Going Small

What’s the deal?

Good morning! Let’s go ahead and get this out of the way first thing this morning, that way you don’t have to wait in anticipation wondering if I’m ever going to mention the Big Game (I can’t say the other thing because I am not a paying sponsor, we should maybe look into that for next year). And here it is, Go Patriots. Just kidding—Rise Up Rams.

If you have a Bible with you, please go ahead and open up to . We will find ourselves being spurred on by this chapter today, particularly from a couple verses to urge us more toward to being a flourishing church.

You might be curious what I mean by Flourishing Church. So this past week, the staff of Marietta Community Church, including myself, went to the ECO National Gathering, essentially it is a giant gathering of all the churches within our denomination. Like last year, it was an amazing week full of worship, teaching, and encouragement for where ECO is going.

In particular, this year the national committee revealed what they are hopeful of for the next 5 to 10 years for each of our churches. You see, this years theme, Locally Grown, really brings into focus the purpose of ECO on the national level, it is to equip local churches first and foremost. The mission statement for ECO is “Building flourishing churches that make disciples of Jesus Christ.”

And in order to achieve the mission, the committee came up with a set of values, strategies and measures.Now, we could take the rest of the time just talking about these different facets of the mission, but I wouldn’t get very far because that was spread out over 2 hours of talk time. So today I really want to focus on 1 facet, which is the value, “Our Mutual Spurring.”

This is not a some call to be horse by the way. When I first heard it I was a little slow and was like, “spurring” are we talking about horses. Funny enough, the sermon for the evening of the first day was about a horse farm, but that it neither here nor there. The spurring we are referring to is defined this way: “the strength of our covenant community is how we challenge one another to constantly transform.”

which is explained as “the strength of our covenant community is how we challenge one another to constantly transform.”

As a church, we believe in the growth of the individual within the context of being a part of the community. So, in order to be a flourishing church, we must place value in the the growth of everyone in our community. The real question is how do we do that? How do we ensure that everyone within our church is growing in their faith journey and being spurred on?

But going small for the sake of going small is notMore so, it is not just about going small, but addressing that we might not be going small effectively. We might not be going after and achieving all that our groups are meant to be. When we start our discipleship groups back up next week, I want each of us to get the most out of what our groups could be. I feel it is all too easy to forget the reason we gather together, and instead just make it a social group.

I say this to you because I’m guilty of it. I am guilty to making small groups more about the social nature and aspect instead of actually trying to grow and share in a means and manner worthy of the group.

For a moment, I wants us to all go back in time, and for students, they do not have to go back at all. But I want you all to think back about a time that you placed in a small group for a class assignment. Recall who was in your group, the kind of work you were assigned to do, and what the assignment’s bearing might be on your grade.

I think that everyone can fall into one of three different categories for these groups: I call them the WORKER, the PIGGY BACKER, and the TRYER

The first is the WORKER. This person is the one who ends up doing all the work, putting everything together, and making sure everything is perfect. The burden constantly fell on you to make sure that your grade, and everyone else’s for that matter, didn’t slip down the drain.

The second, is the PIGGY BACKER. This is probably obvious and you know who you are, you are the one that let the others do all the work. Always had some excuse or just goofed-off when the group met together. Maybe one day us workers will forgive you, maybe.

Finally, you have the TRYER. This person is the in between of the two. they worked hard, but never got anything right. No matter how hard they tried they just missed the mark on the work and the WORKER would have to correct their work, or in the worst of cases, start all over. This is one of those southern saying “Bless your Heart” people.

So, thinking back to those groups assignments, we come to the realization that for each of these people, there is an aspect of these groups that we all didn’t take a liking too. Whether it was animosity toward others because you did all the work, animosity toward the goal because you didn’t like work, or animosity toward self because you couldn’t figure out the work.

And very much like back then, we find that these can be the same things that keep us from participating and flourishing in our faith.

Scripture

So, if you will look at today’s scripture with me. I will read it aloud. you can follow along in your Bibles:

English Standard Version Chapter 10

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

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“24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

These verses fall within a larger context in which the author gives three exhortations to the church, this is the third. But what you will realize if you read the passage yourself, is that the three exhortations are to faith, hope, and love. Maybe that sounds familiar to you because it is the same three found in the great chapter on love, . And in that chapter, Paul stated that the most IMPORTANT of these is “love.”

Now I generally use the ESV as my standard text for reading passages, but let’s also read this passage from the NIV, which says:

But why might love, of all the others be above the other two? Well I think it become clear as we read today’s passage, it is the only one of the three that involves us having and being in relationship with others. I am not saying that faith and hope happen outside of relationship and community, because they don’t. But, love is always directed outward, where as faith and hope are inward.

“24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

We must meet together

Normally, I would never go out of the order of the text. But what I want to focus on today is in verse 25: “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

In the NIV it talks about this “spurring” that we are trying to get at, that we want to get at, that we need to get at in order to be a Flourishing Church. So today, let’s unpack this scripture more, but first:

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Today, we are talking about “going small” about being in community with one another on a more personal level. In our church we have discipleship groups. And the purpose of these groups are to create smaller communities within our larger community.

For a moment, I wants us to all go back in time, and for students, they do not have to go back at all. But I want you all to think back about a time that you placed in a small group for a class assignment. Recall who was in your group, the kind of work you were assigned to do, and what the assignment’s bearing might be on your grade.

I think that everyone can fall into one of three different categories for these groups: I call them the WORKER, the PIGGY BACKER, and the TRYER

The first is the WORKER. This person is the one who ends up doing all the work, putting everything together, and making sure everything is perfect. The burden constantly fell on you to make sure that your grade, and everyone else’s for that matter, didn’t slip down the drain.

The second, is the PIGGY BACKER. This is probably obvious and you know who you are, you are the one that let the others do all the work. Always had some excuse or just goofed-off when the group met together. Maybe one day us workers will forgive you, maybe.

Finally, you have the TRYER. This person is the in between of the two. they worked hard, but never got anything right. No matter how hard they tried they just missed the mark on the work and the WORKER would have to correct their work, or in the worst of cases, start all over. This is one of those southern saying “Bless your Heart” people.

So, thinking back to those groups assignments, we come to the realization that for each of these people, there is an aspect of these groups that we all didn’t take a liking too. Whether it was animosity toward others because you did all the work, animosity toward the goal because you didn’t like work, or animosity toward self because you couldn’t figure out the work.

And very much like back then, we find that these can be the same things that keep us from participating and flourishing in our faith.

Let’s pray

We must consider others

The first thing I see when I read this passage is that the Hebrews is pushing us to “Consider” each person in our community: “and let us consider...”

“ANd let us consider...”

That means we must put in considerable effort and time in getting to know those we have surrounded ourselves with. It is all too easy for us to not think about who else we are in community with. It is too easy to dismiss someone because we never put in the work to know others with us.

Maybe we hav failed because

It could be any number of reasons, right? I mean when a new person walks through the door, how much time and effort are you being inviting to them? When someone that looks different from you shows up, how much time and effort are you getting to know their story? When someone that is a different political party than you, how much time and effort do you put into finding common ground in Christ, instead of arguing over differing ideologies?

Jesus didn’t surround himself and talk with people that were just like him, obviously it would be impossible if we were holding him to His divine standards. But i’m talking about his humanity. Among his twelve disciples he had fishermen, tax collectors, and even a zealot, that is a professional rioter. Each of these men were unique in their background, their faith, their knowledge, intellect, skills, you name it, something differentiated them from each other. And when he ventured beyond his group, he surrounded himself with men, women, children (we will be handing out Student Advisor Applications after the service), religious, not-religious, sinner, and saint. And in each situation, Jesus considered the individual in order to SPUR on their flourishing.

Every single one of us will find ourselves in different places in our spiritual walk and journey. For some, they may be completely new to the faith: this person will require more attention, will have lots of questions, and more than likely be lost on 90% of the Christian-ese phrases we use.

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In order to stir up anyone to love and good works, a considerable amount of effort is going to be needed to actually come up with ways to stir up love and good works. We have to put in the effort to consider the people that we meet with on a weekly basis.

Just imagine a new believer walking in and all they hear you talk about is “being washed in the blood,” “nailing your sin to the cross,” “being born again,” “putting to death your flesh.” Instead of being spurred on, they may have some serious questions about what in the world they signed up for and be looking for the nearest exit and formulating their escape plan. But when we CONSIDER the brother and sister in Christ who is just dipping their toes into the water, we can prepare them to go knee deep.

Every single one of us will find ourselves in different places in our spiritual walk and journey. For some of us, we may be completely new to the concept of faith, the idea of doing life together, or of sharing with others our deepest needs and struggles.

Then there is the adolescent christian, who probably is seeking more guidance in the way of sanctification and holiness. They are not sure how to read their Bible consistently, pray effective prayers, and walk the walk more than just talking the talk. Because if we are honest, this might just be where we are at. I was there for the longest time, like there are days that I wonder if I’m still just an adolescent:

If it is based on years of being a convinced and convicted Christian, meaning I actually acknowledge the work of Jesus the Cross to save me from my sin, then I’m still only 11 years old. But my point is the adolescent christian will require us to be more open to discussing difficult, uncomfortable topics that are free of shame and guilt. Let me say that one more time: the adolescent Christian will require us to be more open to discussing difficult and uncomfortable topics that are free from shame and guilt. When we CONSIDER the christian brother and sister who are adolescents, we are able to ween them off of the milk and get them to start chewing the meat.

Then you have your chewing the meat Christians. You are in the unique position to lead these fellow brothers and sisters from toes, and knees, to fulling wading in ocean that is our faith. But, let us mature christians that have been chewing the meat not deceive ourselves lest we become complacent and apathetic in our faith. It is far too easy to feel as though you have “reached” as far as you can go, forgetting that the ladder has an infinite number of rungs for you to climb. When we CONSIDER the mature believer, we can spur them on to reach higher than they ever thought was possible in this faith of ours.

Think for a second about the people that Jesus surrounded himself with, who was His small group made up of? There are many examples of this throughout scripture, but my favorite is in . Jesus has already risen from the dead and he appeared to the disciples, only Thomas wasn’t present and he refused to believe what the other had told him. So, one day while they are gathered together and talking about the resurrection of Jesus, Jesus shows up and being considerate of Thomas, he says to him “Peace be with , come Thomas and feel my hands and side. Believe that I have risen.” We often shame Thomas for his “doubting,” but Jesus never did such a thing.

There are many examples of this throughout scripture, but my favorite is in . Jesus has already risen from the dead and he appeared to the disciples, only Thomas wasn’t present and he refused to believe what the other had told him. So, one day while they are gathered together and talking about the resurrection of Jesus, Jesus shows up and being considerate of Thomas, he says to him “Peace be with , come Thomas and feel my hands and side. Believe that I have risen.” We often shame Thomas for his “doubting,” but Jesus never did such a thing.

We must stir one another

As we consider the people that we find ourselves in community with, we will find it easier to “stir each other up in love and good works.” After all, It is not enough for us to meet week in and week out and make small talk about the weather, the latest in sports news, our favorite recipe, what the kids did at school.

You see, these verses fall within a larger context in which the author gives three exhortations to the church, this is the third. But what you will realize if you read the passage yourself, is that the three exhortations are to faith, hope, and love. Maybe that sounds familiar to you because it is the same three found in the great chapter on love, . And in that chapter, Paul stated that the most IMPORTANT of these is “love.”

But why might love, of all the others be above the other two? Well I think it becomes clear as we read today’s passage, it is the only one of the three that involves us having and being in relationship with others. I am not saying that faith and hope happen outside of relationship and community, because they don’t. But, love is always directed outward, where as faith and hope are inward.

It is not enough for us to meet week in and week out and make small talk about the weather, the Big Game (I’m not a paying sponsor so I can’t say super bowl), our favorite recipe, what the kids did at school.

The primary evidence of the flourishing community is that they would be stir each other up for the purpose of love, not just love, but also good works. Our love would go out from us into the world and that it would be seen by our good works. And when you are spurred to love, you will want to do good works. The more you are stirred to love, the more you will also be stirred to do good works.

After all, says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

The good works are there. They have been established for us. And, It is really easy for us to talk about the good works that we have set before us. It’ easy for us to know that we should be doing something. What not easy is ACTUALLY doing them. Why is it so hard? because often times we try to do these good works apart from love. We try to stir up within ourselves a desire to go out and do something to show Christ off to the world. The problem is that these works, created for us, were always meant to be stirred up within the community through love. We are meant to be spurred on by fellow brothers and sisters

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

If we want to be a better witness Christ in the world, then we need to be better in out ability to stir one another up to love and to good work. They cannot be separated. Because when you separate love from good works, you have made the good work and means to an end, instead of an end in and of itself. People are not projects, or objectives, they are people who are made in the image of God, whom God loves.

If we fail in spurring one another to love and good work we are not fulfilling the purpose and mission of the community of believers that we have just placed ourselves in the midst of. We should desire to not leave our community until we have both stirred, and been stirred up.

Remember Jesus and every time he gathered his disciples together? He taught them, but he taught them with the full intention and purpose that they would then be sent out. He stirred up his disciples in love and good works to go as he says in “These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And after his death and resurrection, his instruction spread to not only the lost sheep of Israel, but that they would go out from his presence, from the presence of the group to carry the Good News from Jerusalem into Judea, and Samaria, and into the end of the earth.

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.That they would go out from his presence, from the presence of the group to carry the Good News into Judea, Samaria, and into all the world.

We must meet together

Finally, I’ve been saying it all along, but there is a specific place where we consider, and we spur on one another. says: “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

In order for there to be any consideration, for any stirring up, you have to meet together. We have to come together. It is too easy to think that these things are possible alone. Possible on our own. But, It is simply not true. To believe that you can figure this walk out by yourself is the enemy trying to keep you from fulfilling God’s purpose for His church.

That may sound harsh, but the author here makes it clear that the habit for you too not meet with the community of believers is not the intention of our faith. And I want to push this text further to say it is not so much about attending church (though that is very important), but it is about being involved in a small community, a discipleship group if you will. If you were receiving this letter when it was written, the likely of you being a part of group larger than 20-30 would be unlikely. Not to mention these people lived with one another, and met for hours at a time. We give about and hour to and hour and a half on a Sunday morning, and only about 15 minutes of that time might be spent actually conversing with our brothers and sisters.

Today, we are talking about “going small” about being in community with one another on a more personal level. In our church we have discipleship groups. And the purpose of these groups are to create smaller communities within our larger community.

So, here at Marietta Community Church we have discipleship groups, smaller communities for each of us to be a part of and participate in order that the spurring on of one another can be done effectively, intimately, and lovingly.

The author also write that there is a need for encouragement to meet together. The author would not have written “encourage one another” if he knew that getting people together in small community was not an issue. It’s an issue. It hard and it’s difficult. Our schedules and the hours we have available make it so difficult to meet together. It has been far to easy for me to dismiss being in a discipleship group because I just “don’t have time” or “I’m too tired.” But I have come to a realization that it is too important, and to clear in scripture to me to ignore my need for a small community spurring me on. Giving me encouragement. Considering me and all that I am in love so that I can become a better witness in the likeness of Christ.

Don’t believe me, lets go back in time to when we were all in school. But I want you all to think back about a time that you placed in a small group for a class assignment. Recall who was in your group, the kind of work you were assigned to do, and what the assignment’s bearing might be on your grade.

Not think about how DIFFICULT was to get anyone to come together to actually do any of the work? Why was it so difficult?

In my opinion, I think that everyone can fall into one of three different categories for these groups: I call them the WORKER, the PIGGY BACKER, and the TRYER

The first is the WORKER. This person is the one who ends up doing all the work, putting everything together, and making sure everything is perfect. The burden constantly fell on you to make sure that your grade, and everyone else’s for that matter, didn’t slip down the drain.

The second, is the PIGGY BACKER. This is probably obvious and you know who you are, you are the one that let the others do all the work. Always had some excuse or just goofed-off when the group met together. Maybe one day us workers will forgive you, maybe.

Finally, you have the TRYER. This person is the in between of the two. they worked hard, but never got anything right. No matter how hard they tried they just missed the mark on the work and the WORKER would have to correct their work, or in the worst of cases, start all over. This is one of those southern saying “Bless your Heart” people.

But I have come to a realization that it is too important, and to clear in scripture to me to ignore my need for a small community spurring me on. Giving me encouragement. Considering me and all that I am in love so that I can become a better witness in the likeness of Christ.

So, thinking back to those groups assignments, we come to the realization that for each of these people, there is an aspect of these groups that we all didn’t take a liking too. Whether it was animosity toward others because you did all the work, animosity toward the goal because you didn’t like work, or animosity toward self because you couldn’t figure out the work.

And very much like back then, we find that these can be the same things that keep us from participating in small groups now. There is a fear that we will fall into one of these 3 categories. I know that fear all to well. I know the desire to not want to go because I just don’t feel up to it.

doesn’t leave room for our feelings about attendance or participation. TO be a saved and sanctified believer means to participate within the community and body of Christ. It means to be plugged in, and to not be a non-attender, non-participator, non-considerer, non-spurrer.

The Conclusion

By the grace of God, we all have an amazing opportunity at Marietta Community Church to grow deeper in our faith. We all have the chance to get plugged into a discipleship group, to be both encouraged and encourage. to stir up and be stirred up, to grown and be grown, to know and be known.

Look around you. These are your brothers and sisters in Christ. We all have it in us to want to see this body flourish, so that together we may be a better witness of Christ in the world.

So, if you are not a part of Discipleship group, i encourage you to please find one, join one. Do not miss out on what God wants to accomplish in you and through you as a member of a small community that can help you grow in ways you never imagined. Be prepared to open up, be vulnerable and be spurred to a greater and deeper relationship with Christ.

Let’s Pray