Building a Church of Small Groups: A Place Where Nobody Stands Alone (Paperback)

Chapter One

Whatever community exists as a result of God's creation, it is only a reflection of an eternal reality that is intrinsic to the being of God. Because God is eternally one, when he created in his image, he created oneness. Gilbert Bilezikian, Community 101

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. Yours is an awesome responsibility. Soon we will conclude our closing arguments, and you will render the verdict. Our society trusts fallible men and women with decisions like the ones you now face. Soberly and objectively, you must review the evidence. Our arguments are not evidence; you must judge our closing statement to determine how you view the evidence. The verdict will rest with you. But we believe there is clear and convincing proof for building a church of small groups. We'll begin by reviewing the theological evidence for community."

The arguments from theology-that is, the study of God and his person -prove beyond doubt that God's nature is communal. Our theological analysis will show you why God's communal nature requires you to respond by building community-for yourself and for your church.

The theological case depends on three basic ideas. First, God exists in community; he has forever existed as and will into eternity remain three persons in One. Second, God was incarnate in Christ Jesus, whose transformational relationships offer a model you cannot ignore. Third, Jesus dreams of oneness for all Christians, which is why you must move your church toward his vision.

The God of Community

You've read Genesis 1:26: "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness....'" But have you noticed its remarkable expressions of plurality? These thirteen words include three references to God's unique nature. Note the references to "us" and "our," which proclaim the core doctrine of the Trinity. At the same time, God's singularity is a core doctrine of the church universal. As Deuteronomy 6:4 says, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." In other words, God begins Scripture and the creation story with the theological idea of plurality within oneness.

The creation account provides us an amazing window into the nature of the community of God, in whose image we are created. This plurality of beings comes to consensus to create humans in their image. They create in their collective image, which, in part, is a community-bearing image. It is not enough to say God is interested in community or even obsessed with community. God, rightly defined and understood, is community.

The doctrine of the Trinity is complex. Orthodox Christians have for generations accepted that God is Three in One, but few of us think much about it. This seemingly enigmatic doctrine of the Trinity, however, has massive implications. As Gareth Icenogle explains:

The small group is a generic form of human community that is transcultural, trans-generational and even transcendant. The call to human gathering in groups is a God-created (ontological) and God-directed (theological) ministry, birthed out of the very nature and purpose of God's being. God as Being exists in community. The natural and simple demonstration of God's communal image for humanity is the gathering of the small group.

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