Why A Small Group Forum? Options

[Glen]

Why have a Small Groups Forum when most people worship God in a "church", right? Would it surprise you to know that the vast majority of Christians in the world worship in homes, garages, woods, caves, or riverbanks? Did you know the majority of those active in a commercial "church" also take part in one or more Small Group, called by various names (Bible study, fellowship, Sunday School, etc.)? Easily, 75% of active Christians participate in small groups. The commercial "churches" encourage small group participation because they know...

all ministry is personal

Large groups can't produce the relationship and interaction required for personal ministry. At a group size of 25 or more, communication is top-down and programmed, schedules must be rigid, individual needs go unnoticed, accountability is difficult and unnatural and people feel unattached and alienated. At a group size of 5-15, communication is varied and two-way, schedules can flex, individual needs are easily addressed, accountability is natural and automatic and people feel connected and develop real relationships...not those fake, smiley, Sunday kind.

This is why we strongly encourage you to participate in a small group, whether or not you attend a "church." This is also why it's important to have a Small Group Forum to learn and grow how to do the best small group worship we can and to wean ourselves from the services of professional clergy.

I put "church" in quotes as an aside for those who believe you can't worship God without the "big box". Jesus said He would be wherever 2 or more gathered in His name. The Holy Spirit inhabits our praise, not our building. In fact, every home, every garage, every basement, every restaurant, every field or cave IS a church when they contain people worshiping Jesus.

What do you think?

[BlessedBee]

Good Morning Glen,

I'm not a big fan of chat rooms either. Maybe it's our age ; I, too, have a difficult time following the conversation in chat rooms. I have all I can do to keep up with IM'ing with more than one of our daughters at a time! I have been to other Christian forums and have been dismayed at the amount of bickering going on regarding interpretations. So many people seem focused on beating others over the head with their interpretation of what the bible says, and sometimes getting nasty if you don't agree, than trying to help the person asking the questions; I stopped going to them.

Contributors on the forums here, for the most part, are respectful of each other. I know when I'm looking for answers in the Bible, I try to listen to what God says to me, personally. I am interested in what other people feel God has told them, but really do not like being ridiculed or judged regarding what I believe God has told me. It's not anyone's place to attack or judge another Christian's belief, even if you think they are off-base.......pray for them and let God handle it.

I guess the biggest problem I have with online groups, in general, is the lack of physical presence of another person. Not everyone has the ability to express themselves adequately in writing, and making friends, online, is even harder than in the real world. People just don't stick around long enough to get to know one another. Even in this forum, I have noticed many people join the forums to ask for prayers or ask questions to get relief for some type of hurt or problem; they may receive replys, maybe not, but poof they're gone. Oh well, I know it's the nature of this type of communication.

For the time being, this is what I have to work with, so I'll let our Lord guide me as to what He'd like me to do. Have a blessed and peaceful day.