NCD Holistic Small Groups

 

Scripture: Acts 2:46,47 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and  breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.[1]

 

Introduction: John Wesley was the son of an Anglican preacher.  Following in his fathers’ path he too became an Anglican preacher.  Early on Wesley began asking the question, “What does it mean to be a Christian?” And from that he spent his whole life seeking “inward holiness.”

 

In 1725 at the age of 22 “Wesley understood for the first time, that the end goal of religion was holiness.  He realized that religion entailed not simply outward exercise or duty, but also tempers and affections of the heart.”  He did not discover this alone but through prayers and studies with close friends.

 

In 1729 John and his brother Charles Wesley formed a small group while they were at Oxford.  This small group had several names, “The Holy Club,” “Godly Club,” “Bible Moths,” and “Supererogation Men.”  By 1732 there were several of these small groups forming out of the Anglican Church that became known as the Methodist.

 

Methodism was on the cutting edge of holiness in the mid to late 1700’s as was Advent movement in the 1800’s.  The Seventh-day Adventist church is one of the fastest growing churches in the world.  When we study Adventist history we find similar humble beginnings, a church that grew out of Holistic Small Groups.  During the Great advent movement the little groups were called “Social Meetings.”  It wasn’t until 1860 through the inspired guidance of Ellen White that brought all the little “Social Meetings” together to form the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 

 

When we look at Jesus’ ministry we notice that He operated in the same fashion.  He took a small group of 12 men and taught them how to multiply the church.  What Jesus taught continued for the first 300 years into the early Christian Church.  It was the medieval church that made institutional worship the norm. 

 

But the early church focused on meeting in small groups like we see in Acts 2:46,47 meeting daily from house to house.  Every church that has holistic small groups has become healthy growing churches. 

Holistic Small groups are a key component to a healthy growing church.

When you see groups of people meeting together outside of the regular Sabbath worship then you have Christians following the blueprint that Jesus set up.

 

I.                   Holistic-The Entire Body

A.     What does holistic mean? 

Ho-lis-tic Emphasizing the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts.

Holistic focuses on the health of the entire body while not forgetting its members.  We see it displayed in the life of Jesus as he grew physically, spiritually and mentally.  These are the three areas focused on when we speak of holistic.

 

Luke 2:40 And the Child grew (refers to His physical body) and became strong in spirit,(refers to His relationship with His father) filled with wisdom;(refers to His mind or mental faculties)

  and the grace of God was upon Him.[2]

Jesus grew into a strong healthy man.  His relationship with his heavenly Father strengthened as He discovered who he was.  At age 12 His parents took Him to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.   Jesus found His way to the temple and there He stayed for three days.  His wisdom at age 12 astonished the teachers and all who listened.

His mind was sharp.  He retained the things that His mother had been teaching Him for the past 12 years.

 

Luke 2:46,47 they (Mary and Joseph) found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

They were astonished at His wisdom.

 

B.     Mind, body and spirit are so closely linked together.  It’s a common belief that if one part of the body is sick it affects the other parts.  If my mind is sick, let’s say I am depressed; it causes stress on the rest of the body.  Making the body receptable to dieses and other illnesses.  When you are part of a Holistic Small Group the people you fellowship with will naturally care for one another in these three areas.

 

C.     Have you ever felt that sometimes no one cares for me in the church?

Or this is an unloving church?  It is easy to feel that way when we’re not, a part of a small group that could help meet my physical, spiritual and mental needs. 

 

I have heard from the beginning of my Christianity that there were too many clicks in the church.  I have heard this in the Baptist church and I have heard this in the Adventist church.

 

Let me ask a question to anyone who feels this way; are you part of a small group?  That includes prayer meeting.  Because those who worship together, pray together and study together will naturally take care of a one another’s physical, mental and spiritual needs.

 

Heb. 10:24,25  24 And let us consider one another The only way to consider one another is to get involved with other people that you would not normally fellowship with.  in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

I have always been a firm believer that Christians should assemble as often as they can, and that is why if the doors of the church are open I will be there.  If the brethren are assembling count me in. 

 

 

 

II.                Characteristics of Holistic Small Groups

A.     Holistic Small Groups go beyond just discussing Bible passages to applying its message to daily life.  You hold one another accountable.

 

B.     Members feel comfortable bringing up those issues and questions that are immediate personal concerns.  Sometimes it is hard to bring up a personal problem in front of a large group.  Small groups will again cater to those needs.

 

C.     Holistic Small groups are a natural place for Christians to learn to serve others both inside and out side the group with their spiritual gifts. What better place to discover and nurture your spiritual gifts?  Its easer to experiment with a group of friends. 

 

D.     The formation of small companies as a basis of Christian effort has been presented to me by One who cannot err. If there is a large number in the church, let the members be formed into small companies, to work not only for the church members, but for unbelievers. If in one place there are only two or three who know the truth, let them form themselves into a band of workers. Let them keep their bond of union unbroken, pressing together in love and unity, encouraging one another to advance, each gaining courage and strength from the assistance of the others. Let them reveal Christlike forbearance and patience, speaking no hasty words, using the talent of speech to build one another up in the most holy faith. Let them labor in Christlike love for those outside the fold, forgetting self in their endeavor to help others. As they work and pray in Christ's name, their numbers will increase; for the Saviour says: "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven." Matthew 18:19.  {7T 21.4}

 

III.             Holistic Small Groups are Disciple Making Communities

A.     It is a place to be trained for reproductive ministry. 

Small groups are a great place to make disciples and to empower them into leadership.  To train and build up new disciples to go into the world and teach just as Jesus commanded us to do and just as Jesus did.  

Look at Jesus’ small group of 12.  Look how he called them.   

 

Luke 6:12,13  12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.  Jesus first consulted His father.  We should never do anything on our own without seeking our heavenly father first.  Jesus always sought the will of His Father, He never relied on His own power.  Everything He did He did through the Father. 

 

13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself;  Who did he call to Himself? How many did He call to come to Him? All  and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: [3]

 

     Jesus called all His followers but he only picked 12 to be Apostles. 

     He only picked 12 to be in His small group.

 

B.     Jesus called twelve disciples out of the mass who followed Him.  These 12 had been with Him since the beginning of His public ministry. 

They heard His words of instruction and warning. 

They witnessed His deeds of mercy and compassion.

In reverence and in awe these 12 disciples came to receive their commission.

They came to be honored by being made laborers together with their Lord and Master.

They were given the Spirit of Christ so they could engage in the great and work.  The work of sharing the message of salvation to a lost and dying world.

They were to work as Christ worked.

They were to shine as lights in the moral darkness that had enveloped the world. 

And this is the plan that Jesus had for His disciples and the same plan that applies today.  And it all began in a Holistic Small Group.

 

C.     Rev. 21: 14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Who is cornerstone of the church?  Jesus (1Peter 2:6, Luke 20:17)

Eph 2:20-22 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Who is foundation of the church? The 12 Apostles

You are a Christian today as a direct result of one of the 12 Apostiles.

 

IV.              Holistic Small Groups Are Evangelistic Minded.

A.     Holistic Small groups should be evangelistic minded just as the disciples were.

One of the greatest characteristics of a Holistic Small Group is that they multiply.

 

Jesus’ way was to prepare and to empower 12 men as apostles. 

These men were trained by Jesus to plant and water seeds.

God promises that He would do the rest. 

Sometimes we do a great job planting the seeds that we forget to water them. 

 

How many understand the principle that a seed will not germinate unless it is watered? 

Some gardeners in the north, where the climate is a little cooler, will germinate their seeds they intend to plant before they plant them.  What they do is take a package of seeds and sprinkle them into an open newspaper and soak them down with water.  Then they fold the newspaper in half and let them sit a few days, occasionally adding water.  They wait and watch the seeds germinate as they begin to sprout and once they sprout they plant them.  

 

Paul understood the concept of planting and watering.

1 Cor. 3:6,7  6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.[4]

     

Our small groups need to be evangelistic minded that we are constantly planting and watering.  Planting where seeds need to be planted and watered where they need to be watered.  But who makes them grow?  God doe’s!

 

Jesus taught the same thing.

Mark 4:26

26 And He (Jesus) said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, Just going about his business, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.

Can you explain to me how a seed grows? 

What is going on inside that seed that tells it to GROW! 

What mechanism is triggered?   

Folks, I don’t understand it, all I know is that I put the seed into the ground and water it and then I have a garden full of vegetables. 

 

28 For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.

They grow all by themselves!  Isn’t that exciting!  Jesus says that is what the Kingdom of God is like. 

Say that with me, they grow all by themselves! 

 

 29 But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”[5]

Not only do we get to plant and water but God lets us do some of the harvesting. 

 

B.  John 4:35-38 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

 

Sometimes we get so busy planting the seeds not only do we forget to water we forget to reap.

 

Many of the seeds that Jesus planted while He was hear training His disciples were reaped by the disciples. 

Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

 

It was easier for the disciples to reap because the seeds were planted for 3 ½ years as they walked with Jesus. 

 

Holistic Small Groups was in Jesus’ plan to multiply the church then and it is His plan now.  We have gotten so far away from this structure that we are reserved to put on programs to bring people into the church.

     

V.                 Holistic Small Groups Are Part of the Local Church

A.     Holistic small groups are tided to the local church and accountable to the local church.

Holistic small groups reflect the same purpose vision and mission of the local church. 

 

Conclusion: 

Holistic Small Groups minister to the whole person mind, body and spirit.

A group where Christians hold one another accountable and foster spiritual growth.

A group where Christians can share personal concerns without feeling intimidated.

A group where you can take those concerns and have people pray for them.

A group where Christians can openly operate in their area of giftedness and experiment with new ideas of ministering.

Holistic small groups where disciples are made and trained for evangelism. 

Trained to plant, water and reap a harvest so the church may multiply. 

 

And when it grows it will grow all by itself.

 

Does this sound like a group that you would like to be part of? 

By our mouth we say we want the church to grow but our actions speak otherwise.

 

 

 

 

Hymn: #350 Blest Be the Tie That Binds

Hymn: #451 Together Let Us Sweetly Live


[1]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Ac 2:46-3:1). Thomas Nelson: Nashville

[2]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Lk 2:40-41). Thomas Nelson: Nashville

[3]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Lk 6:12-14). Thomas Nelson: Nashville

[4]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (1 Co 3:6-7). Thomas Nelson: Nashville

[5]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Mk 4:26-30). Thomas Nelson: Nashville