The Five Purposes "Fellowship"

In this week’s blog I want to address the issue of “Healthy Fellowship” and what that looks like in group life at CPH. I want you as a group leader to be confident as you lead that your group is experiencing true and healthy fellowship as God intended. So, let’s talk……….

UNDERSTANDING HEALTHY FELLOWSHIP

As a group leader when you think of fellowship what pops into your head? Is it a large crowd gathering and hanging out somewhere, is it a party atmosphere with disco ball included, is it a small intimate gathering of close friends, or is it something else?

“Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:10 NIV)

We are encouraged by the Apostle Paul to be in fellowship with all people by taking advantage of every opportunity to do good starting with the people we go to church with. However, there are some who feel as though if they get together at someone’s home, have a devotion, eat some snacks or a meal then they have experienced fellowship and maybe so but can I say that fellowship is designed to be more than a meeting! It’s the chance to engage people and live life together 24/7.

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matt 9:36 NIV)

Jesus desire was that people engage him in a relationship and have fellowship with him. I believe people desire to have true and healthy fellowship with Christ and others but they have a lot of questions that need to be answered. Questions like…..

· Do I fit in with this group? (A question of acceptance)
· Do they want to know who I am? (A question of friendship)
· Am I needed in this group? (A question of value)
· What do they want from me? (A question of expectation)
· What’s in it for me? (A question of benefit)

As group leaders we should be intentional about preparing an answer for these questions through group life. Have you considered whether or not you have a connection strategy or a campaign strategy for your group? Having a strategy is important for engaging people and answering the questions that they have. A connection or campaign strategy helps you identify how to get people who are not currently engaged in a group to get connected with yours! After people are connected in to the group you can focus on healthy fellowship by following through with….

THE BASICS OF HEALTHY FELLOWSHIP IN GROUP LIFE

1. Building authentic connections with people.
“The most difficult risk of all is to be honest with ourselves and others about our personal lives.”
2. Experience life together.
“Most people have no one in their lives who love them enough to tell them the truth about themselves.”
3. Listen to one another.
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
4. Ownership of the group.
“The group must move from being your group to being our group”
5. Nurture love in your group.
“Perfect love cast out fear” 1st John 4:18 (NIV) & “Love never fails” 1st Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)
6. Grow through group tension.
“Unresolved conflict results in baggage that weighs heavy on group life and destroys any chance for growth”

(The above information comes from Steve Gladden small group pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest California)

(More will be taught at our upcoming leaders training Saturday May 9th 8:00 – 10:30 a.m. at the Church at Pinnacle Hills so mark the date on your calendar today!)

How well are you balancing healthy fellowship in your group? Come to our leaders training at the date and time above to discover the benefit behind true and healthy fellowship and so much more about the five purposes behind group life in the Connections Ministry at CPH!

Doing Life Together!
Eric