While attending church every week is good for you, it shouldn’t be your only interaction with believers on a weekly basis. Christianity is best experienced as part of a community. One hour a week isn’t enough. Being part of a small group is beneficial for everyone. You get to study the Bible with other believers outside of a weekly church service. You also have the opportunity to socialize with a lot of great people. To receive the greatest benefit, it’s important in any small group to be transparent.
A person is transparent when they openly reveal both victories and setbacks in their life as they disclose the "real" person they are without any protective emotional mask on. In small group a person can give specific, honest prayer requests. In a protective environment, a person can gain support by letting others in the group know of a need for assistance.
The more comfortable a person becomes with a small group, they may share their pilgrimage as a Christian to support other believers, or give their insight within the small group on the scripture that is being studied that evening. There are three main benefits to participating in any small group community:
1.
A
person participating in small group can sense God at work in the lives of those
present.
“Many
wonders and miraculous signs were happening through the apostles, and everyone
felt great respect for God.” (Acts
2:43,
ERV)
2. A person
participating in small group can serve other people using the gifts (and
talents) God gave them.
“God
has shown you his grace in many different ways. So be good servants and use whatever
gift he has given you in a way that will best serve each other. If your gift is
speaking, your words should be like words from God. If your gift is serving,
you should serve with the strength that God gives. Then it is God who will be
praised in everything through Jesus Christ. Power and glory belong to him
forever and ever. Amen.” (1
Peter 4:10-11,
ERV)
3.
A person participating in small group can
serve the needy.
“I’ve
left you an example of how you should serve and take care of those who are
weak. For we must always cherish the words of our Lord Jesus, who taught, ‘Giving brings a far greater blessing than
receiving’.” (Acts
20:35,
TPT)
“A community is a group of people who have
come together, and they work and they live to try and improve the standard of
living and quality of life - and I don't mean money.” (William
Baldwin)[i]
[i] Inspired by the
sermon “Created for Community: The Benefit of Community” (installment two)
Sunday September 16, 2018 Pastor Dave Jansen CenterPoint Gahanna Church Gahanna,
OH.
Additional sources used:
·
“7 Benefits of Being Part of a Small
Group” by
Martin Hawley
·
“The Benefits of Transparency” by Terry
Powell
Additional sources used:
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