I'm Dreaming of a LifeGroup Christmas
I just came from a LifeGroup Christmas party. We all brought food and sat around and talked for a while. Then we played several games of 'Mafia". We laughed and joked. We didn't pray or have bible study. (I think we even forgot to give thanks for the food.) But there is something special about being together. It's not just a matter of social friendship. It's more than that. Our kids are connected. Our families are trying to do life together. It's important to me, but its not a duty. These are my people.
We serve together (We had a couple of opportunities to help families this Christmas.) We help each other out. (One went to pick up 5 or 6 kids at another house so the rest of us could keep playing the game.) There wasn't any deep, intimate sharing. But it wasn't fake or put on either. It doesn't feel like church to me, but it is an expression of my life in God. Jesus connects us. I love my group. I wish more people could be a part of a group like this one.
The danger is that we like us so much we don't think about anyone else. It can be selfish. I'm still working through in my own heart how to be the church together and be missional. It's tough. I don't want things to change. They sure are comfortable. But there are so many who are lonely in a way I am not. Lonely for God. Lonely for a family. Lonely for friends to spend a Friday night with playing games. I want them to be a part of what we have, but I don't want to lose what we have. I don't think there is a greater challenge to a healthy group.
Here's to LifeGroup and life. May you never be satisfied with bible study meetings.
posted by Tod Brown at 9:27 PM
2 Comments:
Tod, this is very well said. We do get to a comfortable place and it is very hard to grow beyond our little family because we do not want to step away from them. It is an area to wrestle with. Our group also had a wonderful party, we talked about what was, we talked about what is, then we looked to the future at what could be. We laughed a lot and we ate a lot and then we played a lot. Family strengthening bonds and making memories. Life is good.
December 19, 2004 at 8:21 PM
Our LifeGroup meeting last night had a similar feel. We took presents to a needy family, and then all went and ate together. We visited about life at a very deep level. People were sharing their thoughts about how God was working in their lives, and it wasn't even in response to an artfully drafted question by the leader. It was coming from the heart and it was real. Good stuff.
December 20, 2004 at 2:23 PM
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