Forward Growth

Posted by Bill on April 26, 2013

The fourth dimension of our small groups’ growth plan is Forward growth. This dimension of personal growth points to “our” growing-up into the likeness of Jesus (growing in our discipleship). This is a life-long process (Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 8:29)!

Forward growth doesn’t just happen … it results from having a desire for this to happen and then through being intentional about learning more and doing more of God’s word (obedience). Giving opportunities to our members to share in the overall leadership of small group life is paramount to their growth and the development and the success of our groups. Forward growth takes place as we discover, practise, and develop our spiritual gifts in the fertile soil of godly small group life.

Inward Growth

Posted by Bill on December 19, 2012

If we understand that ‘Upward’ growth points to a believer’s growing love-relationship with the Lord, then we can understand that ‘Inward’ growth points to his/her growing love-relationship with other believers in the church. God’s love in our hearts is what fuels this Inward growth (Romans 5:5).

1 Corinthians 13 makes it quite clear that if those who belong to a small group community share deep insights, teach Scripture, sacrifice time and energy for the sake of the group, but don’t love each other, then they have done nothing that is commendable.

Friends, we were created to live with one another in growing love-relationships. Jesus spent His entire ministry loving everyone, including the outcasts – those who felt they had no place in God’s eyes.

In the church we must do all that we can to inspire the building of healthy small groups – places where everyone can experience unconditional, undeserved acceptance and love. Inward growth is contingent upon Upward growth. As we continue growing Upward in our relationship with the Lord, we can continue growing Inward in our relationship with one another.

Inward growth takes place only when we practice love with another. This practice must be constant, not intermittent.

How is your Inward growth?

Oikos Transformation

Posted by Bill on September 22, 2012

A key factor in the incredible growth of the early church was the transformation of the traditional oikos structure (extended household). As it was, this ancient structure was far from the original design God had blueprinted for individual and community well-being, peace, and harmony. Indeed, the Holy Spirit had much work to do in transforming this defective structure.

The gospel message proclaimed a new family of God in which the members are all children of God and “brothers” in relationship with one another. Accepting one another in love implied a new way of relating to one another that was in tension with the conventional ethos of the ancient oikos. Radical changes needed to be made in human thinking … changes that would see slaves become brothers with their masters; husbands and wives submitting to one another, and loving each other in a new way; embracing racial and gender equality as a norm for new living; the unprecedented sharing of property and possessions; and an unconditional acceptance of one another that was based solely upon a personal belonging to Jesus Christ. Forgiveness within the oikos structure was now possible!

Praise the Lord, this oikos transformation phenomenon continues to take place today in the form of healthy cell groups. Functioning as love-gymnasiums, the cell is the ideal context where believers practice brotherly love on each other before exercising this love with un-churched family members and friends. The rate of oikos transformation is linked to the extent of brotherly love that is practiced on each other. As the practice this love increases, the transformation of our oikos increases. Although the Lord has accepted us ‘as we are’, He loves us too much to leave us as we are … transformation (sanctification) is the next phase in His salvation plan for our lives. The Father wants to make us like His Son in every way (Romans 8:29).

Would you like to see your Oikos transform a little more? It’s up to you. Don’t stand in the Lord’s way of transforming you a little more.

Starting right?

Posted by Bill on August 30, 2012

How do you start each new day? Do you throw yourself into the day with the best intentions, understanding and strength … but, you find yourself falling short of God’s mark, wallowing in doubt, discouragement, and despair?

Why not trial this approach, and assess the results – you won’t be disappointed. Start each new day by praying …

“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you” (Psalm 51:1-2, 10-12).

This is a sweet prayer that is sure to reach the ears of our God – touching His heart, setting us free to experience each new day as He has ordained for you and me … a day that is good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2).

Please, “have mercy on me, O God.”

Growth is HIS will for us

Posted by Bill on February 11, 2012

“I appointed you to go and produce fruit” … (John 15:16b).

Two more daughter churches were born from the small groups development work at Maadi Community Church, Cairo, in 2006. The pastors and coaches of these new churches were commissioned during four worship services on the weekend of 28/29 September. At the time of their dedication to the Lord one daughter church weighed-in at 12 groups (97 members) and the other weighed-in at 47 groups (461 members). This took the total number of daughter churches born from MCC’s labour of faith in 2006 to five.

No one at MCC was more surprised about this amazing outcome than me. Why? Simply because I did not plan for this to happen, nor did I expect this would happen. This amazing outcome was not foreseen by any member on my executive leadership team when we met together the previous year to set goals for 2006, and, there was no provision in our budget for the birth of five new churches, let alone one.

How then could this have eventuated? Should we have filed this away as “unexplainable” or “coincidental” or was there a simple rationale that supported this remarkable result – a rationale we could follow and pass on to others? Having spent some time pondering these questions I was left with a confident conclusion that this miraculous outcome resulted from the ongoing prayers, labour of love and simple trust in God’s promises by our amazing team of dedicated lay-leaders who, with many faults and failures, resolutely believed …

By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope (Ephesians 3:20).
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results (James 5:16b).
Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest (Psalm 126:5, 6).
A farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop (2 Corinthians 9:6).
God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them (Romans 8:28).

Friends, abundant growth is God’s will for every believer who faithfully and diligently labours in His harvest to build His Church upon His promises. Although we didn’t plan or budget for our five daughter churches, the Lord knew we desired His utmost. He knew we had given Him absolute freedom to move in and through our lives to accomplish His will and purposes.

We learnt from that experience that whenever we reached higher, by faith, the Lord would lift us up so we could take hold of as much of Heaven as He has determined for us. We knew that although the Lord does not need us in order to work His amazing miracles, He has called us, nonetheless, by faith, prayer and toil, to reach higher and higher in our service to Him, believing in our hearts that miraculous growth is His will for us.