6 Weeks of Community
Introduction
What will the church of the 21st century look like? I’m thinking of the people, not buildings. How will they relate to one another? Fortune 500 companies spend large budgets trying to look into the future in order to develop new products and stay ahead of their competition. But, when it comes to God’s church for the 21st century we start by looking back before we make plans to move forward.
What distinguishes the church of the 21st century is the interaction of the believers or the community they enjoyed. Jesus described the community his believers enjoyed by simply saying: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35, NIV). Love for one another is developed in community. James the brother of our Lord, who led the church after his brother’s death wrote:
“You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor” (James 3:18, Message).
The church of the 21st century will seek to live “right with God” and “do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.” When believers live to love God the results will be a growing love for others. How to stay right with God and how to do the hard work of getting along is the stuff that makes up the 6 Weeks of Community.
We urge all the small groups’ facilitators and hosts to invite some new folks to your group. There is no doubt that once you’ve experienced the joy and fellowship of being part of a small group, there is a temptation to stop inviting others to join the group. The reason for this is “comfort.” Some groups grow “comfortable” with those resident members and fear spoiling the atmosphere by inviting newcomers. We must resist this temptation with all of our hearts. Look around, make friends and then invite your friends to your group.
The small group process is divided into five movements as listed below:
a. Welcome: 10 minutes
b. Worship: 5 minutes
c. Prayer: 15 minutes
d. Outreach & Mission: 30 minutes
e. Discussion: 30 minutes
Mitch Williams
September 17, 2007
Downey, California
Outline
The books and folders will be passed out at the facilitators and hosts’ meeting on September 22. Plan to have a presession meeting of your small group the week of September 29—October 5. The purpose of the presession meeting is to get acquainted and familiarize everyone with the materials.
Welcome (10 minutes): Begin your groups on time to honor those who are there and establish the habit of beginning and ending on time. Be certain everyone is introduced each meeting. Use the “Calendar” page to share group responsibilities and allow for group ownership. Confidentiality is absolutely essential to a healthy group. What is shared in the group stays in the group.
Worship (5 minutes): Music and words of worship opens our hearts to God’s love. Use the “I” Worship DVD. Plan ahead and choose one or two selections and have the TV and DVD player ready by the time the group arrives.
Prayer (15 minutes): There are two prayer sheets. Write the names of the new friends your making in the neighborhood, at work or school on the Blessings’ List. Also, list coworkers and neighbors the group is praying for to give their hearts to the Lord. Note: While praying for friends and family who live out of our area is essential, the Blessings’ List is intended for those friends, family and neighbors who live in the local area.
The second prayer sheet is the “Prayer and Praise” list for the group members to share their personal requests and report any answered prayers. Note: While it’s vital to pray for others, the Prayer and Praise list is intended for the group members to share their needs and praises.
Outreach and Mission (30 minutes):
a. Meet some new friends at the worship service and in your neighborhood.
b. Make plans for the Fall Party set for October 27. Your group will plan to bring some snacks and lead out in 3 games.
c. Plan a local mission project. Brainstorm together, research ideas, and then do it. Build into your mission project a gathering of your small group even after the 6 Weeks of Opportunity has ended if necessary to complete your mission’s project.
Discussion (30 minutes):
· Bring your Bible, your lesson folder and the book, The Revolutionized Church of the 21st Century to your small group meetings.
· In your personal study time, underline the correct responses to the questions found in your book, The Revolutionized Church of the 21st Century.
· Take turns reading and answering the questions aloud in your small group.
· Use the bottom of this page to write any thoughts or insights God is giving you on this topic.
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6 Weeks of Community Outreach & Missions
Our Lord has allowed us to be his hands by helping others in need. As we follow our Lord, we discover the ones who receive are the ones who give. Jesus said we should: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38, NIV). You’ll read about one small group whose purpose was to bring God’s blessing to a senior couple but they came away blessed beyond measure.
In the prayer of Francis of Assisi, there is one line that reads: “for it is in giving that we receive.” Whether we’re returning our tithes and offerings on Sabbath or simply helping our neighbor, a heart of giving is always rewarded by God. As a group, read Francis’ prayer together.
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
Below are three ways to give away what God has freely given to us. The group is challenged to Make a New Friend, help Plan a Fall Party and Plan a Mission Project.
Make a New Friend. Pray and plan to meet one new neighbor or coworker and someone new to you at the Sabbath service over the course of the 6 Weeks of Community. Write their names on the Blessings List and pray for them each day.
Plan a Fall Party. Make plans to participate with the other small groups in the Fall Party on October 27, 5:30 to 8 p.m. The purpose of the Fall Party is to bring adults, kids and families together to play together and fellowship. Also, the Fall Party provides an alternative to Halloween. A goody bag will be given to everyone at the conclusion of the Fall Party.
Each small group will be responsible to contribute snacks and plan to lead out in 3 games. The games are not table games but active games like the three legged race or bobbing for apples. Not every person will be invited to participate in every game as games are age appropriate. Those not directly playing the games will enjoy watching others as they play. Provide everything you’ll need to make the game fun and safe. Plan to have at least 15 participants in each game. The groups should plan their games around the following age groups.
Tomas & Hatzuko’s group: children ages 3-5.
Gustavo & Lourdes group: children ages 6-9.
Linda Bewley’s group: children ages 10-12.
Bill & Linda Aumack’s group: teenagers.
Dolores Gamboa’s group: Parents and kids.
Pastor Mitch & Ginny’s group: adults.
Irene Hill will act as the Fall Party coordinator. Her task is to receive information from each group regarding the group’s choices of snacks and the games they will be in charge of leading. Each group will select one person to pass along the group’s decisions regarding the snacks and games to Irene. Irene’s email address is .
Plan a Mission Project. A mission project seeks to help people. Plan to help someone in your neighborhood or church or aid a coworker or friend.
Some examples of past mission projects include: gathering clothes for a family; delivered food to grandparents who were raising their grandkids; providing the means for a family to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner; Christmas gifts to a family; and cards and letters of encouragement.
The line in Francis of Assisi’s prayer that says: “for it is in giving that we receive” was experienced by one group. The group visited a senior couple who was no longer physically able to attend the worship service. The group sang familiar songs and visited with the couple. Upon leaving, they commented to one another that they had experienced God’s presence, when their intentions were to lift the spirits of the couple.
A good place to start is by asking God to lead your group to the service he wants you to provide. Keep your eyes open to see where God is working and follow him. The mission project is something the small group can accomplish itself. Write the group’s ideas down on the “Brainstorm” page in your folder. Brainstorm together; assign group members to research ideas. If necessary, complete your mission project after the 6 Weeks of Community has ended.
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6 Weeks of Community Brainstorming
Write your ideas for a mission project and take notes on role playing.
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6 Weeks of Community Brainstorming
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6 Weeks of Community Blessings List
Date / Person / BlessingDate / Person / Blessing
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6 Weeks of Opportunity Prayer & Praise
Date / Person / Prayer Request / Praise ReportPage 13
6 Weeks of Community Prayer and Praise
Date / Person / Prayer Request / Praise ReportPage 13
6 Weeks of Community Calendar
Healthy groups share responsibilities and group ownership. Sometimes it takes a while for this ownership to develop in the group. Shared ownership ensures that no one person or couple has to bear all the responsibilities for the group. Use the calendar to keep track of social events, mission projects, birthdays or days off. Update the calendar weekly to prepare for your next meeting. Planning ahead will increase attendance and shared ownership of the small group.
Date / Location / Prayer / Facilitator / Snack or mealPage 13
6 Weeks of Community Small Group Roster
Name / Phone/Cell / Best Timeto Call / Email
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6 Weeks of Community Reading Schedule
Schedule of Readings
Week / Sabbath / Chapter to have read by SabbathPre-Week / September 29 / No reading, pass out book and folders.
1 / October 6 / God’s Attempts At Restoring Community, page 29.
2 / October 13 / Reigniting the Relationally Based Church, page 45.
3 / October 20 / Pentecost Establishes the Relational Church, page 57.
4 / October 27 / Apostasy and Restoration, p 91.
5 / November 3 / Adventism and the Social Meeting on page 103.
6 / November 10 / Read the pages listed in Lesson 6
Celebration Sabbath / November 17
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