K - Groups

The book of Acts teaches us that the early church had a message, the Gospel, and a methodology to spread the Gospel, small group gatherings. The early church was a church without walls. They met in the upper room (Acts 1:13); they attended temple together and met in their homes (Acts 2:46; 5:42); they ministered in a place called Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:2); and they gathered outside the temple in an open courtyard called Solomon’s portico (Acts 3:11, 5:12). Yet they grew from 120 to 5,000 in just a short period of time (Acts 1:15; Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4).

I. “K” is for Koinonia - the word used for fellowship in Acts 2:42. But it was more than fellowship – it was a way of life. In the early church, Christians would gather together to worship, study the Bible, pray, have fellowship, share testimonies, care for one another, share with one another, and share the gospel -- this was Biblical koinonia. Our K-Groups follow the pattern of Acts 2:42-47. A typical K-Group meeting will include the following elements:

Welcome and Fellowship
Announcements: church ministries and special events
Missions and Ministry Moment: Local & World Missions
Prayer
Study – the Gospel of Mark
Closing Thoughts and Prayer
Refreshments and more Fellowship.

II. Five Core Values of K-Groups:

      1.  Worship: loving God in worship through the Word, prayer, songs, and testimonies

      2.   Connection: developing deep friendships, where people are known, loved, accepted, encouraged and prayed for; and where relationships are characterized by honor, humility, honesty, forgiveness, trust, grace and mercy.

      3.   Community: ensuring everyone is cared for – both in our group and members of our church not in a group, but within the bounds of a K-Group.

      4.   Transformation: seeking to grow closer to Christ by being transformed into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18) through the study and application of the Bible; use of our spiritual gifts in service to one another and to fulfill the Great Commission.

      5.   Great Commission: pursuing the Great Commission by the "Open Chair" which we will prayerfully seek to fill with a member or new person from the community; supporting a local Christian ministry; and “adopting” world missionaries that our church supports.

III. Where will we meet and when:

      ·  Home of Layne and Teeki Hefner. 5043 Terra Lake Circle, Pensacola, Florida (850) 492-1561, led by
         Dave Crenshaw. This group meets each Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

      ·  Home of Bert and Diane Smith, 9571 Bayview Drive, Lillian, Alabama (251) 961-1260, led by Stephen Cloud.
         This group meets each Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Nine Reasons to Join a K - Group

Reason 1: Develop Close Friendships.

One of the great benefits of joining a small group is to develop close relationships. The phrase, “one another,” is used over 50 times in the New Testament. We are asked to love and pray for one another, bear each other’s burdens and to build each other up. These “one another” passages are for our benefit – it shows us how we are to befriend one another.   One of the ways we “one another” well is in our small groups.

Reason 2: Prayer will become more meaningful to you.

Many people are hesitant to pray in front of others, especially in a large church. In a small group you will learn to participate in prayer by having a conversation together with God. No one is pressured to pray, but as you become comfortable, you’ll soon find yourself joining in. As we pray together – God does a wonderful thing – He draws us closer to Him and to one another. And the best thing - we see God’s faithfulness and love as He answers our prayers.

Reason 3: Small groups help you apply the Bible to everyday life

Have you ever been in a classroom setting in school and wanted to stop the teacher and say, "But what about...?" or "I don’t understand," then a small group is for you! In our small group’s you can ask questions, participate in a discussion of the text, and hear others share insights and illustrations of the truth you are trying to grasp. Small groups help us dig through the Scripture’s together and see how to apply God’s truth to our own personal situations.

Reason 4:  You will deepen your understanding of worship.

Many believers mistakenly believe that worship can only happen on Sunday morning in a large group with a sermon, responsive reading, and an offering plate. Worship happens anytime we seek to draw into the presence of God and desire to honor Him. Sometimes that happens best in a smaller group in praying, singing or studying the Bible together. At the Lillian Fellowship worship is central to all we do – it is what God desires.

Reason 5:  You will be loved and cared for.

Small groups provide excellent support in times of crisis, change, and stress. You’ll have a sense of stability and security knowing there are people who really care for you and are committed to standing with you.

When someone loses a job, or a family member has an extended illness, or a mother needs a babysitter - these are practical needs that will be naturally taken care of through your small group. Your group will coordinate the sharing of hot meals to be brought in when your family is in need. Many people in our church could testify that they would not have made it through a difficult time if it hadn’t been for the support of their group.

Reason 6: You will have a natural way to share Christ with friends, relatives, and co-workers

It may be that some of your friends who don’t know Christ as Savior and Lord wouldn’t be attend a church service. They have a preconceived idea about church and just the thought makes them defensive. But these same people may be open to an invitation to a casual Bible discussion in a home setting. In a small group, skeptical friends can ask questions and express honest doubts without feeling "put on the spot." When your friend sees the love and warmth and honesty of your group, it will make him or her more receptive to hear about the truth of Christ in the Bible.

Reason 7: You will develop leadership skills you never knew you had!

The Bible teaches that every believer is given certain talents or "gifts" to benefit others in the family of God. Unfortunately most Christians remain as Sunday morning spectators all their lives because large group meetings are primarily "sit and listen" situations. As you share and participate in a relaxed small group setting, you’ll discover your confidence in Christ and in your abilities rising as you discover the spiritual gifts and talents that God has given you. This will help you at work, at church, and in every other relationship.

Reason 8: You will be able to participate in Missions.

Every small group will be a missions group. We’ll adopt a community mission’s organization that helps “the poor and crippled and blind and lame” (Luke 14:21). On a regular basis we will be able to pray with and for this ministry – as well as lend a hand when the need arises. In addition, each small group will be able to pray and send letters, support/care packages to the missionaries we support around the world. Thus, we are able to fulfill Christ’s Commission in Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Reason 9: You will be a Biblical Christian!

The book of Acts is very clear about how God intends for His people to grow and have their needs met in the church. We will never be able to hire enough professional pastors to meet all the individual needs in our family. God never intended for it to be that way. Consider these verses:

      "They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of
       bread, and to prayer. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Every
      day they continued to meet together... they broke bread in their homes and ate together...
      and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42, 44, 46-47

      "Greet also the church that meets at their house." Rom. 16:5

      "Aquilla and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord and so does the church that meets at
      their house." I Cor. 16: 19

We are excited about the incredible potential of the network of small groups we’re building in the Pensacola and Lillian areas. Small Groups have these nine benefits that no believer can afford to pass up. If you are not participating in a group, why not join one this week?