The Importance of Preparation

Study guides are standard, books are great, and DVDs are a fresh way for groups to interact with Bible-based materials. Yet, whatever the type or quality of the resource, the biggest difference between a spiritually enriching study time and a painfully boring study time just might be you—the small group leader.

This weekend, we hosted our quarterly small group leadership training event called our Small Group Leader Symposium. We introduced our church’s recommended curriculum for the new ministry year. Lots of good stuff! Recommendations include some classics, some tried-and-true materials, and some brand new DVD resources.

We watched some of the new DVD-based studies together, and we talked about specific resources that have ministered to us personally. And then at the end of our time together, I challenged our leaders with the significance of their role in nurturing a rich study time. I emphasized four key ingredients for success—all focused on the importance of preparation.

1. Read and Re-Read
Unfortunately, most of us have participated in small groups where the leader had clearly not read the chapter or worked through the study guide. They didn’t really know what the chapter was about—much less the key points of the study. What was that experience like? My guess is it subtly communicated; “This wasn’t really worth the time”

As the leader, you’re not required to know every line in the chapter, but you ought to be the most well-read person in the room on the chapter or study. You need to know your way around the chapter, so when someone in your group raises a point of interest you can guide others there and speak to the topic clearly. This communicates value and importance of the material you’re studying.

2. Research
Assuming you’ve read and re-read the materials, consider other ways to add depth to your study time. Is there a video clip that supports the study material? Is there an object to use as a prop that could visually enhance the teaching? Is there a quote or another writing that could be brought in to help others gain a more full understanding? Do some research outside of the study guide and consider ways to further your groups’ growth.

3. Pick the Best Questions
Not all study questions are created equal! Most study guides have far more questions than any group can possibly work through in a one discussion time. As the leader, you know the issues your group is dealing with in life. Spend some preparation time selecting which questions work best for the individuals in your group. Pick the questions that seek to connect with people’s heart—not just their head.

The goal of study questions is not to get through them all—but instead to nurture rich and spiritually-enriching conversation. (Nobody is going to test you on the material.)

4. Take Notes As You Go
As a leader, take notes on how people are processing the study material. Is someone wrestling with a Biblical truth? Was someone challenged by a thought or idea presented in the material? Take note of this—literally. This gives you insight into the hearts of those with whom you’re doing life. This also gives you connection points for ministry opportunities between studies.

Leader preparation communicates value—both of the study materials and of the individual members of your group. Take time to prepare, a rich study time depends on it!

Grief & The Christian Community

I haven’t written a blog entry in awhile. A few weeks to be exact. I couldn’t. I’ve been grieving. Two weeks ago, my dad passed away. He was not in good health, but his death came as a shock.

I’ve been busy phoning family and friends, crying, working with the funeral director, helping my mom, making the necessary travel arrangements, coordinating the memorial service, praying, and missing my Dad. He was not only my father, he was my friend.

In the midst of the painful chaos, my Christian community showed up. They showed up in a big way! Phone calls, meals, prayers, texts, hugs, emails, monetary gifts, cards—just about every possible way that a person can receive support—my wife and I received it. In the midst of the pain of losing my Dad, my family felt a deep sense of peace and comfort and love. Not because of something that we had done, but because of the love of Jesus that others exhibited to us.

My father’s death is the second parental death that our small group has experienced in the past six months. We’re all in our late 30s and early 40s, so I suppose it’s time that we’re starting to run headlong into the mortality of those we love. Yet these things are never expected. Even though we must all die, there remains an unexpected sting of finality that you just can’t prepare for. It hits hard and it hurts.

In times of deep loss, pain, and sadness, Jesus is our source of comfort and strength. In Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 11, Jesus gives us an amazing invitation. He says, “Come to me, all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”(NLT)

Jesus invites us to come when we’re burdened, when we’re troubled, and when we’re deeply grieved. He invites us to come to Him. But he doesn’t just invite us. He follows up the invitation with a promise. He says, “I will give you rest.”

It is in that rest, the peace that comes from Jesus, where we can truly receive and be ministered to through the service of others. This is the place where the support of the family of faith—the small group—is so critical!

In Group’s Emergency Response Handbook for Small Group Leaders, they give a few key tips to minister to someone who who’s just suffered significant loss like I did. My family has been the recipients of three things the book suggests.

1. Support Your Friend – It’s important the small group keeps in touch during this time.
2. Meet Specific Immediate Needs – Pool the expertise in your small group to help with immediate needs.
3. Remember Long Term Needs – There are many things your small group can continue to do as your friend works through the grieving process.

As I’ve attempted to sort through my grief these past couple of weeks, I’ve seen the love of Christ exhibited in many unique ways through many different people. It has helped to grow my faith and strengthen my appreciation for my faith community.

Leading Tired

You ever get tired? I mean really, really worn out? The kind of tired that makes you want to run the other direction from any sort of decision making? Have you been there? Are you there right now?

I confess; it’s been a very busy summer. At times the summer has felt too busy. Plenty of family stuff, on top of loads of ministry stuff, covered with extra-curricular projects, spiced with social activities. Good stuff. But the sort of stuff that makes a guy tired.

As I mentioned in my last post, our church was a host site for the annual Willow Creek Leadership Summit. I’ve now had a weekend to process much of what the faculty taught. Many things challenged me. A few things inspired me. Yet there was one theme that seemed to undergird everything—overcoming struggles.

Willow Creek senior pastor Bill Hybels set the course of the conference by talking about moving people from one place to another, from here to there. He spent a great deal of time on the large middle segment of time between where you were to where you’re going—from here to there. That’s where people lose sight of the goal, they get restless, and leaders get tired.

Later in the conference, Pastor Jeff Manion of Ada Bible Church in Michigan taught on living in The Land Between. His message was honest, real, and an inspiring exhortation for all of us to let God work in us amidst difficult times of transitions in our lives.

Manion taught from Numbers 11:10-23, which details the difficult time God’s chosen people had living in the midst of The Land Between. They had been taken out of Egypt en route to the Promised Land—but were delayed! They were hungry, frustrated, and tired. They complained. They wailed. They whined.

In the middle of His people’s grumbling, Manion reminded us that God is shouting, “I need you to trust me. I need you to trust me. I need you to trust me!”

Are you facing a tough time of transition? Are those you’re leading getting restless? Are you getting weary of the battle? Are you tired?

Let me give you three tips that I am currently working on/wrestling with in my own life and in my position of leadership.

1. Crush the Complaints
Navigating difficult transitions and living in the unknown are fertile areas for complaints. Keep them in check in your own heart. Crush them in your community. They’re a cancer—they don’t help!

Read Numbers 11:20-23 and see how God deals with complaining. He brings discipline! Most of us would rather avoid this. So instead of allowing complaints to grow, help each other be disciplined to avoid complaining.

2. Cry out to God in Prayer
God loves to answer the prayers of those who are dependant upon Him. Tell God you need Him. Ask for Him to lead you, as you lead others. God loves the humble requests of His people.

3. Trust God’s Sovereignty
Rest in the fact that God is sovereign over what you and/or your group are dealing with. This is not fatalism, rather trusting God to be who He says He is in His word. God knows. God cares. It’s our call as leaders to trust Him—and to help others do the same.

How’s Your Leadership?

Leadership has many shapes, many sizes. Some lead with a loud voice and a louder opinion. Others lead with a rah-rah sort of coach-like inspiration. Still others lead with quiet strength. Fact is; there’s no cookie-cutter approach to leadership.

I’m thinking about the topic of leadership because our church is hosting the annual Willow Creek Leadership Summit. The faculty of the Summit is a roster of prominent pastors, consultants, and international business leaders. Impressive folks who’ve been used by God to do impressive things—all of them!

As I sat through Day 1 of the Summit, I couldn’t help but ask the question; what are the similarities of leading an international ministry, a mega-church, or a successful business compared to leading a small group? All require someone to lead. All have huge God-given responsibilities. All have people who are looking to them for guidance.

Do you think it’s silly for me to even consider the comparison? I mean really, a church of 13,000 people is a whole lot different than a group of 13 adults. Why would I even go there? Why would I even attempt to think of similarities? Because I believe God requires the same thing of all leaders—service. It’s the one quality needed to lead a mega-church or a small group.

In the Gospel of Mark (10:42-46), Jesus speaks clearly of the requirements of a leader.

“You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

How’s your leadership? The more accurate question is; how well are you serving?

How Do You Say Goodbye?

How do you say goodbye to a person who means so much to your small group? Do you maintain a stiff upper lip, smack your friend on the back, and wish him the best? Do you go sappy and recite the words of your favorite Hallmark card? Or is there another way?

One of my small groups had to say our goodbyes to a friend and integral member yesterday. He’s a gracious, kind, intelligent, wise, and faithful friend to all of us. He’s deeply committed to following Jesus—that’s why he’s leaving our small group. God is calling him to a different ministry opportunity in a different location. So we were forced to say our goodbyes over a lunch meeting.

Was it hard? Absolutely! But we didn’t tighten our upper lips. We didn’t smack him on the back. We also didn’t get sappy. Instead, what we did was pray. We prayed for his transition. We prayed for his family. We prayed for his ministry. We prayed for God to provide a new community for him to be a part of in his new city.

I didn’t think about it at the time, but we were actually putting into practice something that Jesus advises his followers to do—pray.

In his book, Make Your Group Grow, Josh Hunt unpacks the wisdom of Jesus in Chapter 10 of Luke’s gospel.

“Jesus didn’t leave us in the dark as to how to do this,” Hunt writes. “The second half of Luke 10:2 tells us, ‘So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields’…
In the next verse, Jesus said an interesting thing. ‘Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.’ Jesus told his disciples to pray, and then he told them to go. We should pray and go.”

Our friend is going. So we prayed.

How do you say goodbye?

Got the Summertime Small Group Blues?

How’s your group handling the summer? Getting together regularly? I didn’t think so. How about every other week? Or maybe monthly?

Typically, summer is prime time for T-Ball, camping trips, and big travel plans. These things are great and necessary, but they can wreck havoc on a small group.

For many groups, consistent participation in your small group during the summer months goes the way of your favorite TV shows—on hiatus until the fall. How you handle this time apart can make or break your small group moving forward. I’m serious!

As with any relationship—marital, dating, or small group community—time apart can be approached in two very different ways: with intentionality or with apathy.

Intentionality – Effort to maintain and strengthen a relationship when there isn’t consistent face-to-face contact.
Apathy – Lack of effort or interest to connect with any form of consistency across the obstacles of summer.

If your group members are intentional about staying in touch, encouraging one another, and praying for each other—the time will go quickly. You’ll truly be excited to re-connect once the T-Ball gear has been packed away!

If your group members went apathetic with each other over the summer months, and didn’t bother to pursue one another, the tone of your meeting in the fall will likely be similar to what you practiced all summer—more apathy.

Here are five tips on how you can be intentional with your group members in spite of everyone’s crazy summer schedule.

1. Call – I know it’s old school, but it’s quick. It’s easy. It’s highly personal. And it shows that you value interaction and true communication about what’s taking place in their life—and in sharing a bit about your own.
2. Text – It’s the ultra quick way to say you’re thinking about someone and being intentional about staying connected.
3. Facebook – Most of us are on Facebook at least a couple of times during the week anyway, so why not take a few moments and post something on the wall of your small group members?
4. Email – Send your group an update on your life this summer, share a prayer request, etc.
5. BBQ – Schedule something fun! It doesn’t have to be structured, just something outdoors that will bring everyone together at least once during the summer.

Don’t let the summertime small group blues get to you. Use this time to be intentional in developing your relationships and staying connected. You’ll see your group grow even closer when the fall TV season rolls around!

Fundamental Questions

I received a lot of small group questions at church this weekend. It’s a good thing when people ask me why we do things the way we do at Woodmen Valley Chapel. It gives me an opportunity to explain the subtle nuances of our structure and style of small groups.

Our groups are not something out of a futuristic sci-fi film. Instead, they’re based on the elements practiced by the early church. In Acts 2:42, first century Christ-followers were intentional about studying, experiencing fellowship with one another, breaking bread together, and praying. That’s the foundation of small group life.

Yet how we form and set these groups in motion varies from church to church. Some like a geographic model. Others prefer an interest-based approach. And we form our groups in yet another way—by life stage.

So, if you’re a young married couple, you’ll be in community with other young married couples. If you’re an empty nester, you’ll meet weekly with other empty nesters. For those of us somewhere in the middle, we’ll also be connecting with people in a similar life stage.

Is our life-stage structure perfect? Of course not! A life-stage group cannot meet the expectations of everyone. It won’t provide built-in babysitters. Everyone won’t have a personal mentor. You won’t all live in the same sub-division. And everyone is not going to fire up the Harley for a weekend riding excursion.

Yet this small group structure works for our church because we place a high-value on authenticity and truly doing life together. We believe this happens naturally—and most effectively—with those who are working through the same stuff of life.

I received many questions about our structure. Yet for every why and how inquiry, I was drawn back to the fundamentals of small group life—study, fellowship, food, and prayer.

Again, questions are good. They are welcome. The intriguing thing is this; many times my answer is the same. And it’s almost always rooted in the fundamentals. Why? They are the ingredients of Biblical community that have stood the test of roughly 2,000 years!

A Good Problem

I met with a small group leader yesterday. We talked about his job, his family, and our church. Then we got serious about his small group. Boy do they have issues! Are you ready for this? Food issues.

That’s it. Nobody’s leaving the group. There isn’t a relational schism between two couples. Nobody is struggling with a crisis of faith. The groups’ lone issue—too much food!

Will larger problems come? Certainly. But right now, the only thing the members of this community are dealing with is the potential expense of a larger belt and a pair of pants with an adjustable waist for each man. That’s it. What a great season of small group life to be in!

This group meets on Sunday nights and began with the idea of sharing a desert each meeting. Then the women of this group of young empty nesters found that they couldn’t help themselves. Their mothering (parenting) instincts kicked in. The deserts got bigger and more expansive each week. Now, they enjoy (Or, perhaps, struggle through) a full spread of food each week—that includes a desert.

Is your group in a similar good season of life? Praise God for it!

So many times our prayer times as a community are centered on the tough stuff. Yet God loves it when we come to him with hearts of gratitude. Take a few moments together this week and thank God for His favor on your small group.

What About Music?

This weekend, I taught a class on finding God in pop music. That got me thinking; what can a small group do with music?

Plenty!

Whether we’re talking about pop, contemporary Christian, or classical—the reality is music connects with us on a deep level. It causes us to think. It stirs emotion. It can even bring back memories. So why wouldn’t we use music in our small group time?

I recently shared a key piece of my faith journey with other members of the staff at my church. I told the bulk of my story verbally and then played a song that had ministered deeply to me during a significant season of my life. The song, I Am by Ginny Owens, communicated my thoughts and emotions more effectively than another word or two of mine could. The song did more than tell my story, it connected deeply with my friends! They identified with the words of the song. The lyrics linked with a few of their own stories. Through music, we connected more deeply than we would have without it.

In Group Publishing’s helpful booklet, R.E.A.L: Surprisingly Simple Ways To Engage Adults, author Carl Simmons says, “Because music can evoke deep emotion, it can be a catalyst to a great discussion.”

We often see popular movies used as illustrations in sermons, yet we often overlook the art form that provides the soundtrack to our lives—music.

Here are three suggestions for using music effectively in your small group:

1. Your Story
Use a piece of music that has ministered to you during an important (or difficult) time in your life. This will take some vulnerability on your part, but it can help your group members see a different part of your life.

2. Supplemental Illustration
Music tells a message. The question is; what message is it communicating? As you prepare to lead your group through a Bible study or a book study, seek to find music that can support the message of the text. If your study is focusing on the sovereignty of God, find some music that communicates God’s power and might. Then listen to it together and discuss.

3. Finding God in our culture
Biblical themes like redemption, forgiveness, love, mercy, and hope are present in many different styles of music. Encourage your group members to listen for these biblical themes presented through the music they listen to during the week. Then discuss them at your next group meeting.

Music can be a powerful tool. Let’s use it for God’s glory!

Got Structure?

My son, Reid, closed out his first season of T-ball last night. Fun stuff! We’ve enjoyed a great time together as a family this summer. Although, as a dad and baseball fan, the way they structure T-ball here in Colorado Springs is a bit…shall I say, loose.

Outs are optional. (The defensive team can get a hitter out at first, but the young Albert Pujols gets to stay on the base anyway.) There are no umpires. Every child in uniform takes a defensive position—even if that means you have three shortstops. And nobody keeps score.

This lack of structure created chaos for the kids—and, frankly, for us parents as well. I confess, I’m skeptical of the value of being so loose. Did the kids truly learn about the game of baseball? Did they learn the defensive positions? Did they learn anything about winning and losing? Likely not.

Structure is needed in all aspects of our lives—especially when it comes to small groups. Structure is critical when it comes to both logistical issues (When will your group meet? How often? How long?), and value issues (What does accountability look like for our group? How can we best pray for each other? How will we speak truth to each other?).

For groups at our church, developing your structure through a small group covenant, is something we strongly encourage at the formation of a group.

In her book, Community that is Christian, Julie Gorman writes, “Spelling it (group objectives) out at the beginning is imperative for the survival and progress of a group.”

Has your group spelled it out? Have you talked openly and honestly about the logistical stuff? Do your group members have the same thoughts on accountability? Is everyone moving in the same direction?

These are not things to assume when it comes to small group life. A covenant can, and will, help establish some helpful ground rules to work within.

Got structure?

We Prayed

My small group had a meeting this weekend. It’s something we’re scheduled to do every weekend—though summer has a way of making the “weekly” gathering more like “every-other-week”. But this weekend was different.

We prayed.

Now don’t run off thinking that we’re some weird anti-prayer group that would prefer to roast smores together rather than talk with God. Prayer is a regular part of our small group’s time together. (In fact, we believe prayer is a critical piece of authentic biblical community. Think early church. Think Acts 2:42.) But this was different.

We prayed for each other’s struggles. We prayed for the busyness of life. We prayed for the challenges of parenting young children. We prayed about the stress that is pressing in on all of us.

We prayed—and it was really good!

Nothing in our immediate circumstances changed. But we did experience a peace that only comes from bringing things to our Heavenly Father in prayer. We enjoyed the closeness of knowing someone else cares about our “stuff”. We enjoyed the bond of community that grows when you pray with other believers.

We prayed.

LeBron & Loyalty

LeBron James is on his way to Miami. The basketball superstar who’s had teams recruiting him for the past two weeks has decided to leave his Ohio roots and head for South Beach.

Disappointing!

King James, as he’s called, is arguably the best basketball player in the NBA. After spending his first seven seasons in his home state of Ohio, playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, he became a free agent this offseason. He could now chose the team he wanted to play for and the city where he desired to live. Many NBA suitors lined up to offer King James their $100+ million dollar deal. Teams from New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami all made their pitch. As did the incumbent, the hometown Cavaliers.

And when the over-hyped decision came, LeBron turned his back on the team, the city, and the state that loved him, supported him, and dedicated so much to keeping their homegrown superstar in the Midwest.

The best player in the NBA put the Cavs on his back and carried them to the NBA Finals in 2007, but his team was overmatched and lost to the San Antonio Spurs. The game’s best player has not yet led a team to an NBA championship—that’s the reason he chose Miami. He believes that by signing with two other superstars, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, his path to an NBA title just got much easier.

That’s why his decision is disappointing.

James is probably right. He’ll likely win at least one title in South Florida. But the easiest way? Really? Is that what sports, or life, is about? Taking the easiest path?

What about loyalty? What about working and investing and pouring your life into something to reach your ultimate goal? Doesn’t that type of soul-level investment bring greater fulfillment in the end?

As I learned of James decision, I couldn’t help but think of life in Christian community. When times aren’t perfect, it’s easy to think of running. When things get tough with the people you do life with, it’s tempting to want to find another group. When your small group faces challenges, it’s hard not to think of looking for a group that’s not quite so messy.

The problem is we’re all a mess! We all have issues. Doing life with other fallen human beings isn’t always easy. We shouldn’t expect it to be.

Instead, what we should expect from each other is loyalty. We should strive for commitment. We should make every effort to work through the challenges and issues and messy stuff of life in Christian community. Then, when spiritual victory comes for the people in your community, the reward is that much more meaningful!

Living out your Christian faith in a community that God has sovereignly placed you in is not about “easy”. Instead, it’s about loyalty and learning what God can, and will, do in your eclectic group of messy people.

How Does Your Small Group Celebrate?

The Fourth of July holiday weekend came and went. What did your small group do to celebrate together? Did you fire up the Weber and sizzle-up all varieties of meats? Did your group show support for the local baseball team? Did you pack up the kids and go on a camping trip? What did you do together?

I ask these somewhat rhetorical questions for a very succinct purpose. To communicate an expectation; that social events are a regular part of your small group calendar.

The Gospel impacts all of life not just “religious” activities—like praying, and reading the Bible. That’s why I believe so strongly in the importance of believers “doing life together”. It’s a phrase I often toss around regarding small group life at the church I serve. “Together” includes the good, the bad, and everything in between—all the stuff of life on which the Gospel comes to bare.

Unfortunately, Christians in general and small groups in particular don’t take (or make) enough time to celebrate the good things that God is doing in us and through us. We share prayer requests, but rarely praises. We tell of the struggles we’re dealing with, but seldom discuss the victories we’ve enjoyed.

Because the Gospel impacts all of life, our small groups should remember that when “doing life together” we need to get out celebrate once and awhile!

Small Group Resources - Do You Really Want Honest Feedback?

Do you want to hear feedback? Do you want to hear honest feedback about your recommended small group resources? Or do you prefer the typically-vanilla, “That was good.” from your small groups?

I prefer feedback.

We (Woodmen Valley Chapel) have a recommended curriculum list for small groups that includes Bible study guides, Christ-centered books on marriage, parenting, stewardship, worldview, missions, evangelism, etc. We also use DVD study resources. Our groups like diversity in their resource choices. Yet one fact remains; not all small group resources are created equal.

You’ve lived the story: You love the author’s work. The topic/issue is relevant. The publisher is a trusted source. The packaging is intriguing. It’s even got online support tools! Yet when it comes to stirring healthy, Christ-centered small group discussion, the book is the equivalent of a dribbler back to the pitcher’s mound—it doesn’t travel very far. It doesn’t take you places. It doesn’t do what you need it to do.

But how do you know?

Encourage your groups to tell you! Give them a voice. Provide them a forum for critique. Ask to hear from them about what worked—and what didn’t.

We use a curriculum critique form that gives them an opportunity to praise (or rant) on their recently completed curriculum. This, in turn, impacts what stays on (or gets removed) from our recommended list from year-to-year.

Our leaders then have an opportunity to look over these critiques. They can see for themselves what other leaders have said about the curriculum—good or not-so-good.

Honest feedback isn’t always what we want to hear about the study guides, books, and resources that we as small group pastors/directors/leaders believe are life-changing. Yet it is what we need to hear.

Small Group Resources

I’m perpetually on a hunt for quality small group resources. I search. I peruse. And then I hunt some more. The hunt itself is not a hard one—there are more than enough small group resources available today. Yet it’s also not as easy as it might seem. The key word in the hunt is “quality”. All books, small group resources, and study guides are not created equal!

The church I serve, Woodmen Valley Chapel, has a growing small group ministry with about 1,500 people involved in small group life. As you can imagine, the community is diverse. So the resource needs are significant.

The hunt goes on…

When hunting, I search for two primary things: strong tools for the small group leader’s toolbox, and content-rich material for the small group participants themselves. Frankly, the hunt can be daunting. I’ve found two things that have served me well on my hunt for quality small group resources.

1. Find a Publisher You Trust
Look at their catalog. Do your research. Read. Are they publishing books that Biblically and Theologically sound? (Don’t assume this to be true!) Do their resources align with your church’s vision and mission? Are their books dealing with issues people are facing today? Are the resources engaging, or are they simply fill-in-the-blank without even the slightest challenge to your mind or heart?

2. Build an Advisory Team
When looking for resources don’t do it alone. Talk with other pastors. Interact with other small group leaders. Take time to read the resources you’ve researched. Build a team of advisors who know the Scriptures, know your church, and know the direction you’re striving to lead your groups. Trust the wisdom of the team you’ve built.

Enjoy the hunt!

Created for Community?

The name of this blog, Created for Community, is based on the core of our being. It’s an essential part of who we are. We all desire to know others and be known by others.

As Christians, we worship a Trinitarian God. Because our Trinitarian God exists in the perfect community of oneness, we yearn for oneness. As men and women created in God’s image, this yearning is in our DNA!

That’s why so many of us are on Facebook. We want to build our community of friends, catch up with what’s going on in their lives, and share our life with our friends. We want to know others and be known by others.

That’s why so many of us watched Cheers back in the 1980s. There’s something within each of us that truly desires a place “where everybody knows your name. And they’re always glad you came.” Sure, the show was funny. Sure, it had interesting characters. But the deeper reason we watched was that each of us wanted something that Norm, Cliff, and Frazier had—a place of community.

In his classic book, Community 101, Gilbert Bilezikian wrote, “Community is deeply grounded in the nature of God. It flows from who God is. Because he is community, he creates community.”

Community exists at the core of the Trinity. And we crave unity, oneness, and spiritual intimacy as we have been made in the image of this Triune God (Gen. 1:26).

Think about it for a moment: Who doesn’t want to be accepted? Who doesn’t like a place of comfort and safety? Who doesn’t desire meaningful friendships that go beyond the surface of life?

Everyone of us, regardless of our personality or our likes and dislikes, wants to be a part of something—a group, a club, a team, an organization, or a family. We long to belong. Because we’re made in God’s image, we crave the kind of unity that was shared among each member of the Trinity.

We all long to belong because we’ve been created for community on life’s journey.

The Family of God

This weekend my wife and I did some traveling. We loaded the kids and a few too many non-essentials into the family mobile and headed to Estes Park (CO) for a couple days away. Clear flowing water, stunning mountain views--a truly beautiful area! In the midst of all that beauty, one thing stuck out about our time away, and it wasn't the stunning aesthetic beauty of the Rockies. Instead, I was reminded of the bond that followers of Jesus Christ experience with each other. We spent time with family (believers) who we had not seen in more than a year--we had an instant connection and enjoyed great conversation. We met an engaging young lady (who we soon found out was a believer) in a store in Estes Park and bonded with her after just a couple moments of friendly conversation.

These experiences reminded me of the truth of Hebrews 2:11 "Both the one who makes men holy (Jesus) and those who are made holy are of the same family." (NIV) The familial connection that followers of Christ experience--being connected to Jesus and subsequently to each other--is evident and can be enjoyed across time, miles, past experience, etc.

Just another privilege of journeying with Jesus!

Greetings!

Well, I've taken the blogging dive. And I must admit, the water's warm.

This blog exists because I hope to share my life with you. Not because my views or life experiences are any more interesting or insightful than anyone else's. Rather I join the blogging fray because I desire to know and be known. I enjoy dialogue. I long for engagement and interaction. I believe the Almighty created men and women for community. So I invite you to stop by often. Let's journey together!