Missional Metrics VII

Number of incarnational communities that commit to form around benevolent action instead of just a bible study.

From the beginning of my Christian journey, I have been involved in small groups.  I became a Christian in a small group Bible study on Romans during my sophomore year in college (thank you Rob Chambers wherever you are!).  I was weaned over the next three years in what we called Core Groups that were led by older, wiser Christians who took on the monumental task of mentoring young, clueless guys like me.  These folks intentionally created an experience where I could be real and authentic about what I was struggling with in my life.  And as a former hedonist, I was struggling with a great deal!  (For example, my first "sacrifice" was to ask them to hold me accountable to one beer an hour at the parties I would attend on the weekends.  What is scary is the number of times I failed!!!)  They also taught us Scripture, prayed with us, and spent a great deal of time just pouring into our lives.  (Thank you Tom Bolke, Paul Reed, and Doug Garrard!) 

After college, I started my own small group which grew to include about ten to twelve guys who met weekly again just to share life, study Scripture, and pray.  (Okay, okay, we also played a lot of Xbox!)  This pattern continued in seminary (although, surprisingly it was a tremendous struggle for the first two years...never have understood that one...) and then into my first pastorate in Mobile, AL.  These groups have played a vital role in my own spiritual development and there is no way I would be the person I am today without the influence of these relationships. 

However, as I look back over the years, I have always sensed that something was missing.  We had honest sharing, even delving into topics like sexuality, finances, etc.  We had the Bible Study component.  We prayed together.  We fellowshipped.  And all of that is great.  As I said, it has been formative for me as a Christian.  But as I reflect back, what was always missing was mission.  We rarely, if ever, went out to serve the Kingdom of God together.  To be sure, each of us served in various capacities as individuals but we never did as a group and I think this has been a real weakness. 

Missional small groups do not just engage in life-sharing, Bible study, and prayer.  They also commit to regular benevolent actions or mission as a group.  There is just something powerful about serving the Kingdom together that we do not experience on our own.  It shapes us, it deepens relationships, it connects us in more vital ways to what God is doing in the world.  If you have ever served on a short-term mission project as part of a team, you know what I'm talking about.  You never forget such experiences.  (I still have a picture on my desk of a team I was blessed to be part of that went to serve in the southside of Chicago while I was in college.)  The temptation in small groups is to become totally focused on yourself or the members of your group.  This is natural because of depth of sharing, the vulnerability, and the transparency that is part of any faithful small group experience.  To combat this temptation, groups must covenant to go outside themselves on a regular basis.  This keeps them "kingdom-focused" and also helps them continue to translate their faith into action.  (Although I would be quick to point out that they should be translating their faith into work, family, recreation, and every facet of their life anyway...)

This is what makes true missional community so attractive to me.  It is wholistic in that it involves the heart (authentic sharing and prayer), the head (Bible study), and the body (mission).  It takes the Gospel's call to ACT on what we believe seriously while underpinning it with Grace and Truth.