I was pretty sure I didn’t want to be in one. Besides the obvious scariness of being in a confined space with church people, the whole thing seemed like a blind date that everyone expected to be a marriage. When my wife Karyn finally convinced me to go, I didn’t know who the small group leader was, but I was sure, with my bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and my master’s in educational ministries, that I was bound to be sharper than whoever they put in front of me. And here he was: a twentysomething, Brian, with a big grin and a Bible. Oh boy, I thought, here we go.
Like I said, it was Karyn’s idea. We had met with a small group pastor, Steve, and he talked with us about groups and where he thought we could plug in. I kept trying to put the whole thing off, but we had just gotten married and Karyn was desperate for a place to belong as a couple. So I bit the bullet … and signed up for leadership training. If I was going to be in a group, I reasoned, I would lead the thing. Unfortunately, ‘leadership training’ felt more like ‘leadership torment’. I made it through exactly one hour of ‘training’, gave up and Karyn and I joined a group.
It felt like defeat. To make matters worse, the first night we were to meet with our new group, Karyn didn’t feel well, conveniently, but asked me to go and represent the team. “But I wont know anybody!” I protested. “Bill, you can do it. I don’t want them to think we’re flaking out already.” “Yeah, but…” “Bill, please?”
Fifteen minutes later I grudgingly pulled into the small group host’s driveway. The living room was full of five eager couples and me. Our leader, Brian, led off with a get-to-know-you ice breaker: “If you were a cartoon character, who would you be?”
Lord, I prayed, could we have that rapture thing now, please?!” - by Bill Search
For many folks, when they think about joining a small group and meeting in someone’s home with a few other couples or a collection of people, the passage above describes the thoughts and feelings of one man – maybe they mirror your own thoughts about joining a small group.
Two weeks ago I wrote about change – for the next few weeks I want to use this opportunity to encourage you to make, what for some could be, dramatic changes to your schedule to accommodate another opportunity EACH week to meet with other believers in our new small group ministry. On September 13th we will be launching our new small group ministry and I want to express a bold hope for the church – I hope that everyone in Mt Oak finds a home in a small group and has the opportunity to meet each week with other believers to encourage and to be encouraged.
I don’t know about you but last week’s message by Pastor Ray rocked my world. Last Sunday Pastor Ray preached a passionate message from a single verse in Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Were you like me and left last week thinking that the only way to put last Sunday’s message into action was to get up and do it. If we were challenged and inspired to meet together then the only way to live that challenge out is to set aside our schedules, set aside our plans and activities that have crowded our schedules and to carve out time for us to meet together with other believers. The easy way out is to say that, “Sunday morning is my church time. That’s all I have free.” Is that really enough? “Well I don’t have any more nights free – I go to the gym–play volleyball-study-work-watch TV-attend church committee meetings-do something else (you select which one is appropriate or insert your own) 5 nights a week and I have to have a night for family time, so I don’t have any more time for meeting with the church!”
Are you ready to make a change? Keep watching this space for more information about our new small group ministry.
I have written some more ideas about small groups down on my blog (basically so I don't forget them). If anyone is interested in reading them and giving me some thoughts on our small group ministry then please leave a comment. I can assure you that all comments will be read, they may not all be followed ;)
We are starting a very exciting new adventure. Let's see what God has for us.
Go here
http://jakephysio.blogspot.com/2009/08/meeting-together.html
Although my husband and I were members at Mt Oak more than 20 years ago, the ministry and support we found in the small groups at Mt Oak really helped prepare us for full-time ministry. At the time, there was a group of 4 young men (20’s to early 30’s) who were planning to enter into full-time ministry. Our husbands met regularly with George Anderson – his mentorship was so appreciated! He would even give these men opportunities to preach on Sunday mornings. As wives, we didn’t meet together all that often, but we did get together as couples (and one single guy) with George and Carol, sometimes for dinner and even a few mini-retreats.
I was also part of a young women’s small group (both married and single), and even though I was working full-time (no children yet), I always looked forward the evening each week we met together. I learned so much from Carol and she really helped me see how I didn’t need to be tied to the “role” of the pastor’s wife. I found tremendous freedom and a sense of belonging within the small groups at Mt. Oak.
In large churches, it’s easy to slip in and out, spend an hour with God, but become stagnant in our relationship with Christ. The women in my small group help keep me accountable in my daily time with God and in a growing relationship with Christ. Even though I am a co-leader, I still need that accountability. We pray for each other, and often share prayer requests via email. I can’t imagine NOT being involved in a small group. I am a rather introverted person, so I understand the hesitancy to get involved with people you may not know very well, yet. But being a Christian doesn’t mean life is comfortable – God is constantly stretching us, shaping us into vessels He can use for His glory – not for our own self-edification, or to feel good about ourselves, or even our own happiness.
Karen Hard
During my husbands accident, we would have been lost without our small group. They adopted us during his recovery and met with us at our house since Michael was bed bound. They prayed over him, helped with our children, fed us, and LOVED US. Our small group is a mix of people and ages that may have never gotten to know each other otherwise. I love them very much and would strongly advise others to get connected.
Dana
Although never perfect, I believe small groups are a way to connect with people, if you are willing to connect. It is a two way street.
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