John Eldridge in his book "Wild at Heart" www.ransomedheart.com mentions that the reason that the Promise Keepers small groups don't work is that it's all about guys sitting around doing nothing but talk. Now that may be okay for the girls but guys dont sit with there mates and share there feelings they do 'stuff'. They build something, they go to the cricket, they hunt for pigs and while they do it they share life and hearts truths.
For myself I think this is so true.
For House Church I think many of us have got stuck into the trap of just doing the sitting around thing which becomes stale and one dimensional and actually often becomes very unintimate. Because we are small we are flexible and can do anything quite easily compared to larger church models and we should!
This weekend a House Church in Glenfield have gone down as an entire group to set up tents together at Parachute Music Festival. They are going to work together, drive together, eat together, sleep together(not that way!. And because they are doing stuff together they will be much stronger as a church together http://websites.parachutemusic.com/festival/2007/
We need to stop being boring and get out and do different stuff, as we live life together church happens.
PHOTO IS OF A GATHERING CAMPING AT PARACHUTE 05
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- 28/01/2007 @ 22:42:19
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petegavin
- 05/02/2007 @ 10:46:43
Maybe John Eldridge should use a hearing aid.
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I think you're bang on - small churches should do stuff together and not get in a rut with just meeting in the same way. However, as a memeber of several men's small group - that were formed as a result of attendance at PK - I don't think John Eldridge was listening properly. PK has never to my knowledge (and I should know as I am their Ministry with Men Coach here in NZ) promoted small groups as an opportunity for men to sit around sharing their feelings and gfazing at their navels. Small groups are about accountability, learning, listening, praying etc - but they are also about fun and doing stuff as blokes. And above all else, they must result in mission and action otherwise they grow inward. Just like any small group or church...