Going Deeper Loving and Being Loved

If small groups are the answer, what is the question?

In another of his powerful sermons, Matthew pointed us to John 13:34, "You must love each other, just as I have loved you." (CEV). Matthew then directed us to take a step deeper by asking who are these "each others." Paul enfleshes that commandment of Jesus in Galatians 6:10, "Every time we get a chance, let us work for the benefit of all starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith." (The Message)

Maybe, just maybe, we can cast a wider look at things, like

(1) Is the church the means by which God displays His love? Philip Yancey asked the question, "How can we sense God's love now that Jesus has ascended to the Father?" and suggests, "One New Testament answer centers around the 'body of Christ.' When Jesus left, He turned over His mission to flawed and bumbling men and women…. leaving the tasks of arms, legs, ears, eyes and voice to the erratic disciples - and to you and me," (from Grace Notes) and

(2) Is not the desire of the church to bring people into the Kingdom? David Fitch observes, “Each visitor, each person becoming part of the church community, needs to be nurtured into life in the Kingdom," and

(3) How are ways one is nurtured into the Kingdom? Nurturing leads new Christians to visualize what God desires them to become and/or nurturing involves modeling the Christian disciplines - in prayer, humbling one’s self, engaging worship, Bible study, and reflecting on God's work in their lives through meditation and community.

(4) Are there some people who will be resistant or hesitant to join small groups due to some concern or fear or previous poor experience or just shy or simply not comfortable, and their question may be is it safe? Very likely.

After asking these questions, do we come up with the same answer?

Somewhat tongue in cheek – maybe a group for those who aren’t sure they want to be in a group? Or as Donald Miller asked in his blog, do we ask people to leave? Or even if we don't ask them to leave, by seeking to force them into the mold aren't we doing the same thing anyways? Maybe a better way is for the "pastors and leaders to take regular time to sit, have coffee, and listen and call people into this life of allowing Jesus to reign in our lives and the life of our church, and to discern the marvelous things He is doing in and around us that we can participate in" (another great thought from David Fitch there). Isn't this what Paul was talking about in Galatians 6:10?