WEEKLY ARTICLE

HOME GROUPS

Weekly Article by the Rev. Matt Kennedy

The Church of the Good Shepherd

April, 28th, 2006

As I mentioned in my last weekly artcle , the vestry and I have been thinking and praying about ways to integrate new believers and new members into the parish body as well as how to make it possible for everyone, both new and long time members, to be discipled and nourished during the week.

God has given us alot of growth lately. The bible studies are quickly filling up. Three of them: Tuesday Morning, New Beginners, and the Men's Breakfast/Bible Study, are packed out to the point that they are less and less intimate gatherings of believers (as they were originally intended to be) and more and more like large bible classes.

This has been God's doing. The spiritual growth and life flowing out of these classes and into the parish body is amazing to see. And since God, apparently has his own plans for these classes we want to keep on keeping on and let God do as he pleases.

But what seems to be emerging is this: Since the bible studies (at least three of them) are becoming more and more like bible classes, there remains an unmet need to have small groups of believers gathering weekly on a more personal level to share needs, study God's Word, and pray for each other.

We've been praying about this for some time and the leadership of the church (Anne, the vestry, and me) believes that we are being called to establish some home groups.

Home Groups are small groups (usually no more than 8 to 10 people and no less than 3) that meet together in a home once a week. During each of these gatherings there will be time for prayer, bible study, food and fellowship. The purpose is to grow in the knowledge of God and his Word while developing lasting, supportive relationships with fellow believers.

Over the next few weeks I'll be praying with and calling on some believers at Good Shepherd who I know to be spiritually gifted in leadership and teaching. I'll ask them to set aside some time and pray each day/week this spring about whether God is calling them to lead one of these groups. Those who sense the call will be invited to meet several times over the summer for some training sessions.

By the fall of 2006, we hope to launch at least three, hopefully four, new home groups.

Who are home groups designed for? The short and predictable answer is "everyone."

At the same time the primary focus will be three groups of people:

•  Everyone who wants to officially join Good Shepherd as a member will be asked to sign up for a home group. This will help us to disciple new believers and new members and help them find a smaller group of friends in the church so when they come on Sunday morning they won't feel alone. They will have a family within the larger body of believers. It will also allow new believers to establish close Christian friendships at the very beginning of their Christian walk. This is very important for new believers, especially those who are leaving behind destructive habits and destructive relationships to choose Christ.

•  Existing members: We will encourage every existing member not currently attending a weekly bible study to at least sign up for a homegroup and give it a try for a month. If every member of Good Shepherd were to be involved on a weekly basis in a home group or bible study then the whole body would be deeply strengthened and nourished and our fellowship would grow even stronger.

•  Seekers: people who you know to be looking for God or something to believe in. Building relationships is crucial to the process of coming to faith. If you belong to a small group or know when and where they meet inviting a seeker to come and join in may prove to be the way God finally reaches them.

If you're already committed to a bible study once a week, you're still welcome to join a home group, but don't burn yourself out. If you can't make the extra commitment don't.

This is a big transition but an important one. I pray it will:

1. draw us closer to God and his Word through study

2. bring us closer to one another through fellowship

3. teach us to pray for and listen to each other through hands on personal interaction and experience

4. provide new believers with close Christian relationships from the very beginning of their Christian life.

I hope and pray that you will participate in this new part of Good Shepherd's walk with the Lord and that God will use home groups to bless and nourish you. personally and Good Shepherd as a body.

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