Cultivating the Covenant Community

“Cultivating The Covenant Community”

Part 1

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Pastor Vincent B. Ligon

INTRODUCTION

A strong wind is blowing across the church, and it is good. More and more churches are starting small group ministries. Some small groups meet for fellowship and support. Others meet to address specific life topics such as marriage, parenting, dating, addictions, or divorce recovery.

Still others gather to study the Bible or to grow spiritually or even to engage in spiritual development. One truth that has emerged from this small group movement is that there is no one right way to do small groups. Just as there are many mansions in God’s house, so there are many different needs in God’s body, the church.

God has placed many different gifts inHis people to meet those needs. Indeed, we are a Body. In His grand design we exercise those gifts with each other and help each other grow. The local church has varying degrees of commitment to a small group program. For some, it is an add-on program, an option, or a part of what they offer. For others, the groups are integrated with the church’s mission and designed to deepen the life past what happens in a weekly service. For still others, the small group is not a part of what they do, it is what they do.

Back to our text Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16

Note ALSO the following;

2 Corinthians 6:11-13

Amplified Bible (AMP)

11We are speaking freely to you, Corinthians [we are keeping nothing back], and our heart is opened wide.12There is no limit to our affection for you, but you are limited in your own affection [for us].

13Now in the same way as a fair exchange [for our love toward you]—I am speaking as [I would] to children—

open wide [your hearts]to usalso.

Our growth comes from the role that the Body of Christ, our small group and our leaders, played in our life. They delivered the ‘goods’ you/we learned about in the Bible. They obeyed what it said to do, and you/we are the receivers.We are connected to each other, supporting each other, encouraging each other, confessing to each other, and doing a zillion other things the Bible tells us to do in community. All these produce growth, healing, and change.

Yetwhile we have a cultural movement of small groups in the church, we often lack a theological/ scriptural vision for their role. Nor do we have practical ways of how to do that vision. We have not given small group processes the weight the New Testament does.

As a result, we often experience a stagnated, limited version of being in relationship with God. If by chance we do experience growth through groups, we don’t recognize God’s role in it. Without a theological/scripturalvision for growth through small groups, we lose it.

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament,

grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4: 16).

Note The Following;

From him,meaning God, the body, meaning us, grows, meaning change, as each part does its work, meaning that people help each other. In other words, we will experience change in our own lives while working with others.

Turn to 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18

Note again Ephesians 4:16

From him,meaning God, the body, meaning us, grows, meaning change, as each part does its work, meaning that people help each other. In other words, we will experience change in our own lives while working with others.

This passage said it was from Him that the body does these things. Small groups is not Plan B, It was really God’s Plan A. God’s planned for His people to grow through people helping people. The body would “build itself up in love.”

Small groups are not an add-on, secondary concern, or fad. What happens in a good small group is part of the very work of the church itself. It is primary, key, and amajor function of the church and should be seen that way.It is part of Plan A.

CLOSING

So we want to begin with a new vision for our small groups. They are not just culturally relevant for the postmodern world of reality and experienced truth. They are not just a way to be like the “cool”churches. They are not just for the “hurting” people.And they are not just an add-on program.

They are a valid expression of what the body of Christ is supposed to be doing on the earth. They are a structured expression of the doctrine of the church. They are as big a part of what the New Testament dictates as preaching and teaching.

Colossians 1:25-29

Amplified Bible (AMP)

25Inthis churchI/we was made a minister according to the stewardship which God entrusted to me/usfor your sake, so that I/we might make the word of God fully known [among you]—

26that is,the mystery which was hidden [from angels and mankind] for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people).27God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ inandamong you, the hopeandguarantee of [realizing the] glory.

28We proclaim Him, warning and instructing everyone in all wisdom [that is, with comprehensive/complete insight into the word and purposes of God], so that we may present every person complete in Christ [mature, fully trained, and perfect in Him—the Anointed].

29For this I /we labor [often to the point of exhaustion], striving with His powerandenergy, which so greatly works within me/us.

“Cultivating The Covenant Community”

“Now Is The Day Of Salvation, Come To Jesus Now!”