Small Group Meeting notes - 26th June 2001 What is the church? Welcome What is the hardest thing you have ever done? Worship Put a cross in the middle of the room (a picture, a drawing, two pieces of wood crossed over, etc), find a song about the cross (e.g. there is a green hill). Either sing the song together or play a recording of the song. Allow people the space to worship through prayer and quiet, meditating on the Jesus the saviour of the world. Word The church is about extending the Kingdom of God. It exists for the King and his Kingdom. The church is for the world not for itself. But what does this mean? Read Isaiah chapter 61. What period of history is this passage referring to? - today Who is being sent? - the church To whom are they being sent? - everyone else What are they taking? V1-3 - Good news - Comfort - Freedom - Other..... You might like to ask someone to write these on a big piece of paper. In what ways do we do this? You might like to take these one at a time and explore some ideas of ways to do what Isaiah is prophesying. Isaiah 61 describes the purpose of the church (see also Matthew 28v16-20 - The great commission). But Isaiah is describing a process that is more than a message and conversion. What does v4 represent? People re-building their lives, dealing with ruin and sorrow, gaining maturity in Christ What is the result of all this? V5-11 Does Matthew 5v1-12 agree with this? Our Mission statement helps us to define what we are as a church; evaluate our lifestyles against a measure, expresses our priorities and embodies our identity. St Alkmund's mission statement: "Our purpose is to share the love of Jesus with people, leading them to faith and maturity in Christ, equipping them for ministry and sending them out in mission." Witness What does v1 say we need? "Without God we cannot, without us God will not." In groups of three discuss which bit of the Mission statement each person likes doing the most, and which they fear doing the most. Spend some time quietly listening to God for words of encouragement and prophesy for each other. Share what you have heard, pray that God will bring about blessing. Again in your groups of three, pray for your friends and colleagues and for each other that you may bring some of Isaiah's prophesy to fulfilment in their lives. Perhaps choose a verse to read/pray for your friends. * Every member in ministry - Every member feeling they have a ministry and role key to revival. * Every member growing - Every person taking responsibility for their personal holiness and growth in their walk with Christ. * Multiplication - The spreading of the gospel and making disciples at the heart of groups.