Encounter groups

Speaker: Paul Brown

Notes

What are groups for? Why do we call them "encounter groups"? The two-winged church. Encounter group values:

• Christ at the centre

• Community

• Every member...

• Led by the Spirit

• Multiplication

Bible basis: Acts 2:46, Acts 5:42, Romans 16:5, Proverbs 17:17, Proverbs 27:6

What groups do:

• Welcome, including eating together

• Worship, including breaking bread

• Witness - reaching out together

• Word - applying what we have learnt

In this season, try out some groups and see what works and what doesn't.

Application

Share examples of different sorts of small groups you have been in - how many can you collect between you? Talk about strengths of the various types and styles.

How have you benefited from close accountable relationships? [These don't only happen within encounter groups, of course.] How important is it for us to have people around us who can say hard things when necessary?

How have you grown through being in a gruop? How would you like to grow in your faith? What do you think God wants you to step into next?

Posted: 17 Jan 2010