2. Personal Ministries BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH SMALL GROUPS WORLD YOUTH CONGRESS PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA

3. Personal Ministries WHY IS SMALL GROUP IMPORTANT?

4. Personal Ministries “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. Personal Ministries The Universal Human Need “ 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

6. Personal Ministries Moses followed the counsel of his father-in-law, Jethro, in having small groups of tens. -Exodus 18 -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

7. Personal Ministries Moses God The Multitude

8. Personal Ministries The Jethro Principle... Moses GOD Leaders of 1000 Leaders of 100 Leaders of 50 Leaders of 10 The Multitude

9. Personal Ministries “ 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 p. 143

10. Personal Ministries 12 group members “Inner” group of Peter, James, and John

11. Personal Ministries “ 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, p. 193 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, p. 193

12. Personal Ministries The New Testament Church: a House-Based Church “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.

13. Personal Ministries Explosive Growth in the New Testament Church 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

14. Personal Ministries Foster Biblical Love John 13:35 1 Corinthians13:13 Galatians 5:13 Ephians 5:2 1 John 4:7, 11, 21

15. Personal Ministries Acts 4:32 Romans 12:5 1 Corinthians 12:12, 25 Ephesians 4:3, 5, 13 1 John 3, 6-7

16. Personal Ministries Romans 14:19; Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:11-16; Colossians 1:10-12, 28; 2:6-7 Working Miracles Faith Wisdom

17. Personal Ministries Romans 14:19; Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:11-16; Colossians 1:10-12, 28; 2:6-7 Working Miracles Faith Wisdom

18. Personal Ministries Acts 42-47

19. Personal Ministries “Small group evangelism and dynamic church growth are two sides of the same coin. They are one.” - Joel Comiskey

20. Personal Ministries

21. “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 p.115

22. Personal Ministries “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…”

23. Personal Ministries “According to the judgement 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.”

24. Personal Ministries 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.”

25. Personal Ministries 1.Iglesia ni Cristo, Philippnes 2. Yoido Full Gospel Church

26. Personal Ministries

32. 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.

33. Personal Ministries

40. “Your success will not depend “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 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 Heart to Heart

41. Personal Ministries Small Group Meeting Small Group Life

42. Personal Ministries How to Begin  Receive God’s vision on small group ministries-for mission.  Decide that small group ministries is God’s plan for the church.  Discuss and obtain permission of the church board.

43. Personal Ministries Train pioneers in the implementation of small group ministries Let the pilot group multiply Choose pioneers for a pilot group – who are mission driven

44. Personal Ministries

45. Witness Word Worship Welcome

46. Personal Ministries Small Group Meeting Agenda WELCOMEWELCOME WORSHIPWORSHIP WORDWORD WITNESSWITNESS EntranceintoFellowshipEntranceintoFellowship Exaltation in His PresenceExaltation Presence Edification in the WordEdification Word Evangelism Vision & PrayerEvangelism Prayer YoutoMeYoutoMe UstoGodUstoGod GodthroughUsGodthroughUs GodtoUsGodtoUs ORDER ACTIVITYRELATION FOCUS CHRISTCHRIST CHRIST ’ S PRESENCE PRESENCE POWER POWER PURPOSE PURPOSE

47. Personal Ministries Welcome Greeting and welcome Time to “catch up” with each other. The icebreaker.

48. Personal Ministries Fellowship with those who come early b Welcoming words b Introducing guests and getting acquainted activity

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

50. Personal Ministries Worship Acknowledging the presence of Jesus with singing with meditation with instrumental music with testimony, prayer, or scripture

51. Personal Ministries Thanksgiving Prayer Singing Praise Reports Testimonies Expressions of appreciation for each other

52. Personal Ministries An expressed need Several can lead in prayer Intercessory Prayer

53. Personal Ministries The Bible study Word Seek full Participation Seek practical application

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

55. Personal Ministries 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 Relational Bible Study

56. Personal Ministries Witness

57. Personal Ministries Spirit-led prayer Informal, usually seated Conversational prayer Smaller prayer groups Special prayer for individuals

58. Personal Ministries Begin and end the meeting on time Simple refreshments afterwards Informal: some leave, some stay Sometimes the most important time of sharing

59. Personal Ministries Remember the Goal The Goal of Small Group Meetings: The Goal of Small Group Meetings: Life transformation Building community Kingdom growth

60. Personal Ministries Group Life Outside Group Meetings Social events Community service Church involvement Retreats Mentoring Community cannot “happen” in a weekly meeting alone

61. Personal Ministries Adventure Discovery Maturity Development

62. Personal Ministries

63. “Go, then to all people everywhere and make them my disciples… and I will be with you. ” - Matthew 28:19, 20

64. Personal Ministries A Disciple is... An apprentice An apprentice-maker

65. Personal Ministries Edification Evangelism Growing in holinessGrowing in numbers

66. Personal Ministries Edification (Oikodomeo) = building up/ strengthening “The church is the body of Christ.” Ephesians 1:23 “Let all things be done for building up the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:27

67. Personal Ministries “He gave gifts … to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ ay be built up. - Ephesians 4:8,12

68. Personal Ministries “ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” -1 Thessalonians 5:11

69. Personal Ministries Through ministry of spiritual gifts Through accountable relationships Through personal spiritual disciplines Through mentoring

70. Personal Ministries “I believe that people grow at least eight times faster when they’re in a small group and attending weekly worship celebration on (Sabbath) than if they just attended the service itself.” - Dale Galloway “I believe that people grow at least eight times faster when they’re in a small group and attending weekly worship celebration on (Sabbath) than if they just attended the service itself.” - Dale Galloway

71. Personal Ministries Through All to All Christ ministers to His body through body members. He ministers TO ME through other body members, and He ministers THROUGH ME to other body members.

72. Personal Ministries “God has so ordained things that we grow in the Spirit only through the frail instrumentality of one another.” - Alan Jones

73. Personal Ministries Building friendships that point to God One person coming alongside another person

74. Personal Ministries “Sin always tends to make us blind to our own faults... We need a friend to stop us from deceiving ourselves that what we are doing is not so bad after all. We need a friend to help us overcome our low self-image, inflated self-importance, selfishness, pride, our deceitful nature, our dangerous fantasies, and so much else.” - James Houston

75. Personal Ministries Mature believer meets with new believer for one-way mentoring Two mature believers meet for mutual mentoring

76. Personal Ministries We agree on plan meet regularly reflect on what God is doing in our lives pray for each other

77. Personal Ministries encouragement prayer support challenge all that a real friend can be

78. Personal Ministries Small church of 50 members involved in small groups Groups grow by 20% per year (e.g. group of 10 grows to 12) Total in groups after 4 years = 100 Total in groups after 10 years = 310 Total in groups after 15 years = 770 Total in groups after 20 years = 2,358 Just Suppose...

79. Personal Ministries Reaching the unchurched majority Post-modern thinking Bridging cultural differences The challenge of evangelism in western society

80. Personal Ministries - 8 No awareness of God -7 Awareness of God -6 Some knowledge -5 Understand basics -4 Grasp implications -3 Positive attitude -2 Intention to act -1 Decision to act +1 New Creature

81. Personal Ministries Stage 1: Friendship Stage 2: Christian Friendship Stage 3: Adventist Friendship Combines personal, group and public evangelistic witness

82. Personal Ministries Friends in 1st Year 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9+ Friends in 1st Year 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9+ Active Members 0 0 0 1 2 2 8 13 12 12 Active Members 0 0 0 1 2 2 8 13 12 12 Dropouts 8 13 14 8 4 2 1 0 0 0 Dropouts 8 13 14 8 4 2 1 0 0 0

83. Personal Ministries pray that God will guide you to the other Christians or non-Christians He wants in the group take other group members to Bible study contacts offer something of shared interest, e.g. parenting, stress introduce friends socially to group members, e.g. anniversary, concert, birth-day, barbecue, etc. use a course to introduce Christian beliefs like “Alpha” just invite them to the group

84. Personal Ministries Small Groups: encourage teamwork encourage teamwork offer a bridge for shy people offer a bridge for shy people personal and informal personal and informal maximum participation maximum participation flexible flexible minimum organization minimum organization evangelism evangelism are natural and spontaneous witnes are natural and spontaneous witness

85. Personal Ministries They will help you and your fellow believers grow as disciples of Jesus 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 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 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 They will help more people come to faith in Christ Enhance the discipleship process Enhance the discipleship process

86. Personal Ministries 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

87. Personal Ministries Maintaining the small group network

88. Personal Ministries  The presence of God which makes the group grow  Every members is called to minister to others  Leaders are called to serve  Every group reproduces itself  Groups function as basic church  Evangelism flows out of group life  There will be clear accountability  Pastor meets with group leader once a week  Prayers move the life of the church  Assistants are developed at every level

89. Personal Ministries Preach about the benefits of small groups Preach about the benefits of small groups Revive the church Revive the church Promote small group Promote small group Give seminars on small group Give seminars on small group Get approval from the church board Get approval from the church board Make small group as strategy for church growth Make small group as strategy for church growth Give demonstration how small group work Give demonstration how small group work Begin with a core group Begin with a core group Evaluate and find ways to improve Evaluate and find ways to improve Have celebration program of small groups Have celebration program of small groups

90. Personal Ministries French Polynesia

91. Personal Ministries They should be on fire – how can we keep them burning...? …without burning out?

92. Personal Ministries We can’t! But we mustn’t quench it either! But we mustn’t quench it either! “Quench not the Spirit.” ( KJV) “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” (NIV) -1 Thessalonians 5:19 -1 Thessalonians 5:19

93. Personal Ministries Is Jesus at the center? Is Jesus at the center? Is every member in ministry? Is every member in ministry? Is every member growing? Is every member growing? Is this a genuinely loving community? Is this a genuinely loving community? Do actions support words? Do actions support words? Do we love the lost? Do we love the lost? Do we take accountability seriously?Do we take accountability seriously?

94. Personal Ministries “I give up!”

95. Personal Ministries Watch for Signs of Overload Are relationships at every level in harmony with Ephesians 4:29-32? Are the people who can’t say “no” saying “yes” too often? Are leaders receiving adequate support?

96. Personal Ministries Is family/personal/ social life neglected? Are children and elderly included in the group network?

97. Personal Ministries Alone “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” - Philippians 4:6 Together

98. Personal Ministries “When we have entire, whole-hearted consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognise the fact by an outpouring of His Spirit without measure.” – Evangelism p. 699