Discipleship Groups

Monday April 7th marked the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. As a ministry of Grace Church in Wyoming, MN we are leading a small group that is purposefully named a discipleship group.
Normally when you think of a church small group you might envision a group of like-minded individuals getting together to study material, encourage each other and have snacks.
However, when one reads the Bible, you see Jesus modelling how to have a small group that isn't self-focused, but outward looking and growing. His purpose in working with His twelve disciples was to, at some point, send them out to lead their own groups that would in turn do the same.
In response to the Great Commandment and Great Commission to love the Lord and others and to go and make disciples, these groups are aimed at following Jesus and calling others to do the same.
Where did Jesus go? Where are we to follow him?
He hung out with tax collectors, prostitutes, the mentally ill and physically sick. He came alongside people where they were and lived life with them.

Discipleship groups give us a vehicle to break from the "Holy Huddle" of church. With purpse and intention we can come alongside our neighbors, family, friends and coworkers around dinner tables and softball fields. We can have intimate community in living rooms, share difficulties and joys, pray for each other and hold each other up.

Jesus also went to the cross and we are to follow Him there as well. Being a disciple means placing our faith in Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross that paid an infinitely large debt that we owed because of our sin against a perfect, holy,just and infinitely big God.

Our small group will unashamedly point to Jesus. We will follow Him and call others to do the same.

Matthew

Casas Por Cristo- "Houses for Christ"

We have our first missions trip as a couple planned for June 30th-July 4th. Annie and I are heading to Juarez, Mexico to build a home for a family.
It should be a three day build, or so we think; I've heard that nothing goes as expected in Mexico.
The team will be made up of 11 or more people. 7-8 of them will be friends and family of ours and the rest of the team may come from anywhere else in the country.

You can check out the organization at casasporcristo.org

Pictures to follow after trip,
Matt