Small Groups are More than...well, small groups

When you have upwards of 65+ elementary kids at one service on a Sunday morning, breaking them into smaller groups seems a necessary step for sure.  It’s the whole ‘eat the elephant in small pieces’ mentality.  If crowd control were the only reason we divided kids into small groups, I don’t think anyone would see that as being anything but a smart management move.  In fact, I’m sure most would say, “If for no other reason…do it for your sanity.” 

I like a good management strategy as much as anyone, but that’s not why we do small groups.  We put kids into small groups because that’s where real discipleship happens.  Jesus knew it, and what better example is there than Jesus?! Jesus pulled twelve very different guys together for the purpose of making disciples.  They spent time learning from Him, with the goal of leading not only them to salvation, but using them to further His Kingdom.  Our Small Groups are more than just small groups of people when our focus is that same thing.  

Matthew 18:20 (NIrV) - “Where two or three people meet together in my name, I am there with them."
When we gather for the purpose of learning about the Lord, learning from the Lord, and praising the Lord…we are gathered in His name, and He is with us. As I pointed out to the kids, we are not coming together to form a soccer team or do a cooking class.  We are gathered to meet the Lord...together. 

So, we’re in these groups.  Now what?  Scripture is full of examples of people meeting together to eat, to pray, and to encourage each other in their faith.  To make it simple, we broke it down into three specific goals. 
1. To love each other (John 13:34-35)
2. To carry each other’s burdens; pray for one another (Galatians 6:2)
3. To help, forgive, and teach each other wisely (Colossians 3:13, 16)

If we can continue meeting together in His name with these goals in mind, God will do amazing things in and through us.  Small Groups are not just small groups…they are places where life change can happen.
    
This Week’s Announcements:
We still have a few ministry spots to fill. If you’d like to learn more about how you too can make an investment in the lives of kids, please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org

What God is Teaching Us:
This past Sunday, our small groups continued to build community, discuss why small groups are important, and practice some of the key things that will help each of them grow spiritually because of their involvement in a small group.  Follow the link below to see how that was accomplished.
This link is no longer available

Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
This Kindergarten child has learned that God’s Word is “true, true, true!”  This is a video (see link below) his parents sent me of him teaching his little sister this important lesson.  This is the kind of thing that makes a Children’s Pastor’s heart burst with joy! 
https://vimeo.com/138034641