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re: Anyone here a part of a small faith group?
Posted on 2/3/14 at 8:14 am to ksayetiger
Posted on 2/3/14 at 8:14 am to ksayetiger
Made you look. You so smart.
Posted on 2/3/14 at 8:17 am to finchmeister08
ours has been great, but we have some pretty amazing people in it. It really depends on the makeup of the group and their motivations. I would highly advise doing it with the right folks (preferably similar in age/point in life)
Posted on 2/3/14 at 8:18 am to finchmeister08
quote:
Anyone here a part of a small faith group?
"AKA" a Cult?....nope.
Posted on 2/3/14 at 8:20 am to GotDucks?
quote:
"AKA" a Cult?....nope.
Why do people who have no understanding of a subject feel compelled to comment?
Posted on 2/3/14 at 8:27 am to The First Cut
quote:
Why do people who have no understanding of a subject feel compelled to comment?
I was just kidding
I go once a week to a men's group Every Wednesday morning. I mainly go just to listen to the word and get good insight on how to handle things life might throw at you. Its a great way for me to start out my day.
To the OP, definitely join one, they help.
This post was edited on 2/3/14 at 8:28 am
Posted on 2/3/14 at 8:45 am to finchmeister08
My wife and I lead a couples small group. We started going to one about 5 years ago and after 3 years we decided to lead our own. We go to I guess what you would call a mega church on the Northshore. Getting involved in small groups has been the best decision we've ever made. Most of our closest and most genuine friends have been made through them. We have different types at our church. Mens, women's, couples, divorce groups, parenting, addiction, etc. We were kind of just going to church because we thought we should, but we weren't really getting anything out of it. The small group really made things more personal for us and it allowed us to ask questions, discuss things. Things you couldn't do during a regular church service. With so many people and only a handful of pastors, small groups were a great way to get clarification and understanding from people with more knowledge. But our small group leaders never made it seem like it was "the way", it was always framed as "well what I believe" or "how I'd handle that situation would be" . They really allowed us to be ourselves and we always felt 'safe' to share our stories and our hearts. It really was a great factor in our salvation and has helped in all aspects of our lives. We've been in small groups with people of all different walks of life and stages, so it was great to have someone to shine a perspective on or just get advice.
Posted on 2/3/14 at 8:57 am to finchmeister08
Our church has just started a set of small groups on Wednesday nights. We meet at the church on the first Wednesday of the month and then in homes on the other Wednesdays. We are a smaller church but we are doing the groups to make better connections in our community and with each other. We have them set up based on geography right now to make it easier for people. Its good because it let's you get to know more the people you go to church with in a more relaxed and discussion friendly setting.
Since we are just getting started its a good time to start, we have groups in Prairieville, Geismar/Dutchtown, Baton Rouge and Denham.
Since we are just getting started its a good time to start, we have groups in Prairieville, Geismar/Dutchtown, Baton Rouge and Denham.
Posted on 2/3/14 at 9:00 am to finchmeister08
You'll never have the quality of personal relationships in a 'church' like you do in a small group. The early church consisted of small groups, not buildings that the religious professionals called 'churches'. Modern day 'churches' are no more than businesses attempting to grow their particular denomination (insert money joke here).
Posted on 2/3/14 at 9:04 am to beejon
quote:
Made you look. You so smart.
So endith the trick
Posted on 2/3/14 at 9:07 am to beejon
quote:
You'll never have the quality of personal relationships in a 'church' like you do in a small group.
This can be sometimes true, but not always.
quote:
The early church consisted of small groups, not buildings that the religious professionals called 'churches'.
That's because the Romans would kill them if they practiced their faith.
quote:
Modern day 'churches' are no more than businesses attempting to grow their particular denomination (insert money joke here).
This is true only of small portion of churches. Most churches obviously want to grow their congregations, that is their mission; however, it is not money that drives this. The more money they take in, the more they minister to. There is no "money" in churches. What comes in goes out in ministry.
Posted on 2/3/14 at 9:17 am to VanRIch
My wife and I lead a group as well.
I guess you could call our church a "mega church" probably about 2.5 - 3k people on a Sunday (pretty small town of about 60k people.)
We push small groups heavily. While we all see each other on Sundays and encourage people to be there, Small home groups are the main push of the church. The leadership doesn't really care how much we have on a Sunday morning, but how our small groups are growing is how we measure the growth of our church, because that means people are growing in friendships, not just warm seats on a sunday morning.
I'm a pretty closed off loner kind of a guy and the only people i talk to during the week are guys from my small group. it's not like they are my only friends, but they are probably the closest.
I guess you could call our church a "mega church" probably about 2.5 - 3k people on a Sunday (pretty small town of about 60k people.)
We push small groups heavily. While we all see each other on Sundays and encourage people to be there, Small home groups are the main push of the church. The leadership doesn't really care how much we have on a Sunday morning, but how our small groups are growing is how we measure the growth of our church, because that means people are growing in friendships, not just warm seats on a sunday morning.
I'm a pretty closed off loner kind of a guy and the only people i talk to during the week are guys from my small group. it's not like they are my only friends, but they are probably the closest.
This post was edited on 2/3/14 at 9:19 am
Posted on 2/3/14 at 9:18 am to The First Cut
quote:
You'll never have the quality of personal relationships in a 'church' like you do in a small group.
quote:
This can be sometimes true, but not always.
Generally speaking, this is true. The very nature of 'churches' is to...show up, sit on a pew, listen to songs, listen to a sermon, go home...isn't beneficial to personal relationships. You may see the same folks over and over, shake their hands, make shallow conversation, but there aren't real personal relationships like you develop in a small group setting.
quote:
The early church consisted of small groups, not buildings that the religious professionals called 'churches'.
quote:
That's because the Romans would kill them if they practiced their faith.
No it's not. It's because Jesus, nor His disciples, taught a 'church' system like we see today.
quote:
Modern day 'churches' are no more than businesses attempting to grow their particular denomination (insert money joke here).
quote:
This is true only of small portion of churches.
This is true of the vast majority of building based, professional clergy religious systems.
quote:
Most churches obviously want to grow their congregations, that is their mission; however, it is not money that drives this. The more money they take in, the more they minister to. There is no "money" in churches. What comes in goes out in ministry.
'Churches' are a multi-billion dollar business system. The 'ministering' is first to the professional clergy and to the building with the leftovers going to real ministry.
Posted on 2/3/14 at 9:27 am to beejon
I sit in church, sing, and listen to sermons. I agree that this is not all there is to a relationship with God; and therefore do much more than these few things. Church is part of the equation though, and that was one of Jesus' messages.
Jesus also instructed Peter to form his church. There was an established (Jewish) church at the time and Jesus condemned many of their actions; but he did not condemn church itself.
I have first hand knowledge of church finances from sitting on church councils. I can tell you unequivocally that they are not multi-billion dollar industries. We struggle to make ends meet and when the times are good we increase our spending on ministry.
Jesus also instructed Peter to form his church. There was an established (Jewish) church at the time and Jesus condemned many of their actions; but he did not condemn church itself.
I have first hand knowledge of church finances from sitting on church councils. I can tell you unequivocally that they are not multi-billion dollar industries. We struggle to make ends meet and when the times are good we increase our spending on ministry.
Posted on 2/3/14 at 9:30 am to finchmeister08
Christianity is a religion of community. God is three in one. You will never really understand God or Christianity unless you get in some type of close knit and honest community where you can connect with others on a deeper level. Being designed in the image of a triune God, it is what we were created for.
Posted on 2/3/14 at 9:39 am to The First Cut
quote:
I sit in church, sing, and listen to sermons. I agree that this is not all there is to a relationship with God; and therefore do much more than these few things. Church is part of the equation though, and that was one of Jesus' messages.
I was speaking more about relationships with people being closer in a small group instead of a building based, professional clergy, show up and sit on a pew religious system.
quote:
Jesus also instructed Peter to form his church.
I suggest you research what 'church' means. It doesn't mean a building based, professional clergy religious system.
quote:
There was an established (Jewish) church at the time and Jesus condemned many of their actions; but he did not condemn church itself.
That system was ended and destroyed by 70ad. Jesus never taught, nor did His disciples, a building based, professional clergy religious system.
quote:
I have first hand knowledge of church finances from sitting on church councils. I can tell you unequivocally that they are not multi-billion dollar industries. We struggle to make ends meet and when the times are good we increase our spending on ministry.
Of course the religious systems are multi-billion dollar businesses. For example, the Mormon Church has estimated annual revenues of 7 billion, the Roman Catholic Church, 170 billion (USA alone). I wouldn't doubt the real revenue stream isn't approaching a trillion dollars for the various religious systems.
Posted on 2/3/14 at 9:39 am to MiloDanglers
quote:
God is three in one.
Three what?
Posted on 2/3/14 at 9:44 am to beejon
quote:
Jesus never taught, nor did His disciples, a building based, professional clergy religious system.
agreed. but clearly as more came in to the fold it was necessary for some structure to be in place to train teachers and leaders to make sure the flock were adequately cared for...
Posted on 2/3/14 at 9:44 am to beejon
quote:
Of course the religious systems are multi-billion dollar businesses. For example, the Mormon Church has estimated annual revenues of 7 billion, the Roman Catholic Church, 170 billion (USA alone). I wouldn't doubt the real revenue stream isn't approaching a trillion dollars for the various religious systems.
Revenue is gross income, not profit. I am neither Mormon or Catholic so I cannot attest to their systems, but I can attest to my church's. You cannot make the blanket statements that you make without fully understanding what you're talking about. I can tell you that your statements are not universally accurate.
I differ with your statements about buildings and organized churches as well and see scripture on my side there.
In the end, we're not going to agree so let's focus on what we have in common. We're both brothers in Christ and that is what matters.
Posted on 2/3/14 at 9:47 am to finchmeister08
My mom and her widows group at church PARTY!
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