Consider the power and necessity of small group community, over and above one-on-one relationships, in the commanded task of examining each other's faith (2 Cor 13:5). It is a touchy task to look into another's life and faith. The individual may not like it and get angry. In one-to-one discipling, if the disciple gets angry with the mentor, the relationship could be suspended and spiritual growth delayed for a considerable time. But in the small group, a defensive reaction to one member's comments can be dealt with by other members (even while the issue is still being addressed). Those closest to the defensive person can reassure him or her that the group is safe and that the other's comments were not malicious. Others, hearing the original on-target statement, can put the concept into other, less-threatening words. And the power of group agreement must be taken into account by the defensive group member. Eventually, he or she will deal with the issue. In the meantime, the defensive individual's friendship with other group members and the group's need for that person's participation will keep him or her from running away from the group and the painful confrontation.

Seek the Kingdom Together [36]

Pursue Holiness and Perfection Together [37]

Examine One Another's Faith [38]

Teach One Another [39]

Counsel One Another [40]

Disciple One Another [41]

See That Each One Does His or Her Part [42]

Face Discipline and Judgment Together [43]

The folks at Northside Fellowship know that the most dynamic spiritual growth occurs in a small group. Therefore, the small groups at Northside actively pursue the "Togethers of Spiritual Growth." Even in the larger congregational fellowship, the members of Northside Fellowship ask each other what they believe to be true. They ask each church member to have a significant job in the church. They stick with each other when things are tough for the church. They make sure their gatherings are holy, and they do the other things that Christians do together to grow spiritually.

Take the small group led by Jim Sanchez that meets every other week on Friday nights from 7 to 11 pm. Jim's group (well, it really isn't his group, it belongs to itself and it is everyone's responsibility) seeks together the kingdom of God. They try very hard to live together those four hours every other week as subjects of the High King, the Lord Almighty. Their group meetings are run with great flexibility, because they start in prayer asking the Lord what He wants for their group that very night, as well as for the future. [36]

It is not unusual for someone to come into a meeting of Jim's group disgruntled. The group is able to handle it though, because it is committed to "group holiness," as the people of God are commanded, "Be holy, because I am holy." (Lev 19:1-2; 1 Pet 1:15) The group lets people expose their nasty side and gently interacts until the devil no longer has his way in the person's life. Just the other night a deacon named Sam said that he had not been able to pray for almost two weeks. The group heard him out, shared relevant scripture passages with him and prayed for him. Before the prayer was finished, the deacon was back in communication with the Lord. The group that night glorified God with purity and holiness. Although one group member had a sinful attitude and said some sinful things, the group itself remained holy and did what God asked of it. Each member of the group probably sinned that night, but the group as a whole offered holiness to the Lord. [37]

One night, as Jim's group was considering what the Lord might want them to do, Nancy asked Jerry if he was able to pray in most all circumstances. The group picked up the question, making it easier for Jerry by many admissions of weakness in the area of prayer. Soon Jerry told how very difficult prayer was for him. The group heard him out, shared experiences and truth from the Bible, and then prayed. The group then remembered over the next year to regularly come back to Jerry about his prayer life. Of course, others also worked on their communication with the Lord. [38]

Whenever someone explains a portion of God's Word in Jim's group, the group knows that together they can dig out more truth than any one member could explain. The other night the group was studying John's statement about Jesus in John 1:5, "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." Suzie mentioned that she sees God trying to do something about the drug crisis the nation faces. Much discussion followed about the dark areas of society. Then, all of a sudden, Jack said that he thought that the light also tries to shine in our own minds, but sometimes the darkness of our selfishness gets in the way and we do not see the change that the Lord wants us to make. Later that night the group thanked God that they were growing spiritually together and not just individually. They realized that they had seen so much more in the John 1:1-5 passage than they could have as individuals. [39]

There were many reasons Jim's group decided to meet every other week for four hours. One was that the members were incredibly busy for the Lord. Another important consideration was that the members felt with a longer time period they could move more easily from superficiality to depth. As a result, during almost every meeting the group goes around the circle and checks to see how everyone is doing in life. Then they counsel each other to help with the more difficult struggles. When Mandy shared that her teenage son wouldn't mind her, the group gave her many suggestions. [40]

Jim's group as a whole disciples each of the individual members. They see discipleship as far more than learning the Bible and praying. One of the other things they emphasize is training. One of Jim's main jobs during group times is to continually consider what each member has to teach others. Some time ago Jim asked the group if Sadie, an older saint who is quite a prayer warrior, should be asked to train Sam in prayer. They thought it a good idea and then asked Sam and Sadie about it. Sam met with Sadie and she shared her way of thinking about prayer until Sam "got it." They prayed and prayed over the months until Sam's relationship with the Lord became dynamic for spiritual warfare through prayer. [41]

In the small group community, strengths and abilities cannot be well hidden. Jim noticed the group's surprise when, at a picnic in the park, Gus was so friendly that he brought bystanders into the action. Jim passed his knowledge of Gus' skill in outgoing friendliness to the other small group leaders at their monthly coordination meeting. Another group leader said that one of his group's members, Ted, was having trouble with loneliness in a large apartment complex he moved into. The pastor also mentioned that the church needed greeters at the doors on Sunday mornings with such welcoming skills. Jim went back to the small group community with these two requests for Gus, but Gus balked, saying that he was "just a plumber." The group argued with him, exhorted him, encouraged him and kept asking him to try to serve the Lord with his gift. Eventually Gus believed in himself and acknowledged that the Lord had given him something special he was to use for the good of others. Gus finally tried greeting at the church on Sunday. He loved it so much that he decided to spend a Saturday with Ted at the apartment complex. With Gus' help, Ted met 35 people in one day and is no longer lonely. Now Gus is very committed to greeting and welcoming others at the church. [42]

It happens often in Jim's group that members get in touch with sins that they are very ashamed of. When this happens, it is not unlikely to see a lot of self-hatred as God goes on with correcting the person. When Vic and Andrea both were reprimanded by the Lord for their love of money, the group tolerated their many moods, facing God's discipline with them. Vic and Andrea had a lot of things, and a lot of money. They would give joyfully one week and resent it the next. God seemed to keep after them, for their small fortune came under attack when one of their tenants in one of their apartment buildings sued them. The group stayed close to them, especially showing them that relationships were more wonderful than things. [43]

**Matt 6:33**; Matt 11:12; Matt 12:25; Heb 12:28; James 2:14-17

Pursue the kingdom of heaven with others, searching out every hidden corner of the realm. Together, find all that your faith has to offer.

Christians can only pursue the kingdom of heaven in groups. A kingdom is the society of a king and his people together. One cannot pursue a kingdom without other kingdom citizens. Working together toward biblical congregational fellowship and small group community is actually pursuing the eternal society of the kingdom. ("Seek **ye** first the kingdom...." KJV) It is this powerful, life changing society - the church - that is to seek God's ways on earth. ("Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.")

God has given us the opportunity in community to seek the kingdom of God together. When we do so, we worship God by honoring his sovereignty as King of the Kingdom reflecting back to Him his right to design his own kingdom, especially in terms of relationships among citizens.

In the small group, where people know one another much more intimately, there will be far more opportunities to seek the kingdom together. When there are disagreements, quarrels, different priorities, different gifts, different favorite Bible passages, or different mentors, the peace of the kingdom will be challenged. But the obedient small group does not escape such pressures through division or by denying or ignoring the problems. Instead, group members will realize that problems give them an opportunity to achieve a higher level of Christian love and community. Within the context of Biblical commands for community, many ways of working together can be found, in spite of differences or conflicts. The absence of rejection is one of the greatest benefits of our kingdom citizenship.

The kingdom of heaven consists in great part of relationships. The kingdom is filled with personalities and righteous interactions. Citizenship in the kingdom has all of the benefits of the "Togethers." Therefore, Christians in fellowship pursue the perfect society together. Attaining perfection is impossible, except in heaven. But progress toward perfection is honoring to God. The church that seeks the kingdom together will take no vacations from implementing the Togethers. There will be no "time-out" periods. Every service and every sort of fellowship will be times when believers are living for God and one another while receiving the true benefits of citizenship in heaven.

1. What comes to mind when all of you think of the Kingdom of Heaven?

2. How can Christians best remember that the Kingdom is primarily relationships rather than experiences?

3. Why is it so hard to consistently and regularly remember heaven? How would it affect life if we were constantly aware of heaven, if, say, we were able to see the angels every day between 5:00 and 5:15 p.m.?

4. How does each group member feel/think about death and going to Heaven, the eternal edition? Is it worth the pain and suffering that usually precedes the passage to the eternal kingdom?

1. Group members tell the group what benefits of the Kingdom of God, Earth Edition, elude them. Then the group helps one another identify ways to acquire those benefits this side of death.

2. How can this group seek the Kingdom of Heaven together? Identify at least two ways and begin to so seek the Kingdom immediately.

**Lev 19:1-2**; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Cor 1:2; 2 Cor 13:11; Eph 1:4; Heb 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15; 2 Peter 3:11,14

Make it your aim to be holy as a group, counteracting each other’s unrighteousness by means of the group’s perfect obedience.

As individuals, each one of us is prone to sin. It is far more possible for a Christian small group to approach holiness and perfection. In Christian community, one or two people can be acting in an unholy way, while the group maintains a righteousness in the way it handles the situation. For this reason, Christians are told as a group to be holy.

God has given us power in community to pursue holiness and perfection together. When we do so, we are constantly reminded of own far superior holiness and perfection. This causes us to stand in awe of God and reflect back to Him that He is holy and He is perfect.

The small group is the perfect size to maintain holiness. Individual holiness easily breaks down at many levels. And in congregational fellowship, it is difficult to maintain true holiness simply because of the large number of imperfect people involved. But in the small group, Christians can encourage one another to holiness and perfection. When one group member is disobedient and does not feel like praying, the small group still prays, maintaining its "corporate" obedience regarding prayer. When one or two group members' hope is weak, the group's hope can still be strong. The individual can also more successfully pursue holiness by following the example of more mature members, by being exhorted to higher things by others in the group, and by exchanging ideas and insights about holiness.

There are a great many ways in which holiness and perfection can be pursued when everyone meets in fellowship. But in the context of fellowship, we are seeking group holiness, not the holiness of individuals. We can see how this works if we consider musical worship. Scripture clearly shows that God seeks to be praised in song. But most of us are not skilled or talented musicians. No matter how hard we try, our untutored singing will not result in the perfect expression of musical praise. However, we can still participate in the most exquisite musical praises to God through a choir. Old Testament passages indicate that a choir should represent the whole congregation in its singing. The choir can come much closer to a perfect expression of musical praise than the entire congregation. But by listening closely to the congregation's representative, the choir, the whole church also becomes part of the musical worship. As God accepts the praise of the choir, He is not only pleased with the singers, but with the listeners. As choir members sincerely sing their beautiful praises and as each member of the congregation silently repeats the words of praise to God, the whole church is attaining a level of perfection and holiness that is quite beyond that of a single individual.

1. How can you as a group pursue holiness and perfection together? How will careful attention to the group’s obedience to Scripture help? How will it help to think of things commanded in the Bible for Christians when they gather that apply to your group (the Togethers you are studying)?

2. As a group, describe hypothetical situations when various group members sin, but the group is able to be perfect. Have there been any such real situations in the history of the group?

1. What will your group specifically have to do to pursue holiness and perfection together? How will you do this?

Mark 16:14; **2 Cor 13:5**; 1 Tim 4:16

Evaluate one another’s faith to identify areas of concern and need for spiritual growth or commitment.

The obedient church needs to somehow accomplish this difficult Together of examining one another’s faith. This can be accomplished somewhat through the work of church elders or officers. However difficult it might be, it is best if a church would teach its members that asking the condition of one another’s faith is acceptable and absolutely desirable. During all informal times together in larger groups and in all small community groups it is quite meaningful to ask one another what areas of faith are strong and which areas could be prayed for.

God has given us insight and safety in community to examine one another’s faith. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him his own righteous and tender examination for the purpose of making us more like him.

Only in small group community can an individual's faith be fairly evaluated. Since individual expression varies, it is hard for any one individual alone to accurately discern what another is saying. Christians in small group community can more accurately review one another's faith and identify areas of concern. Then, through advice, mutual prayer and accountability, the Christian small group can encourage spiritual growth in each of its members.

Christians who want to go the extra mile in giving God what He wants will take time in small group community to ask one another searching questions about their faith. The small group should ask members what is going on in their prayer life, how they're relating the gospel to non-Christians, and other issues of faith. Such questions will be asked in a curious rather than a judging way, and only for the purpose of being helpful.

Examination of one another's faith in groups over 12 people will only scratch the surface. The most usual way that the church obeys this command in larger gatherings is through the public reading of Scripture, the soul-searching nature of sermons, and prayers for the Holy Spirit's examination and enlightenment. However, church members can also ask one another about which areas of faith they might pray for one another.

1. How comfortable is it to examine one another’s faith. Why or why not?

2. How comfortable is it for each group member to have his or her faith examined by a friend and by the group?

3. What are the best principles to follow in examining one another’s faith?

4. Is it safer when you examine one another’s faith all at the same time? How does the principle of Matthew 7:1-5 help?

1. Tell one another your strongest areas of faith. If you did not do it earlier, also mention your weakest areas of faith. As each group member gives his or her report, the group first ask questions and examine those areas mentioned and then areas not mentioned. (Areas of faith are many. Examples: prayer, obedience, knowledge of the Bible, trust, forgiveness, certainty of salvation, etc.)

Prov 9:9-10; Col 1:28; **Col 3:16**

Pool your understanding of Scripture and check out one another’s comprehension of the Bible. Teach one another for the sake of spiritual growth.

God's truth is too large for any one person to grasp. God's "IQ" is infinite; each of ours is limited. Christians in community can share their understanding and more fully teach one another the Scriptures. Many views of a biblical teaching fill out the truth, because, together, "**we** [plural] have the mind of Christ." (1 Cor 2:16)

God has given us together sufficient knowledge to teach one another in community. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him that He is the ultimate teacher and the truth itself.

The most powerful teaching will occur in the small group where individuals all share what they are learning from God. During times of Bible study, the various perspectives of all group members will bring out the maximum understanding of what God has said in His Word. God sees truth from every possible angle and takes every possibility into consideration when He speaks to us. We should listen to each other to learn more about God's various perspectives. Independent thinking can only take us so far. We need one another to see as much as we possibly can in God's Word.

To a limited extent, Christians can teach one another in most of the larger gatherings of the church. We can teach through official roles such as Sunday School teacher. We can also talk in informal settings about the Scriptures and our experiences with Christ. This requires a dedication to give God what He has asked for because our conversations tend to be superficial and polite. But Christians must be aware that teaching one another is not the same as preaching to or lecturing one another. Preaching in informal conversation is rude and ineffective.

1. What are important principles to remember in teaching another?

1. Does everyone in the group think he or she can teach the others in the group?

2. Each member tell on a scale of one to ten how teachable they think they are. Also mention what gets in the way of learning from another.

3. Each member ask the group a spiritual question that they would like answered. Over time, the group is to answer those questions.

**Prov 15:22**; Prov 20:18; Prov 27:9; [Isa 41:28]

With other Christians, provide advice on how to handle life in general as well as the difficult situations God allows and Satan creates. The wisdom of many counselors is more precious than the wisdom of any one imperfect human being.

God has given us knowledge and wisdom in community to counsel one another. When we give one another advice from God’s truth on how to handle life, we worship God by reflecting back to Him that he is the counselor of the ages whose advice is always effective.

It is the Christian small group that can most effectively counsel its own members. By the group presenting many ways to handle a situation the individual group member can find one which matches his or her personality and outlook on life.

Small groups wishing to be relevant to everyday situations will spend considerable time getting reports of what's going on in the life of each group member at least once a month. These in-depth reports will reveal situations and problems to which the Bible speaks. Time must be taken for the various members to analyze each situation and apply the Scripture. For example, if a group member is having trouble loving and honoring a difficult in-law, various suggestions from different group members increase the probability of finding satisfying ways to be more loving and kind. Or when a group member expresses that they have come to a halt in their witness to a friend or relative, the group can come up with various suggestions on what to do next. Then the person can choose the suggestion compatible with his or her personality or way of doing things (and, therefore, the suggestion most likely to be carried out).

Opportunities to corporately counsel one another in large groups within the church are rare. It could happen if pastors presented Scripture verses or passages and asked church members to write down or verbally suggest ways to apply that passage personally to life. This would result in a wide variety of helpful viewpoints which could be printed in the church newspaper.

1. How are teaching and advice different from one another?

2. Why is listening in detail so important before giving advice?

3. Why is it necessary for a person to want advice for good advice to be effective? How can you get a person to want your advice? How do you earn the right to give advice?

1. Each group member seek advice from the group on at least one issue of life.

**Matt 28:18-20**; Phil 4:9; Titus 2:3-8; 1 Peter 5:3

Train others to follow Christ. Demonstrate the faith, soliciting others to exercise their faith similarly. Christians not only teach and counsel one another, we also show one another how to do things.

God has given us the assignment in community to train and disciple one another by teaching Christ. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him the very nature, characteristics, attributes and wonderful history of Christ.

Training can best be done in the small group. The small group community allows the opportunity for a great deal of practical biblical application within the group experience. Christ discipled men in a small group because He knew that small group training is effective.

The Christian small group should be on-the-job training for Christian obedience. Just being in a close-knit group of people requires growth and obedience. Much of the Bible's teachings about how we ought to act have to do with how we are to behave around people, especially those we are close to. The small group challenges us to obey the very practical and everyday teachings of Scripture.

One way we disciple one another in a small group is by observing. For example, we might know that our way of expressing concern for others is clumsy and ineffective. Someone else in the group expresses their concern in a slightly different way which is much more effective. By adopting that slightly different approach, we change a little more into the image of Jesus Christ.

Role-playing can also be a very useful tool for the Christian small group that wants to be more effective for God. However, the most powerful discipling tool of all is to serve together. Service projects will stretch Christians in a small group as long as the project is a little bit difficult, requiring prayer, learning new ways to obey, and a deeper understanding of Scripture.

There are many creative ways in which discipling can be done in the larger fellowship. One seldom used but powerful method is role-playing. Role-playing is merely acting out acceptable ways to handle a situation. Sunday evening church programs can periodically become training workshops where situations are discussed with various people role-playing how to handle them in biblical and God-honoring fashions.

Powerful discipleship can go on when individuals with strengths in certain areas respond appropriately to handle people, situations, problems and events in the course of church service projects. Through observation, other less mature individuals in the same program or project can learn, and then try to duplicate, better ways to respond to life.

1. Why is teaching and counseling not discipling?

2. Why is discipling others so much less appealing than teaching others or even counseling others?

1. Going from one group member to the next, one at a time, ask people how they are presently discipling others. Then the group explore with each person the possibility of increasing or improving that discipleship ministry.

2. Each group member identifies someone they look up to in the group or outside of it and tells the Christian behavior they emulate and would like to learn how to do or be.

Rom 12:4-6; 1 Cor 3:5; 1 Cor 12:12-31; **Eph 4:16**

Exhort and involve others for their part of the action in doing the will of God. Let no one disregard or slight the faith and lose heavenly reward.

God wants to accomplish big things through the church. The war against evil is complex and each Christian is needed as a soldier in the strong army of God. The church should insure that each soldier is involved in the battle.

God has given us authority in community to see that each one does his or her part in the work of the kingdom. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him his role to decide and decree assignments and personnel in his own kingdom.

It is the Christian small community group which can best assign tasks to its own members. In the small group, people's abilities and shortcomings become evident. The small group can make accurate assignments regarding ministries in the work of the church. The small group can encourage individuals to do the tasks God has assigned to them. In the intimacy of a small group, where Christians have been together for a considerable time, a deeper understanding of each person's talents, gifts, and value to the church will be discovered. Someone with a talent not being used for God's work can be gently and continually exhorted and encouraged until they have taken their place on the team and are active in ministry.

Ten percent of the people doing one hundred percent of a church's work is not God's plan! But to change that very disturbing (but common) problem, churches must provide a whole lot more help than they usually do to get everyone assigned to a job in the work of God. Congregations often think the work of the church is related only to worship services and Bible teaching. But the church that puts into practice the Scriptural teaching for **every** Christian to have a job in the body can accomplish tremendous things for God. Churches should spend a great deal of time with every member to help them identify their various talents and gifts. Then, because talents and gifts are given by the Lord, the effective church will make sure everyone is involved in Christian service, not by automatically plugging people into a generic program, but by helping each member to build a genuine ministry with others who have similar talents and gifts.

1. Why do Christians not take it upon themselves to think about how all the others in their church can be effective for the Lord?

2. How would you respond if someone tried to recruit you to a significant job in your church for which God has given you talent?

3. How would you respond to church membership that required you to have a job in the church?

4. At what age do people cease to have a meaningful part in the work and service of the local church?

1. Help each group member identify his or her place(s) of service in the work of the church. Do not let anyone get away with token service requiring only a little bit of time each week. Individual members should use this opportunity to ask the group if it appears they are in the right place of service in the Body of Christ.

2. Each group member mention two close friends outside of the group who are not working up to their capacity in the work of the church. Discuss ways to approach and challenge these people to do their part.

Prov 1:7; 1 Cor 11:31-32; **Heb 12:7-11**; 1 Peter 4:17

Face God’s displeasure and correction with your friends in the faith -- not only your own correction, but theirs as well.

It is God’s responsibility to discipline and correct us out of his great love for us. However, facing God's displeasure and correction as an individual can be devastating. God would rather have us face His discipline together, holding one another up and helping one another receive His reproof and judgment.

Often, if we can figure out what the discipline is for, we can make the appropriate changes more quickly and bring to an end the discipline. This is "getting with God’s program".

God has given us wisdom to face discipline and judgment together in community. When we do so, worship God by reflecting back to Him his role as Loving Parent and Judge by our joint acceptance of the judgment and discipline.

When an individual or the whole small group experiences what feels like God's judgment rather than His blessing, the group will be in prayer and much thought to discover what wrong has been done or what sin has been committed. Once it knows what the judgment is all about, the small group will work very hard to help the offending member (or itself) return to righteous obedience.

There are times when the whole fellowship, or a large percentage of the congregation, is being disciplined by the Lord for misbehavior, for sinfulness, or for a lack of righteousness. The obedient congregation will be much in prayer and meditation on the Bible to find their shortcomings as a church and to hear what God wants changed.

1. How often in our Christian life do you think is the average that we would face God’s correction, discipline and judgment? Is it only once in a while, all the time -- what?

2. What are the various ways that God disciplines his people. Individually? As a group?

3. Relate times when individual group members faced God’s discipline.

4. If any group members have friends facing God’s discipline and judgment, the group counsel how they can be of help to their friends.

1. Might your group be being disciplined by the Lord at this time?

2. Ask if anyone in the group is facing God’s discipline or might be at the present time. Then the group faces it with them.