Special thanks to Tim Davis, Connections Minister at Downtown Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas, for sharing and inspiring many facets of the following post.
Consider the following definition: Small Groups are intentional gatherings of parts of the body that meet regularly for the purpose of partnering in God’s mission.
Breaking this down, we see that a Small Group:
• Is an intentional gathering. There is a purpose to the gatherings. As Iron Rose Sisters, our primary purpose is to connect to God and one another more deeply, as well as to serve as iron sharpening iron, encouraging one another to be as beautiful as a rose, in spite of the thorns. This is accomplished primarily through Bible study discussion and prayer.
• Is a subset of the body. It is its own church family—Iron Rose Sisters—that is part of the larger church family and, of course, the kingdom. Small Groups are the intimate, personal gatherings of the large group.
• Meets regularly. A small group has a regular meeting time and schedule. The group knows when to expect the next gathering.
• For the purpose of partnering in God’s mission. Iron Rose Sister Ministries’ mission is a part of God’s greater mission. IRSM exists to equip, encourage, and empower women in their relationships with God and one another—the mission of multiplication and mentoring. This mission is realized in Small Groups, but also extends beyond the scope of the Small Group gatherings for the transformation of lives in the image and example of the Son.
Iron Rose Sister Ministries equips women with the tools to fulfill this definition of Small Groups. We truly believe that Small Groups are where deeper relationships with God and with one another can be best facilitated.
Small Group gatherings are not to the exclusion of one-on-one time with God nor other gatherings with women that accomplish other purposes. In fact, those other fellowship times and constant personal communication with God will enrich the Small Group time when gathering with your Iron Rose Sisters.
We would love to hear how Small Groups, as defined above, have been a blessing in your life! Which aspect of the definition do you think is most important? Intentionality, a subset of the body, meets regularly, or for the purpose of partnering in God’s mission.
If you have not had the blessing of participating in a Small Group like this in the past, we would like to encourage, equip, and empower you to start your own group of Iron Rose Sisters! There are four different Bible study books available and other resources for getting started, on our website.
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