INTENTIONAL FAITH DEVELOPMENT: GROWING IN CHRIST

Sermon Summary 3/31/19, “Intentional Faith Development: Growing in Christ” (Galatians 5:22; Acts 2:42, 46-47)

The turning point in my spiritual journey took place first with promptings of grace and then within small groups, my first lay servant ministries class and then Disciple Bible Study.  The latter changed my life.   Life happened within the group.  I had never experienced sharing like that before.  I had never movement and prompting in my journey before.  It was in that small group that a friend said, “Rick, I see a little white church in your future.  It happens in small steps.  It took me 12 years before that little white church appeared and now another 15 years and I’m far from complete in my journey, only part way there. 

Where are you in your journey?  What if I asked you to be intentional?  What would it be?  Prayer group? Bible Study? Sunday School?  Thursday night small group?  A new group?  A coffee shop group?  What might it be?

What about listening?  What if we just listened for the Spirit?  Listened for the prompting of grace? 

Let me give you a goal: John Wesley described Christian maturity as being filled with the love of God and one another and walking as Jesus would have us walk.  What if that was our goal? 

If we looked to Jesus we would see that he did not send his disciples home to study alone.  He sent his disciples out two by two.  He said, “Wherever two or three are gathered.”  Following Jesus is best done in small groups.  We are better together.  We are better in circles than in rows.  We learn better.  We hear the promptings of grace better.  We better hold ourselves accountable.  We grow in the love of God with one another and walk better was Jesus would have us walk, together.

If we look at the early church, we see the disciples praying, learning, breaking bread together in the Temple and in their homes (Acts 2:42; 46-47)  And they accomplished their mission of making new disciples together.  They were much better together.

We are better in circles that in rows.  What’s next for you?  Talk to me.  What would you like to do?  Where would you like to do it?  When would be best for you?  Who would you like to lead? 

We’re better together.  Small groups (called class meetings) were instrumental to the growth of Methodism (a church a day in the first half of the 19th century).  Class meetings were mandatory until 1850, and since then we’ve cooled off, plateaued, then declined.

Small groups, community, is essential to change.  The Upper Room tells us that knowledge, experience (mentoring, sponsorship) and community while necessary individually, by themselves are not sufficient to change and growth.  Maybe the best of communities is the 12 step program that teaches, provides sponsors, holds one another accountable in a loving community.  Knowledge, experience, community. We are better together.