There is a trap that I fall into when I lead a small group, and this article highlights it. Rather than really listening, I am just hearing enough to repeat what someone else has said. So, when you are in a small group setting, are you listening, or waiting your turn? Here’s how to know, from Janet McMahon:
I was doing some reading today about interpersonal ministry and this struck me as powerful and the direction that small groups should move.
It comes from a sermon by John Piper and you can read the entire sermon here if you like.
A visiting pastor in Auckland, New Zealand, was asked by the pastor of a church to come to a small group to help it understand its function. He came early for dinner and the husband was not there. The wife was embarrassed and explained that the husband owned a construction company and worked late.
The group arrived after dinner and the visiting pastor taught for a while on how to use spiritual gifts to build each other up. Then he asked them to get alone for a few minutes to seek God for how each one might channel God’s grace to the others for their upbuilding. Read more…
