"One year ago today we were baptized into Christ together! I know it was no coincidence that we both made that decision & got to share that amazing experience! Thank you for being my best friend & helping me become a better person :) love you, all 6 of you!"
Yes, one year ago today Lindsey and Cyndi were baptized into Christ after going through the Story of Redemption. (Watch their story in the video above!) It was an amazing day. And these two young women and their families have, as you can see from the note above, grown incredibly close to one another and to all of us in the small group that went through this study together. We eat together, study, pray, go to each other's kids' ball games, and more. They are truly family.
As I reflected back upon this study with Lindsey and Cyndi, I was reminded of the power of sharing the gospel in a seeker small group. I have gone through the Story of Redemption countless times, and many times this has been just me sitting across a couple's kitchen table. This can be very effective. But there are many reasons to share the gospel whenever possible in a seeker small group. A seeker small group is a group with about half Christians and half seekers who come together to explore faith issues. It is important to have this mix so that the seekers do not feel overwhelmed and are not the only ones who do not "know the right answers."
Here are three reasons why sharing the gospel in a community context such as a seeker small group is so important:
People are missing community in their lives. Most people live lonely, isolated lives with few real friendships. Suburbia has created fractionalization of people's lives--working one place, living in another, shopping elsewhere, kids going to school someplace else. There is the long commute and the fast pace of American life. Families are scattered across the country. If you do not have a church home, where do you find community?
People are drawn to community. People may not have community (close relationships with people they can actually get together with), but they are drawn to it. A loving, caring, close knit group that opens its arms to others is attractive. I think of every time my wife and I hug--we seem to find a little girl wriggle in between us to get in on the warmth and closeness! People are the same way. So when you share the gospel in a small group where community is formed and Christian community is witnessed, then they like it and will keep coming back to the study for the people at least. (But don't make the group too big to where they feel like they could miss and have no one notice.)
Community is part of the gospel message. The good news is not just about redemption and forgiveness of sins. It is about a redemptive people--a people created anew by God. John's gospel tells us that on the cross, Jesus told his mother Mary that John was her son. He told John that Mary was his mother. We are a Christ-centered community, brought together at the foot of the cross, bound together by Christ's loving sacrifice for us. When people see that salvation includes being part of this kind of community, it will help them say yes to other truths of the gospel.
Sharing the gospel in community helps the seeker form relationships beyond the one sharing the gospel. I study with a lot of people and am blessed to see so many come to faith. Everyone of these people is precious. I take a picture with each person I baptize, because I love each one of them. The reality, unfortunately, is that I cannot be the best friend of every person that I study with. When the gospel is shared in a small group, the person who is baptized can form relationships with others in the group--both with other seekers who come to faith (like Lindsey and Cyndi) and with Christians. Because of this, they are not entirely dependent upon me (or whoever leads the study). Others befriend them, disciple them, and share life with them.
Sharing the gospel in community allows for intergenerational relationships to blossom. When sharing the gospel, it is indeed best to have someone who is close to the seeker's demographic in the group. But different generations can also be in the group, which can create a unique opportunity that most people do not have today. Where do people find intergenerational community outside of the church? Where can young people find grandparents, or vice versa? In this group with Lindsey and Cyndi is a wonderful couple in their late 40s or so named Sandy and Cindy. And they have been parental figures to these ladies, and grandparents to their children. For a single mom like Lindsey or an immigrant like Cyndi's husband, whose parents are not nearby, this can be a particularly incredible blessing.
How important do you think that community is in sharing the gospel? How can we make our gospel "presentations" more communal?
Comment by James Nored on November 1, 2011 at 11:48am
Bruce, I'm glad that it inspired you! Could you do me a favor? Could you write a blog post for us on your experience with Alpha--how you have used it, why you feel it reaches people--and someone(s) reached through this? That would be great! Thank you for your work!
Comment by Bruce Bates on November 1, 2011 at 9:05am
James, what a wonderful video! Pumps me up to share my salvation today. What is better than introducing someone to Jesus?
Comment by James Nored on October 31, 2011 at 9:41pm
Here is a link to the Story of Redemption study. I would say that about 90% of those who have gone through it have been baptized. And most Christians find it very helpful for them as well, as many have not put the overall story of God's redemption together in their own minds (and lives). One of the keys is that the story is told over 8 weeks, which allows time for trust in the one teaching to build, time for the seekers to experience Christian community, worship, etc., all which helps them come to faith in Jesus Christ.
Another key part of the study is that seekers are taught and trained that a vital part of being a Christ-follower is reaching out to others and blessing them in their daily lives. This is something that most Christians have never been taught or trained to do. So people like Lindsey and Cyndi become incredible evangelists!
Comment by James Nored on October 31, 2011 at 9:38pm
Mike, there are also differences in what works for the location for the study based upon different parts of the country. In the Northwest, for instance, up in Seattle, no one has anyone in their homes. So studies must all be done at coffee shops. Interestingly, I know one church planter that said that no one in South Carolina had people in their homes either, which surprised me. In Texas, Oklahoma, and in the Midwest, having people in one's home is still part of the culture (even if hospitality is down dramatically overall in all parts of the country).
I have a lot of studies in Starbucks. But these tend to be more of the one-on-one type of studies.
So, location and strategy must match a person's cultural context.
Comment by James Nored on October 31, 2011 at 9:33pm
You are correct that a normal Bible study intensive, spiritual formation type of small group would be uncomfortable for many unchurched. Seeker small groups are different. Seekers are told that it starts at the beginning of the Bible and tells the overall story--they don't have to know anything. They are told that there will be a mix of Christians and seekers there. In the first lesson, I bring pew Bibles for everyone and explain what a chapter and a verse is. I do not assume that they know anything about the Bible, and this approach helps them feel comfortable.
Note, however, that I do not assume that they know nothing about God. They all have God stories and can point to his working in their lives or to their struggle with his absence.
Comment by James Nored on October 31, 2011 at 9:28pm
Mike, people come in all shapes and sizes. Even Lindsey and Cyndi came for different reasons. Lindsey's daughter goes to the elementary school that High Pointe has adopted and served. The school sent home a flyer with our name on it, she lived very close, and so she came and visited us. Cyndi lived about 10 minutes away and was looking for a church, so she came. They both came to an Intro to High Pointe class that I teach, and I invited them to a Story of Redemption seeker small group study, and they came.
So if people are already seeking a church and visit a worship service, yes, they are often willing to then go into a home for a study--the right kind of study. One geared towards them and their questions and concerns as outlined above (like the Story of Redemption).
There is a huge section of the population that will not visit a church right off, however. For this group, we need to be serving them, meeting them in the community, getting to know them in our daily lives. Then they can be invited to a seeker small group. Or an individual study. In many cases, however, they will be first more comfortable going to a social gathering first and meeting people. This is why a good rhythm for a small group is to have a fun social party that they invite their nonchurched friends to every couple of weeks on a Friday or Saturday night. Play games, have a barbeque, watch football games, etc. Have fun! From there, they see that we are normal and even fun people, they can be invited to a small group study or worship or a church event.
Comment by Michael Neill on October 31, 2011 at 9:15pm
This story throws me a bit. I was under the impression that seekers would not be willing to be a part of a study in a home, but would rather "shop" a church and see if they wanted to join. I thought that Small Groups had become a place of spiritual formation for followers and that our services needed to be "seeker friendly." How many of these seeker groups do you have? Can you share some information about the Story of Redemption Study. I can think of a visiting couple we have now that might like to go through such a study.
"Father in the name of Jesus Christ restore mobility back too her life restore ordor back and finally This will make a Differance in her hold life Give her you father for my sister Kishinev Davis and my sister tanksley Dovie. Amen"
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