Arlington Baptist Church

1. Arlington Baptist Church Small Group and Community Group Leaders Training

2. Introduction: Setting the Context • Welcome • Prayer • Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:19-25 • Reflection Paul Ellingworth, The Epistle to the Hebrews: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1993), 516.

3. Ordinary Means Ministry at ABC

4. Ordinary Means Ministry at ABC Baptist Catechism Q&A #93: Q. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption? A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption are his ordinances, especially the word, baptism, the Lord's supper, and prayer; all which means are made effectual to the elect for salvation (Mt. 28:19, 20; Acts 2:42, 46, 47).

5. Ordinary Means Ministry at ABC Article #10 – Of Sanctification We believe that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness (1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23; 2 Cor. 7:1; 13:9; Eph. 1:4);  that it is a progressive work (Prov. 4:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Heb. 6:1; 2 Pet. 1:5-8; Phil. 3:12-16);  that it is begun in regeneration (John 2:29; Rom. 8:5; John 3:6; Phil. 1:9-11; Eph. 1:13-14);  and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means – especially the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer (Phil. 2:12-13; Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor. 13:5; Luke 11:35; 9:23; Matt. 26:41; Eph. 6:18; 4:30).

6. Ordinary Means Ministry at ABC Ephesians 4:6-11 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

7. Ordinary Means Ministry at ABC The importance of Lord’s Day corporate worship • The resurrection of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:1-8, cf. verse 9, 2 Corinthians 5:14-17, Galatians 6:15-16; Colossians 1:15-22). • Second, the eternal rest of God’s people is foreshadowed (Hebrews 4:9). • Third, the Lord’s Day language and observance of the New Testament church (Revelation 1:10, cf. Matthew 28:1, Luke 24:1, John 20:1, 19-23, Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2). • Fourth, by the New Testament command to the saints to gather (Hebrews 10:24-25).

8. Locating Groups in the Life of ABC

9. Locating Groups in the Life of ABC • Groups at ABC add to or reinforce our ordinary means ministry. • The ordinary means are not deficient. • Our Groups should not displace the ordinary means. • Our Groups are an additional means of relational connection in the life of our church. • Our primary emphasis is on the corporate gatherings, and we appreciate the blessing of our smaller gatherings.

10. Goals for Groups at ABC

11. Goals for Groups at ABC

12. Goals for Groups at ABC Colossians 1:28-29: 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

13. Group Practices at ABC

14. Group Practices at ABC

15. Group Practices at ABC • The structure of the group is less important than the substance.

16. Group Practices at ABC • Connect with God’s Word • Sermon Review • Independent Bible Study • Guided Bible Study • Book Study

17. Group Practices at ABC • Sermon Review • Review a sermon preached at ABC. • Seek to further apply the sermon to everyday life.

18. Group Practices at ABC • Independent Bible Study • A group will mainly focus on: • Observation • Interpretation • Application

19. Group Practices at ABC • Guided Bible Study • Uses a published guide to study a • Text of Scripture • Topic in Scripture

20. Group Practices at ABC • Book Study • Use a Christian book to: • Generate discussion • Generate application

21. Group Practices at ABC Discussion Tips • Ask good questions • Guide the group to useful and biblical answers • Keep the discussion biblically focused • Frame the discussion • Sit facing one another • Invite outsiders in • “I don’t know”

22. Group Practices at ABC Discussion Tips • Don’t allow discussions to be dominated by one person • Leave quiet people alone? • Ask open ended questions • Pursue clarification • Refocus the conversation when necessary

23. Group Practices at ABC • Commune with God in Prayer: • Pray for each other • Pray through a page of the directory • Pray through A.C.T.S. • Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication • Individually, 2s and 3s, or as a whole • Pray through the Monthly Prayer Guide • Pray for conversions from Alcova Heights • Pray from the Bible.

24. Group Practices at ABC Commune with God in Prayer: • Be on guard against: • Gossip • Grumbling • Encourage pastoral care in instances of: • Deep hurt and wounding • Ongoing sin and struggle

25. Group Practices at ABC “The gospel, God’s free gift of grace in Jesus, only works when we realize we don’t have it all together. The same is true for prayer. The very thing we are allergic to—our helplessness—is what makes prayer work. It works because we are helpless. We can’t do life on our own. Prayer mirrors the gospel. In the gospel, the Father takes us as we are because of Jesus and gives us his gift of salvation. In prayer, the Father receives us as we are because of Jesus and gives us his gift of help. We look at the inadequacy of our praying and give up, thinking something is wrong with us. God looks as the adequacy of his Son and delights in our sloppy, meandering prayers.”   Paul Miller, A Praying Life, (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2009), 55

26. Group Practices at ABC • Commune with God in Prayer: • Pray from the Bible • Remember that prayer honors God • Pray in big and bold ways   • Pray faithfully • Pray regularly

27. Group Practices at ABC • Care for Members • Attendance • Take it • Encourage it • Don’t be legalistic about it • Action • Showers for new moms • Helping members with household projects • Calling a homebound member • Help a member move. • Care for the sick or injured with meals, cleaning, errands, childcare, or simply a visit. • Provide meals and support for a family during a time of grief. • Help an elderly member with basic chores.

28. Group Practices at ABC • Care for Members • Caring for a homebound member • One assigned to each group • Count them as an honorary member • Once a month outreach • Group leader is the elders’ point of contact • Empower your group members • Lead the group to take ownership over the homebound member’s care • Please provide regular updates to the elders

29. Expectations of Group Leaders • Seek to conform your life to Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:1) • Serve as Jesus has served (Mark 10:45) • Persevere in the faith (Hebrews 10:23, Galatians 6:9) • Remain devoted to God’s ordinary means of grace (Acts 2:42) • Love your fellow members (1 John 3:23)

30. Questions & Answers

31. Arlington Baptist Church Small Group and Community Group Leaders Training