The Why of Life Groups
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. Luke 2.39
So why did Mary & Joseph return back to Nazareth? She was an unwed pregnant teenager mother. Joseph was her betrothed but he was not the Father. (We know that the Holy Spirit was the father.) Surely the tongues would have been wagging in Nazareth! The relative anonymity of Bethlehem surely was a relief. The remoteness of Egypt meant no gossip. So why did they return? I think it can be describe in one word “community”.
A recent book describes our need with the title Refrigerator Rights. If you invite a stranger into your house there are certain manners you expect them to adhere to. If they walk over and open the refrigerator, pour themselves a glass of milk that is a huge offense. You don’t know them that well. If family and close friends come over you just tell them, “You know where the fridge is, help yourself.” You are comfortable with that because you know them and they know you. You have community.
That is what life groups are about—refrigerator rights. It is being known and knowing others. It is being accepted and loved and accepting and loving. It is restoration of community that is rapidly slipping away in today’s world. Need some examples? Studies show 46 million people move every year. The average adult watches 28 hours of TV a week. Add to that all the hours spent in front of a computer screen for work & play. As a culture, we have defined success as “climbing the ladder”. That means we are ready to abandon what is close to us for the sake of the next step toward success. These factors mean one thing—we are a lonely people in need of community.
Lifel groups are where we gather with people around Jesus and find what we have lost. We find that friendships and community are more than what is the lastest school parking lot gossip, the soccer game, the price of gas, tomorrow’s weather and Christmas at Wal-mart. Friendships and community mean we know each other and are known. We share our hurts and hang-ups and are accepted and loved anyway. The life group community are those who hold us up in prayer in the tough times. They are the ones who cry with us in the losses and laugh with us in the joys. Life groups are where we learn to love and be loved. Life groups are where we sit at Jesus feet, hear, ask questions and discuss and learn about Jesus as well as ourselves. Life groups are where love trumps over the inherent differences.
Life groups are forming all the time. Email us and we can get you connected. Join a group. Join the community. |