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February 24, 2010

Get Involved in a Life Group

By Tony Hammack

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video of this message.  Please click here for the audio or click here for the video.  Thank You.

Koinonia

Introduction:
Every believer needs a place where they can ask specific questions and get specific answers.  We all need to be able to connect in relationships with other Christians or we won’t mature.

Koinonia means to have in common partnership, to share, fellowship and contribute.

Koinonia
  1. Sharing
  2. Fellowship
  3. Contribution
1.  Koinonia translated Share
Hebrews 13:16
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

1 Timothy 6:18 (KJV)
18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

2.  Koinonia translated Fellowship
1 Corinthians 1:9
9God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Acts 2:42
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Galatians 2:9
9James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.

3.  Koinonia translated Contribution
Romans 15:26
For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.


2 Corinthians 9:13 (NASB)
13Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all,

Body:
8 Benefits to being a part of a Life Group
  1. Expression of grace gifts
  2. Accountability
  3. They are Fun
  4. Discipleship Happens
  5. Leadership Development
  6. The Jethro Principle
  7. Synergy
  8. Friendships

1. Expression of Grace Gifts
Life groups give the Christian an opportunity to communicate with other members of the body of Christ and release the ministry gifts that God has given them.
1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
1 Peter 4:10
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

2. Accountability
Sharing your life with others causes the light of accountability to shine into everyone’s heart.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship (koinonia) with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 2:9,10 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.

3. They are Fun
Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Nehemiah 8:10b Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

4. Discipleship Happens
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
2 Timothy 2:2  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
   A.  Paul
   B.  Timothy
   C.  Reliable Men
   D.  Others

5. Leadership Development Happens
"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." – Confucius

A popular quote by William Glasser says “We learn… 10 percent of what we read, 20 percent of what we hear, 30 percent of what we see, 50 percent of what we see and hear, 70 percent of what we discuss with others, 80 percent of what we experience, and 95 percent of what we teach to someone.”  The percentages might be somewhat off, but they are close enough to actual values to internalize this information for future learning.

6. The Jethro Principle
Exodus 18:17-26
17 Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him.  20 Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.  22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied."  24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.

7. Synergy
Synergism - interaction of people so that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects.
The people in your life group can bring the best out in you and actually take you to a higher level than you could reach on your own.

8. Friendships
You can get closer to the people in your life group due to the content and honesty that goes on. This creates an environment where close friendships can be established.

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 793-9124


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by Tony V. Hammack

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