Loving Relationships & Community through Groups

So far we have unpacked 6 essential qualities of healthy church - EMPOWERING LEADERSHIP, GIFT-ORIENTED MINISTRY, PASSIONATE SPIRITUALITY and INSPIRING WORSHIP, NEED-ORIENTED EVANGELISM, & FUNCTIONAL STRUCTURES. The last two are simple and yet often neglected. I am talking about LOVING RELATIONSHIPS.

• How often do you spend time with other church members outside of church-sponsored events?
  
• When did you invite someone for a meal, or went out together for a walk?
  
• How aware are the deacons of the church, and your pastor of your personal problems?
  
• How much laughter is in our church?
  

Have anyone told you that you should look to Jesus rather than to people? It’s true that people will disappoint you where Jesus would never. Yet, this is the absolute of what Jesus said. Jesus put it simple – by this all will know that you are Disciples – if you love one another… (John 13:34-35) The first witnessing that needs to go out of this church is not my preaching, and not the dogma you got from the Sabbath School – simply LOVE ONE ANOTHER. This is most basic Jesus’ commandment!!! John wrote to the churches of his day that “one who does not love does not know God, for God is Love.” (1 John 4:7-8). Don’t hide under umbrella of “we’ve got the truth!” If we have the truth – we will love.
Ellen G. White wrote that “the strongest argument in favor for the Gospel is a loving and loveable Christian.” (Ellen. G. White, Ministry of Healing, 470) Sadly, but we must admit that we had preached more with words that with actions and living love.

Loving relationships result in building community where groups of people come together often. It is HOLISTIC GROUPS that present the final link in the essential qualities of the healthy church. Groups is not a dispensable hobby. Groups are vital for a healthy church. In fact, Groups are the most important factor of church health. It is the natural place for Christians to learn to serve others. Christianity outside of community is an oxymoron. Christianity is build on community. Without a small group experience there can never be a real congregational praise.
“Holistic” stands for “comprehensive, complete.” Such groups don’t’ do curriculums. Such groups care for each other while maturing in Christ together. This is not a new trend, it is the way Jesus started the Church – discipling a group. He spent far more time with his 12 sidekicks than with multitudes. Our failure to pattern our ministry after that of Jesus results in our inability to reach the world for Him. Whole New Testament is written in context of house churches, and to the households, groups, small communities. Read Romans 12 to see the theology of community.
Holistic groups deals with whole person, minds, spirit, emotions. It’s a place where people can be themselves and not feel condemned, a place where no one needs to put masks of appearance. The early Adventist church had began through social meetings. Small Groups are God’s Plan for Church, God’s Vision. Ellen White penned this testimony: “The formation of small companies as a basis of Christian effort has been presented to me by One who cannot err.” (Testimonies, vol. 7, pp. 21- 22). This characteristic is linked most strongly to the church’s ability to grow.
It is my prayer for you to be loving and loveable church.