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 WHAT
IS CHURCH TODAY?
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We know that one of the primary needs
for our generation is to belong. We want to be
accepted and liked for who we are. We want to hang out
with people we trust and respect.
Jesus had things sussed - he recognised
that being Church involved belonging to different
sizes of groups. People need the intimacy, vulnerability
and accountablity of hanging out with just a few others.
It's all too easy to just coast along in a big crowd
- wearing our masks and fooling everyone that we're
doing fine. However we do also need to gather together
on mass from time to time to share in the excitement
and vision of what God's doing with others. It's in
these places where the quality of our worship can be
magnified, where great teaching is often heard and where
God's power can be released.
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MENTORING/ACCOUNTABILITY
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Out of all the disciples, Jesus had 2 close friends
that he spent more time with. He mentored them and regularly
challenged them about their life and faith in Him.
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SMALL
GROUPS
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He also had his own small
group - the 12 disciples. He cared for them
and treated them as family. In a nation today where
there are so many broken homes - small groups offer
an excellent place for people to get together to eat,
drink, share, encourage, learn, and have fun.
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CLUSTERS
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| After a while he had encouraged several small groups
to be formed and sent them out as the 72. These clusters
of groups are big enough to make a difference but still
small enough to care. |
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CELEBRATIONS
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| Every now and then it's great fun when the groups of
clusters come together as the whole church to celebrate
and live it up big style. |
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