“Check it out I’m in really bad shape! Gimme, gimme, gimme – I need, I need, I need, gimme, gimme, gimme…” Some of you may be familiar with this movie quotes. Others may not.
This quote ties in well with yesterday’s myth #2. People can approach their Soul Care groups with this mentality. It might appear this desperate but it is there nonetheless.
One of the most subtle ways this mentality appears is when someone stops or never starts attending and their reason is something like this “I don’t get anything out of groups like that.”
This quote ties in well with yesterday’s myth #2. People can approach their Soul Care groups with this mentality. It might appear this desperate but it is there nonetheless.
One of the most subtle ways this mentality appears is when someone stops or never starts attending and their reason is something like this “I don’t get anything out of groups like that.”
Myth #3 addresses the idea of the time it takes to develop trust and transparency in a group.
Myth 2: Small groups exist for others to meet my needs.
Don’t misunderstand. It is a wonderful blessing that our relational needs can be met by one another in small groups. It’s a good thing that if you don’t feel connected, or know anyone, you can join a small group and meet others at the church. But the overarching reality is that small groups exist for you to love God by loving his body, the church. Small groups exist for you to love others with the love of Christ. This is a radically different orientation than expecting others to meet your needs. And when we all have this aim—to love each other with the love of Christ—then we do meet each other’s needs.
Truth: Small groups exist for you to love and serve others with the love of Christ.
Myth 3. Trust and transparency take many years to cultivate in a small group.
Consider Acts 2 and how the believers had all things in common, making sure none was in need, breaking bread together, praising God together. How long had they known each other? They probably had been in community for a couple of weeks or maybe months, but not much longer. The reality is that more time together doesn’t always mean more trust and transparency. That just tends to be an excuse. Stepping into a small group, where the expectations are properly set, significant trust can be cultivated from day one.
What prevents you from opening up? Perhaps it’s shame over your sin, embarrassment that your marriage is struggling, or heartbreak over your wayward children. This is precisely what the gospel addresses. Christ took the wrath of God at Calvary and with it took our shame, condemnation, and fear of man. We can in fact be open and honest about where we are with God, because God is actively at work in us to conform us to his image.
Truth: Trust and transparency are fruits of recognizing we are all recipients of God’s abundant grace for the forgiveness of sins.
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