Mission - Community - Fellowship
In the east - community is everything. It’s in the family, the neighborhood, friendships, work - all of it. So when people come to faith in Christ it is more about who God is and “small groups” are more for mission than anything - reaching out and serving and sharing. In the west - community is little - so when people look to church they focus on finding friends and community and small groups are for “fellowship” and friendship more than anything - I think that’s reflected in Churches.
Been thinking a lot about this. When a group starts focused on mission, it will ultimately get fellowship - but flowing from mission and a sense of accomplishing something together. If you start a group for fellowship - seldom do you get anything beyond fellowship - if even that. Often groups rise and fall based on people getting friendships.
Do we need to reorient ourselves in the west and learn from the east here? I think so. Focus on mission in the small group - and you get mission and fellowship. Focus on fellowship in the small group and get only fellowship - if that.
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May 27, 2009 at 11:53 AM
I think this is right on, Bob. I know that the guys from Austin Stone Church in Austin have been talking about this recently because of how it's affected their groups for the positive. From what I hear, they're knocking it out of the park using this very approach to their groups.
May 27, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Yes, mission can be the organizing principle.
I have always thought about it like this:
If we pursue friendship we can miss out on discipleship.
But if we pursue discipleship we will end up with the best kind of friendship.
If we pursue community we can miss out on a cause.
But if we pursue a cause we will end up with the best kind of community (cause-driven community).
If we pursue church we can miss out on Jesus.
But if we pursue Jesus we will end up with the best kind of church.
May 27, 2009 at 01:32 PM
Wow, Benjamin, that's awesome! I like that!
May 27, 2009 at 07:49 PM
As Rick White pointed out, Matt Carter of Austin Stone Church discussed the same thing. The video can be seen here:
http://vimeo.com/4731254
May 27, 2009 at 08:13 PM
This made me think of the 12 disciples. In themselves they would have not come together to follow Jesus. It would have been easier for the fishermen to hang with the fishermen and so on.
We are prone in our own relationships to be around people with similar interests. As we follow Jesus like the disciples did it is through that He will bring together people who naturally wouldn't be together for His mission.
I pray our small groups will reflect the diversity of the 12 as we follow Him.
May 28, 2009 at 09:39 AM
It's very important to remind that mission is the goal for any small group. I had seen some groups seeking friendship, and it didn't last...
Still, I have some doubts about differences between east and west. For exemple, when you say "in the east community is everything", in family, work, neighborhood etc; how is it?
I know I'm not from your concept of "west". We share many similarities but there are some differences too. When we in Brazil thik about community, we just think in party, friendship. And also we see most north americans as workaholiks, cowboys who just think to work. Both sides needs healing.
I think east, as you're trying to explain, is totally different from these points of view. Would you mind say more about this issue?
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