Creating Community

Creating Community: 5 Keys to Building a Small Group Culture was written by Andy Stanley and Bill Willits. The books title is self-explanatory on what the book is about. There is "no hidden agenda". The book does an excellent job on explaining their reasons for having 'small groups" be their driving force.

The book was prompted to me after attending the Orange Conference. Our senior pastor encouraged myself and the children's director to take a look at the book and for us to give discussion on the book. We talked about the book in depth this past week and more discussion is going to occur on the book during staff meetings, I am sure.

There were numerous things in the book that stood out to me. I will share a few of them with you below. If you are wanting/hoping to have individuals in your church involved in community, I suggest that you take a look at this book.

The book comes to be because they asked three questions as they were beginning to develop their church. The three questions are the following:

- what do we want people to become?
- what do we want people to do?
- where do we want people to go?

For them, their answer as that we want people to go and be part of a community group. Thus, they developed steps within their church to connect individuals with each other and their community groups are essential. They believe they are a relational church and the groups are the driving force. With groups being their driving force, this book is a natural overflow.

In the book (pages 65-67), they describe spiritual maturity and they do it in the following manner:

Spiritual maturity as a continual progress in three vital relationships: a person's relationship with God, with other believers, and with unbelievers. The breakdown looks like the following:

- intimacy with God
- community with insiders
- influence with outsiders

I think that it is absolutely vital that we challenge individuals to live in the context of these three relationships for their health and the health of the church.

At times, the book is not 'earth-shattering" but the nuggets of truth that they give you are very helpful and re mindful. For example, these simple but profound words on page 78:

Becoming crystal clear on what you are trying to do is critical for any group or organization. Without clarity an organization becomes pointless. Getting clear begins when we answer three important questions:

- what do we want people to become?
- what do we want people to do?
- where do we want people to go?

** the reminder **

On pages 93 - 98, they describe their strategy and why their strategy was small groups. Here is their thought on strategy and the reasons their strategy was small groups:

A great strategy is simple to understand and easy to implement.

Why Groups for us (North Point) ?

1. Groups Support Our Evangelism Strategy
2. Groups Decentralizes Church Leadership and Care
3. Groups Enable More People to Serve
4. Groups Help Develop Authentic Community
5. Groups Offer Maximum Flexibility
6. Groups Allow Us to Be Better Stewards
7. Groups Remove the Primary Limits to Growth

There is much more in the book, but I will wrap it up with the following (pages 164-167) statements. They believe that for groups to succeed, they must be set up well and here are five things that you must do:

1. Make it Simple
2. Make them Visible
3. Value them
4. Give Them Resources
5. Leadership must Model

Now, they are not saying that small groups ministry is the way that every church should do ministry. What they are suggesting is that you need to answer the questions about what/how/the win and implement a strategy (steps) to accomplish it.

Great Book, Thanks !!!!!!