Monday, July 07, 2014
What If?
Todd Rhoades wonders what it would be like if Jesus were in charge of small groups:
As to, "story based with real life application." I grow tired of that - not everything is direct cause and effect. Part of becoming God's man or woman is to change how we think so that in new and unanticipated "real life situations" we act as Christ acted. How we think about things affects how we act, but sometimes indirectly. We need to develop our minds and our thinking as a part of growing towards maturity. Sometimes we learn for the sake of learning. It may not have direct application to the way we act this minute, but it will alter how we think and perceive things. It will serve to transform us at our very core.
If it was not for the fact that I have been in some very effective small groups in my life I would declare them a dodge. A way for pastors and leaders to avoid doing anything but "the show." They can be good, but when they are they are going to be radically different than anything anybody is talking about in these posts.
Jesus radical small groups
What should our DISCIPLESHIP or SPIRITUAL FORMATION process look like?Rhoades is riffing off a blog post that offers some suggestions:
How would Jesus do it differently that we/you are doing it now?
Is it possible to disciple like Jesus did? How would you go about doing it?
It’s all about relationships....Hmmmm. I think I could write a book about all this. It is about relationships, but not what you think. It is not about whining about your problems, it is about learning new things from the other. It is not group therapy or "symmetrical relationships" where no one is better than anyone else. It's mentoring where there is someone that you can learn from - some one who has better control of their stuff that you have of yours and you can learn from that.
His curriculum was story based with real life application....
Invested in the core leaders....
Put his foot down....
Spent one-on-one time with God.
As to, "story based with real life application." I grow tired of that - not everything is direct cause and effect. Part of becoming God's man or woman is to change how we think so that in new and unanticipated "real life situations" we act as Christ acted. How we think about things affects how we act, but sometimes indirectly. We need to develop our minds and our thinking as a part of growing towards maturity. Sometimes we learn for the sake of learning. It may not have direct application to the way we act this minute, but it will alter how we think and perceive things. It will serve to transform us at our very core.
If it was not for the fact that I have been in some very effective small groups in my life I would declare them a dodge. A way for pastors and leaders to avoid doing anything but "the show." They can be good, but when they are they are going to be radically different than anything anybody is talking about in these posts.
Jesus radical small groups
