Intimate Fellowship pt.2 (a vital ingredient)

Thanks for your patience while I took a break from writing.

When I left off I was talking about intimacy among believers. Not only is there a real lack of intimacy between believers, but I believe there to be a fear, coupled with a pride issue, that hinders folks from entering into an openness with others. Pride insists that we keep to ourselves. Don’t let others know that you struggle with pornography, because they’ll think you’re a freak and cut you off. Or, don’t let your friends know that you have a real fear of dying, because they’ll think that’s foolish. And there are countless other short-comings that we deal with, that we allow pride to rob us of victory. James 5:16 instructs us to confess our sins to one another, and pray for one another so that we may be healed.

So how do we overcome these obstacles? If you attend church weekly and that’s your primary contact with your Christian friends, then chances are that you will never overcome your issues of sin, pride, or anything else that’s causing fear or anxiety. Even if you attend a weekly prayer or Bible study in a corporate church setting, chances are that those types of personal issues getting addressed are slim.

If we truly desire to be New Testament believers, and do the things that the first disciples did, then we’ve got to pay close attention to what they actually did. Acts 2 tells us about how the early church grew. It tells us how the first disciples practiced fellowship. They gave to anyone who had need; they ate together daily; everyone had everything in common. They experienced unity in the Holy Spirit. Who among us would not want to experience, and live-out, what the first disciples did everyday?

Not only did they meet together corporately, but they met in their homes. I believe so strongly in the small group (home group) concept, that I would not even consider joining a church that did not have small groups in place, or in the process of putting them into place. Many churches are discovering the importance of personal, intimate ministry outside of the church building. And people are being set free because of the freedom that comes from the fellowship of a few believers. Friendships are established and become rooted in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit establishes a safety net, that allows us to reveal our fears and our sins. We pray together, laugh together, cry together, and we overcome together. And we usually get to eat together.

Don’t allow your enemy, Satan, to rob you of freedom. If your church has small groups and you’re not involved, get involved this week. If your church doesn’t have small groups, ask your pastor if you can begin one in your home right away. If he thinks it’s not important, then you have a decision to make. When a group grows to 12 to 14 people, it’s time to start thinking about multiplying the group into 2 groups. When groups get to that size, people tend to not open up as much, and intimacy dwindles.

This is where true fellowship occurs. It can also be where the most effective evangelism takes place. Non-Christians seeking answers feel less intimidated in a relaxed setting. I hope you’ll take this to heart, and make a small group ministry a priority. God bless you!

Brian

~ by Brian on February 19, 2007.