Group dynamics & community meetings
Group dynamics is the process of people in a group interacting with one another. When one person controls a meeting it completely shuts down group dynamics.
Let’s go beyond merely instructing spectators to facilitating good group dynamics. Group dynamics are unprogrammed, unscripted, and free flowing. When group dynamics are shut down, a group becomes a passive audience.
God’s Spirit seeks to release positive group dynamics in a gathering of believers. Jesus manifests His presence when there is freedom for Spirit-led group dynamics. Group dynamics (interactions between people) can invigorate a church service. When a meeting of Christ-followers has good group dynamics even the shy get involved.
When Christians have an interactive, community meeting, their risen Leader shows up! A Christ-community meeting engages people with the risen Jesus & with one another.
Let’s let Jesus have the floor! To meet & be directly led by God is different than to meet & be taught about God. A talk about God is nothing like a group encounter with God.
The body of Christ needs Spirit-led community engagement meetings! When Christians meet for mutual support & love, they strengthen one another. After all, the New Testament is all about group dynamics in Christ’s body. It’s full of “one anothers.” Christians are called to meet for “one anothering”–heartfelt “sister & brothering.”
God-driven group dynamics return us to the Greek New Testament concept of ekklesia. My first experience of ekklesia transformed me from an agnostic to a Jesus-lover.
Ekklesia leads a group of people into the dynamic of God’s spiritual dimension. Ekklesia releases abundant life — the beauty of life shared in community. True ekklesia brings the fortunate and the unfortunate together in loving community. Ekklesia is not one-size-fits-all, but customizes ministry as the Spirit leads. In ekklesia the members of Christ’s body become hope coaches for one another.
Ekklesia is a dynamic network of Christ-followers interacting with God & one another. The web of ekklesia captures hearts with demonstrations of Christ’s love. Ekklesia gathers regularly to train with spiritual weapons & be sent into the world.
Ekklesia’s like baseball. The goal’s not to sit in the dugout; but to run the bases. Ekklesia’s like football. No true playmaker wants to be a bench warmer. Ekklesia’s like basketball. Any player on the court can take a shot at the basket. Get my book about ekklesia here.
Faith-based facilitation releases positive group dynamics in worship meetings. A group of people, each responsive to the Spirit, flows together in love and unity. Faith-based lecture informs. Faith-based facilitation empowers.
If the body of Christ is kept passive, merely watching 1 man speak; not much happens. To sit like statues when Jesus wants us to be filled with His spiritual fire, misses the point. Religion is rote; relationship with Christ is rousing.
Like a teleprompter, Jesus runs words through human hearts. Most of us ignore them. God give us the guts to grab hold of Your grace and Your spiritual weapons and go all out for Jesus! (Physical weapons take lives. Spiritual weapons transform lives.) We can’t stand for justice if we’re barely standing. Let’s encourage one another!
The best psychological state for humans isn’t self-will, but self-surrender to Jesus. To choose my will over God’s, is to disconnect from true happiness. If we don’t find inner peace, all the success in the world won’t mean much.
Knock all the rust
Off of your trust;
Follow and obey
The risen Jesus!
