Don't Go Solo: Our Small Group in VA Beach

When you live near the beach, why not have a "field trip" and host the small group on the water?

, Last fall I started a weekly men's group with my good friend, Bob. The first sentence of our purpose statement reads, "‘To get together weekly in the name of Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit to help each other grow in our relationship with God the Father." The group has allowed us to   encourage and support one to another through these challenging times. We meet outdoors because of the pandemic, on back porch, in a back yard and sometimes around a fire.  We’ve had some good laughs as we’ve looked like an arctic rescue party on cold nights. Yes, we cancelled a few because of the weather.
     Make no mistake, Jesus had and has a plan for the planet! The goal was and is "to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10)," to gather a people who would live the values of God’s Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10) to establish God’s Kingdom here. His intentional strategy was starting a mini church, not a mega
      

church – a small group. He had the twelve male disciples and a group of female disciples with whom he spent the majority of his time.
      Jesus is the supreme expert on humanity. He knows how we function best and understands completely how the gift of community can help us on the journey of life. Friends, we weren’t meant to go solo! However, our American culture highly values individualism, which no doubt has some advantages. Many people maintain this individualism as they try to follow Jesus.  In the spiritual life though, going solo is not advisable.  I’ve seen a number of people go solo and end up way off course. “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend (Proverbs 27:17)." We are created for community!
​      If you’re thinking about starting a small group and I can be of help, please reach out.  I’m convinced a small group that is intentional about having an atmosphere of God’s grace and truth will be a powerful catalyst for all kinds of good! Healing, hope, reconciliation, purpose, joy, freedom, fulfillment, peace and a closeness with the Living God are all probable outcomes from a Christ centered small group.
      Remember the Great Commission is not an option for Christians to consider, but a command for us to obey. There is joy in walking with Christ that can compel us to reach out to others and form new redemptive circles.  “Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3).