Small Group Launch

I was so excited last night to launch my spring semester small group. We work on a three semester system (Fall, Spring, Summer) because it provides easy entry points and exit points. In the Spring and Summer our groups are free market which means they can do whatever they want as a means for coming together. They may do a book study, bible study, or whatever. My group is doing Dinner and a Discussion. Each group member is listing questions or topics they'd like to discuss and each week we'll share dinner together and then have the discussion while we eat. (Last night, my wife made a fantastic dinner Pecan Chicken, yum.) We discussed my question which was, "What is the process of someone becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ?" It was a great discussion as we sorted through some of the fundamental and elemental things in that process. One thing that I loved was that it was much less like that conversation would have been at a number of other churches. My group is made up of a mix of older and younger believers, so the perspective was very fresh. Here were some of the thoughts:

• Step one: It has to start with come and see.
• Step two: Most likely, it's going to be come and see again.
• Step three: Get involved, belong to the community.
• Step four: "What's the difference between a follower and a disciple? Does everyone have to be a disciple? Is it ok if some people are just followers?"
• Step five: "You become a little less of one and a little more of the other."

Nice.

We have topics coming up ranging for how to work as a team for the kingdom, to how can church help parents of small children. And we're waiting for more submissions as well.

There's one other thing we're doing this semester, but it deserves another post so I'll put it up later with an invitation.

--Ben