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> Why A Small Group Forum?
Glen
post Jul 28 2006, 10:18 AM
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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?


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Love & Hugs,
Glen


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EchelonsMarch
post May 15 2007, 06:04 PM
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I definetely agree, I feel most comfortable when I'm worshipping God alone by myself and just Him but a small group for me, would be easier than a large one smile.gif
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BlessedBee
post Jun 9 2007, 09:51 AM
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Glen, I think the small group form of worship is a wonderful idea, unfortunately, for me not possible at least not in a physical community setting. My illness started shortly after my husband and I moved from New York to Virginia. We have no family in the area; it's just him and me. We moved into a small log cabin, in the woods, with no neighbors, and outside of the people my husband works with, we don't really know anyone here.

I am now either stuck in bed or in a wheelchair, and getting me in and out of a car for transport anywhere is difficult, not to mention most people's homes are not wheelchair accessible. I'm just not physically up for the church hunt, so we don't belong to a local congregation. God is with me, so I am not alone, but otherwise I'm pretty isolated.

I guess my question is how does one go about getting involved with a group when the only humans they see are on a TV screen? I get kind of tired of fellowshipping with myself; I'm great company, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. tongue.gif

Thanks -- PS I'm enjoy your site.


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ReneM
Psalms107:20
He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
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Guest_Owen_*
post Jun 10 2007, 04:47 AM
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Hi BlessedBee,

You could join an online group of some sort, with online real-time discussions maybe - Like online chatting for Christians. You could make regular times eventually if you wanted, and get to know a regular group of people as well.

I think the idea is good for someone in your position, maybe you could look into it.
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Glen
post Jun 10 2007, 02:45 PM
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BlessedBee, I'm glad you like the site. As you can tell from Echelons and Owen, Christian fellowship is available on the web right here in these forums. Owen is right, of course, you could try Christian chat. My problem with that is, I'm not fast enough for the other chatters. I've considered adding chat to these forums, but it gets out of control too easily without the social constraints present with a group of people standing around. Given what passes for Christianity in some circles, I decided it would be best for our on line fellowship to happen in the more deliberate forum setting.

In fact, though I teach that a small group worship is all that's needed...really, all that's needed is you and God, with fellowship happening as God brings people into your life, your home, your computer. As many small groups as we've been part of, my favorite worship time is alone with God. I never worry about how someone else will feel about the wording of my prayer or my worship practices. You and I and the millions of others like us, who, for whatever reason, don't get out to the other worship opportunities are the reason I prepare a weekly worship service and have on line forums. God is beyond time and space, so, we can worship together at different times and places. As little as this makes sense to our minds, I Cor 5 suggests it is, indeed, possible.

I sure feel like we're all part of the same "church," regularly gathering together in Christian fellowship.


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Glen


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BlessedBee
post Jun 11 2007, 05:33 AM
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Good Morning Glen,

I'm not a big fan of chat rooms either. Maybe it's our age laugh.gif ; 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.


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ReneM
Psalms107:20
He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
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Glen
post Jun 11 2007, 06:42 AM
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I see you know exactly why I don't have chatrooms. Having been a pastor in traditional churches for 11 years, though, I really don't see much of a difference between the forums and a church. Every church I've been in has had about 30-50% of the people just floating through, getting a need met and moving on. I think what may look different to most people is the fact you also have a large number...about 20% that are solid servants who have been and will be there for years. I believe when our forums have been here for years, that's what we will have. The forums have been up less than a year. For five years prior to that, we had an email prayer team where some of the first members had been active participants since the first months. Unfortunately, the technological leap to forums was too much for most of them, but a number of them are members here, who quietly pray for people and another group stays in touch with me via email. I'm sure it will never match the face-to-face fellowship for those who are used to that, but the Spiritual aspects are just as real.

A way in which I've noticed Internet ministry is superior to the face-to-face is honesty. Because everyone is remote and anonymous, people feel more free to be open and honest. The Bible says to confess to one another and bear each other's burdens, yet, how often do you see someone admitting in a church fellowship to being a pedophile, theif or a porn addict, for example? In most churches, it just doesn't happen. I didn't see anything like it in 11 years. People just don't feel safe in church with their secret sins. That isn't the case on the Internet. They are using artificial names, which seems to make it safe to be real in other ways. Another example of honesty...everywhere I've served the Lord, people have told me they loved me, I was their brother, yet, when God called me to another church or another ministry, it was as if I dropped off the face of the Earth. Maybe you've experienced the same thing. I suspect from your posts, you have.

Now, I seek genuine fellowship with people who love me for more than weekly visits to the same local building. If that means I fellowship with fewer people, at least the fellowship is genuine. It's my prayer that those who stay here and fellowship with us won't be doing it out of religious compulsion, tradition or habit, but genuine desire. See John 4:21-24


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Glen


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BlessedBee
post Jun 11 2007, 12:00 PM
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I agree with your post, Glen

God must have led me here because I was getting pretty discouraged with the other sites/forums, and you have made this forum very comfortable. I can feel the sincerity and spirituality coming from the different forums/posts I've read.

I know what you mean about belonging to a church. I was born and raised Catholic; that pretty much took care of being comfortable about confessing anything in church rolleyes.gif . The last actual church we went to was a very nice Baptist church, people were friendly enough, pastor was knowledgeable and bible-oriented, but you are right, very regimented. And, forget trying to get involved in anything; I attempted to get involved with a couple of church groups; you would have thought I had the plague. Apparently, they were satisfied with the regular, long-standing members they had in their groups and didn't need any newcomer's influence.

My longing for human contact stems from being couped up for weeks, sometimes months at a time without seeing anyone except for my husband. My husband's employer has been gracious enough to allow him to work from home part of the day, but he's still working. I do have my dogs, but their conversation skills need some improving...lol

I appreciate your being a friend.

(((((HUGS!)))))


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ReneM
Psalms107:20
He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
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Glen
post Jun 11 2007, 01:49 PM
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Your dog sure looks like it can talk. I can't get a thing out of our deer.


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Glen


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Guest_Owen_*
post Jun 12 2007, 05:28 AM
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funny Glen, maybe you should try de-antlering that deer, you might get something out of it then.

Oh well, the online chatting thing seemed like a good idea at the time BlessedBee. It doesn't cater to your needs, I hope you find somewhere that does. Here seems good enough for me, except I need to organise my baptism, and that can't really be done online.

The reason I like it at this congregation, is because it is not so organised, and it doesn't matter what I wear. At my parents church, they dress the young people up like they are from the 1920's to 1940's and it's more like a cult because of this, and not a real fellowship of Christians, in the world, but not of the world. They focus so much on the dress that it makes you uncomfortable, and God looks on the heart, the other stuff just makes you awkward. So, I don't go there anymore, but didn't want to leave the fellowship out of it.

I don't know very many people, but Glen has lots of experience and knows a lot, and Maddy's posts are interesting, reading the forums as new people post is good too. Even though I'm only 22, I do have some life experience in a few areas, and the Lord has seen fit that I live on to tell my story, and to help others with problems that I have had success in. Also, I can definitely pass on some advice on consequences... Things to stay away from... Paths of trouble...divorces etc... What a recipe of disaster for the family. If anyone listens, at least my having to go through such things will be worth it.

Owen
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