Adult Small Group Vision

Regardless of the specific emphasis of Adult Small Groups, the main Glory of Christ Baptist Church mission, vision, and values are the primary goals for our gatherings.

Emphasis: Purposeful and Intelligent Love

Our Lord commands that we love each other and so prove to be His disciples. The scriptures teach that as brothers and sisters in Christ, we have a significant role in the Holy Spirit’s work in conforming us to the image of Christ so that He might be praised in all our ways. Discipleship is relational. Our concern for each other must lead to both words and deeds that are helpful. The scriptures speak of the need to be wise in our relationships, hence the emphasis for adult small groups: Purposeful and Intelligent Love. Others should SEE how we relate to each other and say “these people know how to build deep, helpful relationships where God’s word is applied with much discernment.” It is our hope that small group members would experience the following: a deeper understanding of how God’s word applies to their lives and an increased ability to engage in helpful and intelligent conversations. HOW our conversations are conducted is very important. As we grow deeper in our love for each other and our Lord, and as we see his Word change our lives, we will be more “enthralled” with Him and have a stronger desire to spread a passion for His supremacy in all things for the joy of all peoples.

John 13:35, By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

1 John 4:19-20, We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

Colossians 1:28, Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Philippians 1:9-11, And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15, For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Hebrews 3:12-13, Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Colossians 3:12, Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

2 Peter 1:5-11, For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Implication:

• Understanding & practicing the 8 values of Glory of Christ Baptist church. We are loving to others when we embrace these values and encourage them to do the same.
• Our ability to love each other is founded upon God’s love for us in Christ, and our daily abiding in Him. Growth in love for God, each other, and our enemies is not optional, but is holiness.
• Intelligent and helpful conversations. We will learn how God’s Word can make us wise and discerning people.
• Loving one another purposefully and intelligently in part means being skilled in understanding one another and ourselves. We must plan to be with each other for enjoying fellowship, meeting needs and admonishing one another.
• Ministering only to adults complements the work in Family Discipleship, and allows more freedom to discuss sensitive matters that might be unsuitable for children. Intergenerational ministry is properly the focus of the Family Discipleship department. The small group leader can decide if children should be present, depending on the particular focus of the group (adult counseling groups for example would not be a good choice.) Of course, during the opening time with singing and prayer, the whole family could be present!
• Evangelistic type small groups have the same vision. It might be said that the purpose of adult groups is to grow strong in faith: for Christians a strengthening, for non-Christians, conversion.
• We assume the Holy Spirit is active in believers, guiding and sanctifying. Therefore we must all be committed to honor God and speak to each other what God’s spirit is showing us. Non-Christians can discuss their experiences as well, which are certainly not outside of God’s providence. The small group leader can help the person to see their experiences in the light of scripture.
• We believe that as we speak what is in our thoughts, learning increases and capacity for intelligent witness and encouragement increases. (1 Peter 3:15)
• Leaders will be evaluated and trained prior to starting a small group and will have regular contact with an elder. Our practice will be to multiply small groups by evaluating existing small group members for small group leadership.

Qualification for Small Group Leadership

• Personal commitment to daily prayer and study.
• Member of Glory of Christ Baptist Church with consistent attendance.
• A man must be the main person responsible leading the group, while a woman might lead certain studies under the authority of the man. A gifted woman might also lead an all-woman study.
• General agreement with the Elder Affirmation of Faith (disagreements will be evaluated on a case by case basis.)
• Trained and coached by an elder.
• Agreement to regular coaching from an elder.