Hello –
Thirteen years ago I spent a weekend at a church and it changed my life. I write to invite you to come to St. Paul’s next Saturday, the 7th of March, for a two hour experience that I hope will give you some small taste of what I experienced thirteen years ago.
The name of the church I went to is Church of the Saviour. It’s a small church in Washington DC that was started in 1948 with the purpose of helping people mature as Christians. Members of the church are known for their balance of the inner work of prayer with the outer work of service of the poor.
The most important thing I learned from the founder, Gordon Cosby, is the importance of ‘structure.’ He taught that we all tend to underestimate how important structure is in our process of growth. But we all need structure to hold us to our best, noblest intentions. We need structure to hold us in love as we die to our old selves and are reborn in Christ.
From Cosby, I took the most important structure of all, the structure of a mission-focused small group. With Cosby, I believe that all small groups become self-support groups unless they are structured toward mission and spiritual growth. But what is the best structure?
With friends, I took Cosby’s structure as a starting point and began to run experiments in structures for small groups at St. Paul’s and in places around the country. Four years ago, we finally arrived at a structure that matched our hopes. We call these groups Discipleship Groups. Meetings begin and end with a ritual that ensures confidentiality and reminds everybody that we are here to help each other become better followers of Jesus.
The meeting also begins with seven statements of intent that serve as vows. Those in a group vow to work toward specific goals in prayer, worship, service of the poor, generosity, knowledge of scripture, working on call and commitment to the small group.
We now have five active groups at St. Paul’s. There are also Discipleship Groups up and running in places like Nebraska, Indiana, Massachusettes and Florida.
We’ve discovered that groups tend to develop, over time, in three phases. First, there is work on the vows. No one comes into a group having mastered all the vows. Far from it! Being honest about where we start is an important first step. Then, there is time for people to share their stories and to get to know one another in depth. Finally, with that background, groups can help each member begin to discern what God’s next call to them might be, a call using their unique gifts.
This season of Lent is the perfect time to try new things. This two hour ‘Come and See’ workshop is a time to hear stories of Discipleship Groups from people who’ve experienced it, to try out the structure for yourself, and to meet people from around the Bay Area who are giving it a try.
I hope to see you Saturday, March 7th from 9am to 11am at St. Paul’s.
Please share the flyer with friends.
Blessings,
Christopher
p: (415) 456-4842
