CHURCH GROWTH THROUGH SMALL GROUP

1. CHURCH GROWTH THROUGH SMALL GROUP WEST INDONESIA UNION MISSION WORKERS’ MEETING OCTOBER 17-19, 2003

2. Church Growth Through Small Group Ministries

3. Building Christian Community Small Group Ministry in Today’s Seventh-Day Adventist Church

4. Created for Community “Let US make man in our image…(Genesis 1:24) “I pray that they may all be one, Father!…just as You and I are one.”(John 17:21,22)

5. “The silent churning at the core of our beings is the … need to know and be known, to understand and to be under-stood, to possess and to be possessed, to belong un-conditionally and forever without fear of loss, betrayal, or rejection…It is the search …for the freedom to be who we really are.” Gilbert Bilezikian The Universal Human Need

6. 120 disciples 3000 new converts 5000 men More and more Increasing Grew in numbers Church planting Many thousands Acts 1:15 Acts 2:41,42 Acts 4:4 Acts 5:14 Acts 6:1,7 Acts 9:31 Acts 16:5 Acts 21:20 A. EXPLOSIVE GROWTH INTHE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

7. A. It is Biblical • Moses followed the counsel of his father-in-law, Jethro, in having small groups of tens (Exodus 18). • Jesus started His ministry by calling a small group of twelve disciples (Matthew 4:18-22). • The Early Church grew in numbers although they did not have a big church building. They met from house to house (Acts 2:42-47).

8. Moses’ Method... God Moses The Multitude

9. The Jethro Principle... GOD Moses Leaders of 1000 Leaders of 100 Leaders of 50 Leaders of 10 The Multitude

10. Christ’s Method “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’” (Ministry of Healing 143)

11. Jesus’ Model • 12 group members • “Inner” group of Peter, James and John

12. Heart to Heart “Your success will not depend so much upon your knowledge and accomplishments, as upon your ability to find your way to the heart. By being social and coming close to the people, you may turn the current of their thoughts more readily than by the most able discourse.” Gospel Workers, p193

13. “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the Good News that Jesus is the Christ.” (Acts 5:42) “Greet also the church that meets at their house.” (Romans 16:5 etc.) The New Testament Church:A House-Based Church

14. New Testament Church • Acts 1:15 120 • Acts 2:41 3000+ • Acts 4:4 10,000+ • Acts 5:14 +++ Explosive Growth

15. Biblical Goals for Small Group Ministries Foster Biblical Love(John 13:35; 1 Cor. 13:13; Gal. 5:13; Eph. 5:2; 1 John 4:7, 11, 21). Promote Fellowship and Unity (Acts 4:32; Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:12, 25; Eph. 4:3, 5, 13; 1 John 3, 6-7).

16. Build the Body(Rom. 14:19; Eph. 2:19-22; 4:11-16; Col. 1:10-12, 28; 2:6-7). Knowledge Faith Discerning of Spirits Prophecy Working Miracles Healing Wisdom Nurture Spiritual Gifts(Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor.12:4-11).

17. Evangelism (Acts 42-47).

18. “Small group evangelism and dynamic church growth are two sides of the same coin. They are one.”Joel Comiskey It’s a Fact...

19. c. It is Inspired

20. Preparing for the Second Advent “The formation of small companies as a basis of Christian effort is a plan that has been presented to me by One who cannot err.” (Evangelism 115)

21. Despite the absence of official pastoral leadership, churches that have been persecuted in countries such as China have flourished. How? Through the ministry of small groups.

22. “In England,about one million people are now involved in small groups. The Holy Spirit appears to be using small groups to win unbelievers to faith, revitalize the spiritual lives of individuals and congregations and focus attention on the study of the Bible.”

23. Martin Luther “But those who seriously want to be Christians and to confess the Gospel in deed and word would have to register their names and gather themselves somewhere in a house alone…” “…Here one could also conduct baptism and communion in a brief and fine manner, and direct everything to the word, prayer and mutual love…”

24. “According to the judge-ment of our Lord and the writings of His apostles, it is only when we are knit together, that we have nourishment from Him, and increase with the increase of God.” John Wesley’s Class System

25. Whitefield to John Pool: “My Brother Wesley acted wisely…the souls that were awakened under his ministry he joined in class, and thus preserved the fruits of his labor.This I neglected, and my people are a rope of sand...Wesley has been wiser than me because he penned his sheep.” John Wesley’s Class System

26. SMALL GROUP IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD • A. SUCCESSFUL CHURCHES 1. Yoido Full Gospel Church 2. Iglesia ni Cristo

32. 1. Empowering leadership 2. Gift-oriented lay ministry 3. Passionate spirituality 4. Functional structures 5. Inspiring worship service 6. Holistic small groups 7. Need-oriented evangelism 8. Loving relationships B. Eight Characteristics of Growing Churches

33. C. What Small Groups Will Do for You and Your Church: • They will help you and your fellow believers grow as disciples of Jesus • They will build deep relationships between believers and a strong sense of community in the church • They will help believers develop their spiritual gifts, releasing the ministry potential of the church, and freeing pastors for the specific work they have been called to do • They will help more people come to faith in Christ

34. III. SMALL GROUP MEETING –SMALL GROUP LIFE

35. A. How to Begin Receive God’s vision on small group ministries.  Decide that small group ministries is God’s plan for the church.  Discuss and obtain permission of the church board.

36.  Choose pioneers for a pilot group.  Train pioneers in the implementation of small group ministries.  Let the pilot group multiply.

37.  Have a weekly group meeting for leaders.

38. WELCOME WORSHIP WITNESS WORD The Four Parts of a Small Group Meeting

39. Small Group Meeting Agenda FOCUS ORDER ACTIVITY RELATION You to Me Entrance into Fellowship CHRIST WELCOME Us to God Exaltation in His Presence CHRIST’S PRESENCE WORSHIP God to Us Edification in the Word CHRIST’S POWER WORD Evangelism Vision & Prayer God through Us CHRIST’S PURPOSE WITNESS

40. Greeting and welcome Time to “catch up” with each other The ice-breaker WELCOME The Four Parts of a Small Group Meeting

41. Fellowship with those who come early: Welcome Words Introduction of guests and get– acquainted activity

42. The Ice-Breaker: creates a relaxed atmosphere enables everyone to say something can lead into the Bible study or worship period Breaking the Ice with the Ice-Breaker

43. WORSHIP The Four Parts of a Small Group Meeting • Acknowledging the presence of Jesus: • With singing • Meditation with instrumental music • With testimony, prayer or Scripture

44. Worship Thanksgiving: Prayer Singing Praise Reports: Testimonies Expression of appreciation for each other

45. Intercessory Prayer  A need expressed  Several lead in prayer

46. WORD The Four Parts of a Small Group Meeting The Bible study

47. WORD The Four Parts of a Small Group Meeting Seek full Participation Seek practical application

48. Three Questions: ? What is this text saying ? What is this text saying to me/us ? What are we going to do about this Small Group Bible Study Should Be Relational

49. Relational Bible Study • Asks not only “What does this mean?” but “What is God saying to me/us here?” • Based more on real life experience than on a collection of doctrinal texts • More concerned with making Christianity real than with proving a point • Concerned not only with the original characters associated with the story, but where we see ourselves in it • Accepts all opinions as equally valid • It allows the group to grow together even when there is serious disagreement

50. WITNESS The Four Parts of a Small Group Meeting