Small Groups

There is an urgency of God’s call to the Church.- to reach out to the lost and to work in co-operation with the Holy Spirit to build the kingdom of God.   There is also the need to provide discipleship as well as pastoral care.   We have a God-given mandate to seek and save the lost, a mandate that must impact our personal lives as well as forming the shape of much of our life together as a Church.  (Acts 2:42-47.  Heb. 10:22-25 and Matt. 28:19-20).   At the heart of God’s response to prayer on these issues has been.   Integrity in our outreach, Integrity in our relationships and Evangelistic, multiplying, life-sharing groups.   For those of us with past experience of meeting in groups, we must be prepared to put aside (maybe not for the first time!) all our preconceived ideas about small groups in Church.   True engagement in the small groups may well be the most radical change to our lifestyle since we came to Christ- are we ready for this challenge? How can we prepare ourselves, and others, to dump the fears we have and to embrace the world with the love of Christ?     There are a number of features to these groups.   (a)- The groups will be Basildon based as we are a Church in Basildon.  The geographical location of our main meeting (where God placed us) also calls for some groups focused on Steeple View/Laindon (NE).    (b)- The groups will exist   To support personal & Group evangelism into the network of friendships in the group.- Prayer Planning and Pro-action.   To bring further life application to the teaching and vision of the Church.   To provide a context for building relationships within the Church.             (c) – The Groups will be co-ordinated by one person and led by all.  The venue will not necessarily be at the home of the  co-ordinator.  .   We need to see our life together in these groups, as a central part of what God is leading us into.