From One Degree to Another

Phil Auxier's Blog

Connect

The Need of Small Groups…

by

A friend sent me an email the other day highlighting the following (from Piper’s sermon The Love of Human Praise as the Root of Unbelief):

7 Reasons We Need Small Groups
He has given pastors to the church “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). I believe in what I do. And I believe that it is not enough. Here are the seven reasons I gave the small group leaders.

1) The impulse avoid painful growth by disappearing safely into the crowd in corporate worship is very strong.
2) The tendency toward passivity in listening to a sermon is part of our human weakness.
3) Listeners in a big group can more easily evade redemptive crises. If tears well up in your eyes in a small group, wise friends will gently find out why. But in a large gathering, you can just walk away from it.
4) Listeners in a large group tend to neglect efforts of personal application. The sermon may touch a nerve of conviction, but without someone to press in, it can easily be avoided.
5) Opportunity for questions leading to growth is missing. Sermons are not dialogue. Nor should they be. But asking questions is a key to understanding and growth. Small groups are great occasions for this.
6) Accountability for follow-through on good resolves is missing. But if someone knows what you intended to do, the resolve is stronger.
7) Prayer support for a specific need or conviction or resolve goes wanting. O how many blessings we do not have because we are not surrounded by a band of friends who pray for us.

So please know that when this small-group ministry of our church is lifted up, I don’t think it’s an optional add-on to basic Christian living. I think it is normal, healthy, needed, New Testament Christianity. I pray that you will be part of one of these small groups or that you will get the training and start one. This is the main strategy through which our pastors and elders shepherd the flock at Bethlehem.

This was so well put and a great needed reminder. If you desire more info on Crestview’s small groups, check out that portion of our website.

1 Corinthians 13 Remix…

by

Last night in small group, we read a section from an incredible book: Counsel From The Cross on God’s amazing love and how it is exemplified in Jesus Himself. We often read 1 Corinthians 13 as a list of things that we must do and fail at. This approach and paraphrase of how Christ is perfect love was a blessing to us as we considered how love binds us together to one another.

As the author of language and as God’s Living Word, Jesus can speak in the tongues of men and angels, and yet he condescends to speak simple words that nourish, soothe, and delight our souls. He knows the past and the future, understands all mysteries and knowledge; has all faith and reigns as Ruler over all; and yet, his love caused him to humble himself and remove our mountain of sin. Because of his love, we who are nothing have become “beloved.” He gave away what was rightfully his, humbled himself, and delivered up his body to be burned in the scorching furnace of the wrath of his Father.
Jesus is patient and kind; he doesn’t envy or boast. When faced with Satan’s temptation to prove his Godhood in the wilderness and on the cross, he never showed off his power. He was utterly humble. He wasn’t arrogant or rude, railing on the disciples, deserting them because of their selfish ambition. He isn’t arrogant or rude with us either. When standing before his accusers he didn’t insist that they treat him with respect, nor did he proudly demand their accolades. He was silent, like a lamb before her shearers. The humble King of heaven wore a crown of thorns and a purple cloak. He is never irritable or resentful, picking away at ever little foible he sees. In love, his blood covers our multitudinous sins.
He doesn’t gleefully rejoice when you sin, glad to finally have an opportunity to give you your comeuppance. He rejoices when you believe the truth, not simply the truth about you—that you are sinful and flawed—but also the truth about him—that he loves and welcomes you. Out of love for you, he bears all things. He has unflinching faith and hope in your transformation because he knows the power of his love. He knows that one day he will bring you to be with himself. He has endured and continues to endure all things out of love for you. His love never ends. Never.
Ten zillion years from now, when he has had time to really see what sort of person you are, his love won’t have worn out. In fact, he knows you through and through right now and loves you all the same. Your shameful secrets cannot shock or repel him. His love never ends. One day we will see him face-to-face and then we will fully understand, for the first time, what real love looks like.

(Elyse Fitzpatrick and Dennis Johnson, Counsel From The Cross, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2009) p.63)

May you rest today in the perfect love of Jesus Christ.

Gospel-Centered Life

by

Over on Timmy Brister’s blog, he linked to the latest Small Group resource from World Harvest Mission entitled The Gospel Centered Life by Bob Thune and Will Walker. Through July 31, 2009, they are sending out a free preview copy of this curriculum for those who sign up for their newsletter. It would be well worth you time to check it out.

Here’s a summary of the contents:

The Gospel-Centered Life is a nine lesson small group study intended to help participants understand how the gospel shapes every aspect of life. Each lesson is self-contained, featuring clear teaching from scripture, and requires no extra work outside of the group setting.

Designed for:

* Pastors and leaders who want to spur Gospel renewal in their churches and ministries.
* Church-planters who want to form Gospel DNA in the churches they start.
* Students and campus ministers who are looking to live out the Gospel on campus.
* Christians who want to be more deeply formed around the Gospel.
* Small group leaders who are looking for content that “works” with diverse groups of people.
* Missionaries who are looking for simple material to disciple new Christians.

MLJ on Union with Christ…

by

Speaking of our church’s small group curriculum… this quote from Lloyd-Jones really summarized the truth found in last night’s group:

There is nothing, perhaps, in the whole range and realm of doctrine which, if properly grasped and understood, gives greater assurance, greater comfort, and greater hope than this doctrine of our union with Christ. (as quoted in How People Change, p.34. Originally quoted in Lloyd-Jones commentary on Romans, chapter 6, pp.106-148.)