We based core this year around the idea of bringing people together to push their minds and get them to critically think about God and what He wants us to do. We’ve done the Bible study more than anything else, especially with our 9-week reading of Luke. And I think we have somewhat of a home base/recharging feel to core.
I wonder if by covering a bunch of topics lightly, like we do when we read through Luke or cover a new topic each week, we short change each topic not giving it the full weight it deserves and more importantly implicitly say that they don’t deserve more discussion. Obviously we can’t cover every topic in-depth, nor should we. I don’t think it’s very beneficial to discuss at length the signs at the end of the age or what happened at the transfiguration.
Last semester we gave core challenges to try to give opportunities to implement some of the principles we learned about discipleship. But how much focus was on completing the core challenges? How much does there need to be? Obviously we aren’t going for completion just to have number or to even show obedience to the core. Instead, the challenges in essence show willingness to be obedient and make an effort to get closer to God.
What would it look like if we talked about evangelism, for example, then for the rest of the month spent each core (not necessarily Wednesday nights) actually doing evangelism? Or if we talked about servanthood, then we’d spend several weeks serving various people (the girl’s core, campus, NTFB, etc.). Emphasizing that we need to actually DO what we talk about?
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy Two
Later the Master selected seventy and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he intended to go. He gave them this charge:"What a huge harvest! And how few the harvest hands. So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands. On your way! But be careful—this is hazardous work. You're like lambs in a wolf pack. "Travel light. Comb and toothbrush and no extra luggage. Don't loiter and make small talk with everyone you meet along the way.
"When you enter a home, greet the family, 'Peace.' If your greeting is received, then it's a good place to stay. But if it's not received, take it back and get out. Don't impose yourself.
"Stay at one home, taking your meals there, for a worker deserves three square meals. Don't move from house to house, looking for the best cook in town. When you enter a town and are received, eat what they set before you, heal anyone who is sick, and tell them, 'God's kingdom is right on your doorstep!'
"When you enter a town and are not received, go out in the street and say, 'The only thing we got from you is the dirt on our feet, and we're giving it back. Did you have any idea that God's kingdom was right on your doorstep?'"
What would it look like for our core to adapt this for our campus and do it? Should we have focused on outreach more? If so what would that look like? Do we just feel comfortable resorting to a Bible study?
7 comments:
good question...
i have know real answer...just a opinion.
our core has an interesting mix of people who are new to FOCUS and us old folk. this posses a challenge in it's self. how do we make sure that everyone has the opportunity to grow closer to God if they choose it. some of our members have never done a study of he Bible where they were allowed to ask question and were forced to think about what they read. us old folk have had more practice with Bible study.
also, your question about how long do we focus on a topic is hard to answer. yes, i do agree that we could spend more time on discussing topics. but, that is where our ones on ones need to pick up the slack. what is talked about in core should be carried over into our 1-on-1's.
it would be nice if we have a core challenge centered on evangelism or service. maybe we can incorporate that into our core in the coming months.
that's all i have for now.
"Do we just feel comfortable resorting to a Bible study?"
I think this is what happens in a "normal" Christian small group ministry. I don't say that to criticize any particular group or ministry; I strongly agree that the study of scripture leads to personal and communal growth in knowledge and closeness to God. Sitting around and talking about topics, however, becomes the norm and becomes the easy response to a group setting.
The "CORE" concept lends itself to more than just the typical "bible study" genre, and like Matt said, a lot of that can be covered in one-on-one topical study (especially since either person can field questions and go straight to looking for answers). Again, discussion is intrinsic to the very operation of a "CORE," but to garner any kind of growth would mean that a "CORE" becomes a closer-knit community in which its members take whatever discussion topic and apply it to action. This parallels the ideal academic experience: there are lectures and presentations, but students must apply or respond to the topics at hand, either through essays or by performance in a laboratory component. To take it further to the core of our faith, this parallels the kind of ministry that Jesus lived: there were sermons and talks, but his ministry was not about philosophical debate, it was about doing and serving.
If we "don't do normal," then I don't think we should ever become comfortable with resorting to the "bible study" being the main focus of a small group.
I agree with Matt that our mix of new Christians and us old folk means we have people in different places but I don't think our response can only cater to one of the two while leaving the other one high and dry. A book I've been reading about evangelism talks about how non-Christians and even new Christians need to be exposed to authentic Christian living and practice. The Gospel does not need to be watered down, doing so is a disservice to both the Christian and the non-Christian because it takes God's power out of it and replaces it with human "wisdom" and also gives a false description of what each of us is called to.
Perhaps the best thing to do is to practice real discipleship, showing those who don't know it yet what it really looks like and what is expected of them, not only by the core but by God.
That of course can take on any of the shapes that you describe and it's up to the corefas to figure out what the group needs the most. Sometimes it might be evangelism, sometimes it might be exposure to God's word, sometimes it might be shooting girls with lasers, who knows! I don't know that you can really go wrong by teaching people about God in any capacity. What must be decided is which topics are good and which are best, and that's no easy choice.
Yep- a big component as far as topics covered is what the corefas see as necessary that our particular core needs to cover. I think it would be beneficial for evangelism to be incorporated with the core challenge. For example, the core challenge might be: with your partner engage in a conversation with a non-Christian about spiritual topics. Since we have both new and older Christians in our core, this can be played out when one partner is older and one younger. The older can sort of lead the way.
Obviously, it is very important to get practical use out of what we cover. I think it is also beneficial for the 'old guys' to encourage action in each other and in the 'new guys'. If we do not do this, what makes us think that once we are gone guys will take action. Not to say that God will not lead them, but surely God wants us to do everything we can to help each other grow closer to Him.
How much longer will we be at UTD to do what God wants us to do NOW?
When casually reading the Bible, it's easy to miss much of the impact that's supposed to carry over to our lives. In that respect, I like doing in-depth studies where people are encouraged to seek questions and use the Bible as a tool for examining their own lives. For me, this has been something where I have started to appreciate how much of the Bible I flat out don't understand, and also something that reveals areas of my life that I haven't given over to God.
On the other hand, I feel that discussions in core of where we fall short don't get translated into action often enough. I fear that a pattern may exist of people coming to core, studying part of the Bible that reveals a necessary change in their lives, and then resuming their normal lives until the next core meets, as though nothing happened. It's like there's an attitude that identifying where we fall short is what's important, rather than identifying it and then doing something about it. What's the point of core if it doesn't actually change us?
I think Bible studies are important in as much as they help us understand who God is and what He wants from us. Beyond that, there also needs to be some sort of motivation on the part of the participants to let Bible studies shape their lives. How does someone acquire this kind of motivation? How does one help others develop this kind of motivation?
Also, I agree with Blake. Shooting girls with lasers is of utmost importance.
Wow! Great conversation among the elders of your core. Corels as I call them. The question of motivation is a tricky one. It really comes down to the Spirit's work versus our own. The Spirit convicts, but we can preach. I think we have to turn the heat up so that the good soil can be revealed and the chaff can get blown off. Even though that process is painful for all involved . . .
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