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Everybody has a need for community. It is part of God’s plan of presenting everybody complete in Christ. How can a leaf survive without its branch? How can a branch survive without its trunk? Just as we are to be connected to Christ, we also branch out into smaller groups that help us to grow individually, but also so we can help the church grow. We aim to be increasingly a church made up of small groups that we have chosen to call “Life Groups”. These are groups that meet during the week in homes. They are called Life Groups because it is where we live out our Christianity, and they follow the pattern you see above.

The pattern is not arbitrary, nor is it optional if a small group wishes to operate under the spiritual covering of our church. It’s a biblical model, from the believers in the early church. Acts 2:42-47 shows how they would meet together for celebration and in each other’s homes. They devoted themselves to the same teaching and shared with each other so that no one was in need. They experienced God moving in incredible ways and saw many new believers added. We want to live out what we read about in scripture here in our community! Effective spiritual nurture and discipleship will necessarily include both larger church gatherings at weekly services (“the temple”) and small groups where intimate caring can take place (“house to house”). To ignore either is to jeopardise the impact of the presence of God in our lives and the world (Matthew 28:18-20; Hebrews 10:25; Romans 12:4-5; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 5:14-16).

You can only do so much growing on a Sunday morning. These groups are where those who are maturing as Christians find it takes place best. How? Through study of the Word, times of enjoying God in worship and coming before Him in prayer. They are also groups where relationships are built and strengthened, and pastoral care takes place. This isn’t self-indulgent because the pattern emphasises that it’s just as important for a disciple to obey Jesus’ call to evangelism and reach out in creative, caring and credible ways to those who are currently unchurched.

I challenge, urge and encourage everyone who currently worships with us to consider that belonging to a LIFEgroup following this balanced pattern is the next vital stage in God’s growth plan for YOU! If you do not currently belong to a LIFEgroup you will increasingly find as we grow as a church you will feel ‘out of the loop’ in many ways, I don’t want that to happen to you. Please, visit a group or two soon or talk to Jeremy Taylor about how you can become part of what God is doing here. You’re too busy NOT to make time for a LIFEgroup.

Anthony Delaney

Copyright © 2008, St Marys Horsley. All rights reserved. Updated: 4th August 2008