But the LifeGroup leader was doing a great job guiding the discussion and keeping the group on the right track. Paul is talking about how Christ overcame Adam’s sin…how His sacrifice conquers our legacy of sin. He’s talking about how Jesus brings us into right relationship with God. He’s talking about the power of grace over sin. Great topics and great discussion.

Like I said, the leader was doing a great job. And he had just finished making this great point…bringing some of the discussions together…when someone’s cell phone sang out: “Message Received!” The timing was brilliant. It brought a laugh and drove the point home.

Message received.

I wish I had that more often in my life—some external indicator to tell me when the message is received. For me and for others.  ;o)

The more I study and read on the topic (more blogging to come on that) the more I realize how wrong we get it sometimes. Our focus is just off. We focus too much on our “gifting” and not enough on our “using”. As part of my study my entire paradigm regarding spiritual gifts has changed (more to come on that as well).

This morning I realized that our 35th President had it right in his Inaugural Speech on January 20, 1961. You’ve probably heard the part I’m referring to many times. You can see and hear it here…

In case you can’t read or listen, here’s what he said that’s so important…

“Ask not what your country can do for you.
Ask what you can do for your country.”

It’s the same in the church. He had it right. It applies to spiritual gifts. It applies to our motivation to be a part of a church in general. Let me “paraphrase” it this way…

“Ask not what your church can do for you.
Ask what you can do for your church.”

Or maybe even better yet…

“Ask not what the people in your church can do for you.
Ask what you can do for the people in your church.”

We’re supposed to be about serving and loving others. It’s what we’re supposed to do with our gifts, talents, and passions. It’s how the church works. It’s how we work.

Like I said, JFK had it right.

“Love always grows, not just deeper, but wider. Love always loves people more and always loves more people. Love calls us to community; love calls us to humanity; love calls us to each other.

A healthy community is not a place of perfect people. That place does not exist. We are all flawed. If there is a perfect community, it would be ruined the moment I joined it…strangely enough, the best opportunity for building meaningful relationships is admitting up front that you’re not perfect and that you’ve got issues. Honesty is the only context in which intimacy can develop.” (Soul Cravings, Erwin McManus, Entry 16).

So here goes…

I’m not perfect.

I’ve got issues.

There…I said it…I admit it.

I need other people in m life pushing me to grow closer to Christ. I need to be pushing others too. Thankfully, I am part of a community that does just that. They love me anyway. I love them anyway. It works.

For the past few days I have been thinking about the objective for small groups. Don’t get me wrong…I absolutely believe in small groups. But what are they all about—really? What’s the purpose of a small group? What’s the goal, the objective? Why do we do small groups?

Most of the groups I’ve been involved in seem topically focused. They are about a specific topic or series the group is working through. This might be a book of the Bible, a marriage series, et al. Relationships are part of the group, but they seem secondary. If “I” don’t  like the study then I sit out a series or two until something comes up that I like…that speaks to me. (Note: I have not actually done that…but I know of others who have and I have certainly done it mentally).

I don’t think that’s what small groups are supposed to be about. They are supposed to be about relationships. Community. Walking through life together…spiritual life and life in general. Which might mean on of two things: 1) The study we do should be secondary (like it or not) or 2) Maybe the study should get tossed out the window and we spend time with each other…getting know one another, learning about each other, sharing God stories, etc. The answer probably lies somewhere in the middle of these two.

In any discussion on this topic I am drawn to the early church. How did they do it? What model(s) do we have in Scripture? The Acts 2 church is our model:

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-47

They ate together. The learned together. They prayer together. God did great things in their midst. They shared their lives (spiritually and literally). They worshipped together. They grew.

That’s what I call community. And I don’t think they were too worried about what lesson plan they were following. They loved on one another. They walked through life together…and God blessed them for it.

That’s what I want our small group to be. I need to be a better leader and focus on this more and on the other “stuff” less. Maybe we need to put down the lessons and the series and focus on building community. Maybe we just need to be authentic, transparent, and share our God stories (and if we don’t have them figure out why). Just maybe…