Small Group Critique #2:

Liked this pic from Edinborough, Scotland - I will visit the homeland someday. :)

Know when to take a break. Everyone gets busy in their lives.  Sometimes people don’t want to come over and just do another Bible study.  I think many of us would just love to hang out with fellow believers and try to figure out this thing we call life.  Put your feelers out.  If you have a bunch of tired-looking folks, don’t be afraid to break away from the plans.  Care for your peeps by ministering through the lost act of fellowship.

Here’s a working definition of fellowship:

Things to keep in mind when attempting to fellowship with your people:

  • Do it over food.  Food is the recognized drug of choice to help people feel better.  There ain’t (I know it’s not a proper word but I like it) nothing like getting together and talking over food.  It will help raise your serotonin levels while you share about your life.
  • Add games when you can.  We don’t do this enough in our world.  Life is already too serious.  Laughing and playing together allows people to see the  common interests in their lives.
  • Make sure the environment is comfortable.  Yeah, I know we’re not suppose to care what the house looks like but others do.  During this time of hanging out you don’t want people checking out your house which makes them and you uncomfortable.  If that’s not an option pick neutral territory.
  • You can combine Bible study and food.  It’s two great tastes that taste great together. (I didn’t steal that).
  • Put it on the calendar, and make it a regular occurrence, so that people will look forward to it.

God reveals Himself to others through scriptures AND through relationships.  Safe Christian relationships are the practice field for the mission field in the real world.  These relationships are developed through purposeful fellowship times.  Take the time to plan and respond to the needs of your group.

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,”      Acts 2:46 NIV

If you know anything about the early church – this was one of the few things they got to enjoy…the fellowship with other believers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin