How Effective Are Your Small Groups?

Church small groups usually start with excitement and momentum but after a year or two can turn into an inwardly focused and dull experience. That’s not everyone’s experience, but it is common.

Small groups are a good idea though. Jesus had a small group. The book of Acts is filled with home gatherings. We know that a Sunday worship gathering is not enough by itself to help people grow in maturity. Therefore, some other type of smaller accountability groups are a necessity.

Here are some common problems with traditional church small groups:

• They are too small. If you only allow 12 people in a group, it means average attendance is 6-8. This is unhelpful mainly because its awkward for anyone new.
• They never end. Unless you go to another church, or risk offending people, you are stuck in it forever.
• They promise intimate friendships. This promise is dangerous because it’s not true most of the time. Real friendship cannot be prescribed.
• They are not easy to join. If  a list of groups/leaders is provided to the congregation, a new person is still not empowered to know how to join a compatible/suitable group.
• They don’t usually multiply. Some groups grow, but most do not. A group that doesn’t grow becomes focused on maintenance issues and stagnates.

So, what’s the solution? In a book titled Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups, Nelson Searcy details a semester based small group structure that helps tackle the drawbacks to traditional groups.

At this point you probably have a lot of questions about how a semester based system can effectively provide pastoral care for people. That’s a natural question, and it’s answered well in the book. The benefits of the system far outweigh these concerns. In fact, the level of attendance, commitment, care, multiplication and personal growth is significantly higher in the Activate system than traditional care groups. Because of this, a non-denominational church in Chicago is planning to implement the system this year.

If you aren’t sure about checking out this approach to small groups, then download this free PDF summary, it will give you enough information to get your head around how the system works. It is not a replacement for the book though.

If you want to take your disciple making efforts to the next level. If you want ALL your groups to naturally multiply. If you want new people to more quickly find there way into a small group, then take a good look at Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups.

ESV Large Print Bible

Is your eyesight demanding that you invest in an ESV Large Print Bible? Perhaps a relative or friend is in this situation? Are you tired of searching for your glasses or just too proud to wear them? You or someone else could REALLY benefit from this Bible …

Either way, you are privileged to have the truly incredible option of the ESV Large Print Bible. The majority of previous customers have given this popular version 5 stars! But why?

Along with the obvious advantage of the ESV translation, the following benefits have been reported:

• The font avoids a harsh bolding and delivers a crisp and highly legible experience.
• The ESV Large Print Bible uses a 12.75-point type. See ESV Large Print text sample.
• The quality is excellent which makes it a good option for regular use.
• The price is right.
• The size isn’t so big that you can’t also effectively use it at home and at church.
• Many customers commented that they considered switching to use this version exclusively.
• The concordance also makes the ESV Large Print Bible a smart purchase.

The demand for large print Bibles is truly surprising. Recent popularity has given wider permission to the Christian world to invest in one. And why not? Straining at the text of a regular sized Bible or always having to scramble around for your glasses are not habits to continue with. After all, these type’s of difficulty only add to the chances of not reading, studying and enjoying the Bible.

An ESV Large Print Bible solves this problem and of course does so with the benefits of an excellent translation. If you enjoy regular Bible reading and even use Bible commentaries in your devotional or study times, this really is a super addition to your arsenal of tools to assist in your spiritual growth.

The cost really is not bad either and there are a few different options to choose from. Make a smart decision today and invest in a Bible that will truly make your devotionals and church experience the joy it should be.

Invest in an ESV Large Print Bible >>>

Bible Commentaries

Which of the many bible commentaries is a good fit for you? Check out this resource which breaks down some of the best Bible commentaries available.  It is in no particular order but should be an impartial listing. Investing in a quality resource like this is critical if you desire to grasp and even teach the Bible more fully.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible

Matthew Henry, the 17th and early 18th Century minister in Chester, England, takes us from Genesis to Revelation with sharp application, strong insight and scholarly brilliance. He has a deep comprehension on the context and meaning of passages throughout all scripture. Matthew Henry’s commentaries have been a huge resource to students and Christians leaders throughout the world.

More recently the only complete and unabridged version in existence was published. This is a one-volume edition of his well-known commentary writings in a slimmer format. It is perfect for all those who read the scriptures and desire a thorough and accessible commentary. It is very affordable as you can see. Owning one of these Bible commentaries yourself gives you greater flexibility and the chance to make it your own with highlights, notes and greater longevity with repeated use. New is definitely you. Check it out here.

John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes

This is a really timeless commentary that effectively explains hard phrases in the Bible and makes a point to bring clarity to the meaning of a text. A huge benefit to this work is it’s breadth. It covers the whole Bible, which not all Bible commentaries do, and provides shortened summaries of passages to allow readers a fluid experience as apposed to having to sift through chunks of separated comments.

This study tool gives it’s readers insight to most Bible verses. This point alone gives John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes a huge advantage. Nearly every verse has a comment and explanation. Now that is a resource you can’t afford to miss! Many of Wesley’s notes are summaries of his preaches which gives them an edge to communicators. Check it out here.

The Fourfold Gospel by J. W. McGarvey

Many commentaries are hard to read. But not this one. It proves to be an incredibly easy read. This work has been described as one of the best harmonizations of the four gospels. The format of this work is unique and allows not just for a great learning experience but presents the commentary material with the text and enables you to view the differences between each gospel rather than needlessly having to search back and forth.

Among Bible commentaries this is referred to as a Harmony of the Four Gospels. It is a helpful resources as it gives a total chronology of Christs life which is shorted into titled sections and sub sections. Comments are inserted directly into the text. The authors J. W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton have done a fantastic job with providing us with a clear leader in the gospel commentary arena. Check it out here.

Word Biblical Commentary CD-ROM Mac Edition (CD-ROM) by Thomas Nelson

If you value building theology from a base of Biblical study then this widely accepted series is an excellent option for both the student or the seasoned professional. It combines work from leading scholars and leans heavily on linguistic analysis, textual evidence and structural observations. This gives balance and depth into the application and meaning of scripture.

This Bible Commentaries Mac version is well organized and very easy to use. Volumes start with full articles that open up the important subjects of authorship, purpose and date. Up-to-date archaeological findings and recent textual critiques are drawn upon to make this a relevant resource. Critical theological subjects for today are also a key focus. This is not inexpensive, but it is a highly beneficial study tool. Check it out here.

Bible On CD

After owning the Bible on CD for a number of years now I can confidently say that it was one of the smartest investments I’ve ever made.

A large amount of Christians are ashamed at their lack of discipline when it comes to delving into the Bible on a regular basis. If it’s the primary way that God has revealed himself to us then why wouldn’t we be more diligent in reading it? Not out of obligation, but out of dedication. This is where a Bible on CD can be a helpful tool to kick start and augment your devotions.

Why purchase a Bible on CD?

1. They are affordable.
2. Unlike a physical Bible it wont wear out. It will come across as crisp as the day you bought it! No worn pages.
3. Listening is easier than reading. You will be able to get through those long and more challenging Old Testament sections with less chance of giving up.
4. If you have a lot of drive time or frequently use public transportation, take some breaks from the radio,  pop in the Bible on CD or use your ipod.
5. If you are doing something monotonous or something that requires low concentration, either on the computer or some other activity, then insert a Bible on CD and start taking in God’s word.
6. If you are constantly multi-tasking then remain flexible and listen to the Bible as long as you can actually take in what you hear. The Bible on CD is a great option for busy people.

Be Careful:

There are some things to consider with this approach. Listening to the scriptures does not always allow moments of pause and meditation. Concentration and reflection is still critical in grasping the word and allowing it to shape you. There is something powerful to be said about also writing down your thoughts. Nothing can replace this personal and inspired activity. Using a Bible on CD is a good way to help increase your knowledge and understanding of the Bible, and it can help build consistency, but it should not totally replace Bible reading. Everyone needs to learn how to read the Bible for themselves.

Don’t let your schedule dictate your level of devotions nor assume that you can’t fit in Bible reading to your day. And, if you have a Bible reading challenge or plan then get a head start and use a Bible on CD. I recommend either the ESV or the Message version on CD. The narrative form of the Message makes the audio a real treat.

Buy a Bible on CD today

Are you hungry for Jesus?

This site will launch with weekly articles on March 1st, 2009.

Site Purpose: Resource your church to be self-feeders. We currently have 7 authors - check them out.

EatJesus.com is a multi-author blog, by church leaders and church planters, created for YOU as a resource to help those God has placed in your life to grow in spiritual maturity and get in the game. You were destined to help people do this, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading about it right now. You have been called by God to bear fruit for the Gospel. Please watch the 60 second video at the top of the page for a brief description of EatJesus.com.

Like you, we know that it’s not just about catching and gathering disciples, it’s also about growing disciples. The authorization we have from Jesus is to literally “make” disciples. The consumerist culture we live in has infiltrated the church so that many Christians do not take ownership of their own spiritual development. The other extreme exists as well. Those who live like the Pharisee’s, learning vast amounts of information without any heart change. Knowing verses, but not knowing Jesus.

The goal of this site is to encourage, inspire, direct and increase peoples personal devotion and love for Jesus. We display info and links to related products like study Bibles which should prove helpful to you. Please join with us and share this resource with your friends, family and followers. You many subscribe either through the RSS feed or by email. If you are are a blogger feel free to review the site.

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