Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

I preach occasionally at our congregation. This time I used the opportunity to encourage people to register in our new HOME Group Ministry. It is our attempt at developing a small group ministry to help with spiritual formation through Bible study and Ministry. Here is the outline for the lesson. The text we used was Romans 12:9-13 although it was not an expository lesson — quite topical, in fact.

• Why are you here today?
  •  Members? Visitors?
  •  Information? ["The scriptures are not given for our information but for our transformation." DL Moody
  •  Relationships – Family circles; Friendships; the possibility of making friends
  •  Wolfgang Dircks was dead for 5 years before anyone knew it. He was divorced, a former tool smith, and disabled. Other residents in his Hamburg neighborhood knew nothing of the 43 year old recluse. Most had not even seen him. Dircks’ landlord went to his apartment after the bank account from which his bills and rent were paid went dry. He was sitting in front of his TV set with his Christmas tree lights flashing. More precisely, his skeleton was in the chair with his TV listings open to December 5, 1993. No one checked on Dircks, perhaps for many reasons. One account said that he had threatened to whip anyone who would ask about him. Apparently his isolation was self-imposed by an unpleasant, angry disposition. He so completely shut himself off from the world that he could die and no one knew or cared.
• If you did not show up for days, who would know or care?

• NT has about 21 “One Another” passages to remind us how to get along with and serve each other.
• We are not made for Isolation – [Lone Ranger – Even the Lone Ranger couldn’t do his job completely alone – Tonto/Silver; We were made for community – Adam and Eve;
• Some Reasons for HG that fit into our acronym of Hospitality; Outreach; Ministry; and Encouragement

#1 – Encouragement

People who are not in a group are twice as likely to die in the next year as those who are in a group. People who have strong social connections, but poor health habits (eating, exercise, smoking, etc.) are just as healthy as those with good health habits but weak social connections.

As John Ortberg says it, “Better to eat Twinkies with friends than to eat broccoli alone.”

One study injected 270 people with a virus that causes the common cold. Those with strong social connections did not get as sick, did not stay sick as long, and produced less mucus than the less connected group. Again, to quote John Ortberg, “This goes to prove that lonely people are snottier than the rest.”

We NEED Encouragement (Hebrews 10.25 – Encourage O/A as you see the day approaching)

The Rule of 6 + 6 – New Members – 6 Friends in 6 Months

We NEED Support – Galatians 6.1-2

¹Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

AP Headlines on July 13, 2001 : “Circus Contortionist Gets Foot Stuck on Shoulder”

Circus workers are accustomed to seeing the contortionist wrap his body into strange shapes and at first ignored his pleas for help when he told them that he had gotten his right foot stuck on his left shoulder. They thought he was joking.

Berkine, age 21 of Kazakhstan, said that he had not warmed up well and that he found himself in a painful and frightening position as a result. He needed help because he could not move.

Sometimes we need help getting out of situations that we should not have gotten into.

#2 – Ministry

Spiritual Growth takes in and sends out – Philippians 2.12-13

 ¹²Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Philippians 2.4 — ⁴Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Hospitality

Outreach

Ministry

Encouragement

All are areas where we can use our spiritual gifts and ALL minister to others

Some years ago there was a shipwreck off the coast of the Pacific Northwest. A crowd of fishermen in a nearby village gathered to watch the ship as it was smashed on the rocks. A lifeboat was sent to the rescue, and after a terrific struggle the rescuers came back with all of the shipwrecked sailors but one. “There was no room in the lifeboat for him, so we told him to stay by the ship and someone would come back for him,” shouted a young man. “Who will come with me?” shouted the young man. Just then a little old lady cried out, “Don’t go. Jim, my boy. Don’t go. You are all I have left. Your father was drowned in the sea; your brother William sailed away and we’ve never heard from him; and now if you are lost, I’ll be left alone. Oh, Jim, please don’t go.” Jim listened patiently to his mother’s pleading, then said, “Mother, I must go! It is my duty. I must go!” The onlookers watched as the men in the lifeboat fought their way toward the wreck. Anxiously Jim’s mother wept and prayed. They saw the boat start back. At last it came close enough to hear, and they shouted, “Did you get him?” And Jim shouted back, “Yes, and tell mother it’s William.”

#3 – Spiritual Growth

Ecclesiastes 4.9-10 ⁹Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. ¹⁰For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

Some Learn by Listening – Some learn by Talking

Where do you go for: Hard Questions/Doubts/Fears/Non-traditional thinking?

Proverbs 27.17 — ¹⁷Iron sharpens iron,
   and one man sharpens another.

• We could spend time talking about other benefits of HOME Groups:
• o Prayer
• o Leadership development — Shepherding
• o Being “Family”
• o Where we can apply all of the “one another” passages

• Jesus was the ultimate small group leader (perfect size group – 1 leader and 12 members)
  •  He focused on people – the 12 and those to whom they ministered
  •  He focused on building relationships – with God and People
  •  He focused on perpetuation of the gospel

• Value of People

Although little known in American churches, St. Lawrence has been sculptured, painted and crafted in bronze or stained glass more often than almost any other Saint of the Christian Church. In England alone, more than 250 churches are named for him, as are six in Rome. St. Lawrence was martyred in 258 A.D. But we remember him, not for his martyrdom, but for his being Archdeacon of Rome. His responsibilities included maintaining the sacred vessels of the small, struggling church and distributing alms to the poor. While he was Archdeacon, the Emperor Valerian of Rome took Pope Sixtus captive and demanded, “Where is the treasure of the church?” The Pope would not tell, and they tortured him to death. He never did tell, but in his agony and pain, Pope Sixtus somehow mentioned the name of Archdeacon Lawrence. They took Lawrence captive. “Where is the treasure of the Church?” they demanded, threatening with the same fate that befell the Pope. Lawrence replied, “Emperor, I cannot get it for you instantaneously; but if you give me three days, I will give you the treasure.” The Emperor agreed. Lawrence left. Three days later he walked into the Emperor’s courtyard followed by a great flood of people. The Emperor walked out onto his balcony and said, “Where is the treasure of your church?” Lawrence stepped forward, and pointed to the crowd that accompanied him — the lame, the blind, the deaf, the nobodies of society — and said, “Here are the treasures of the Christian church.”

The prefect was so angry he told Lawrence that he would indeed have his wish to die-but it would be by inches. He had a great gridiron prepared, with coals beneath it, and had Lawrence’s body placed on it. After the martyr had suffered the pain for a long time, the legend concludes, he made his famous cheerful remark, “It is well done. Turn it over and eat it!”