PARTICIPATION GROUPS, PART 1: FOUNDATIONAL ISSUES

Matthew 18:15-20; 16:13-19
David Bruce Linn, Pastor-Teacher
12 September, 2004
All Rights Reserved

INTRO: EXAMPLE OF RACHEL LANE FROM THE TESTAMENT BY JOHN GRISHAM

In a world totally given over to greed and self-aggrandizement, Rachel Lane stands out as a Christian who could not care less for earthly possessions or attainments. She cared only about the remote tribal people to whom God had sent her. She had no trust in programs of any kind. Her sole trust for ministry was the person of Jesus working through her. This has not been the pattern of American Christians or the American church. We have trusted programs and professionalism. We have convinced everyone that someone else does the work of Christ.

1. THE PRESENCE AND POWER OF JESUS IS IN HIS CHURCH IN EVEN THE SMALLEST GROUPS -- MATT. 18:15-20

a. A small group is the church--not only the large group. We can do powerful and difficult things in ministry simply because Jesus is with us. It has nothing to do with the size of the group.

b. We desperately need to reconceive our small groups as places where every person participates. The term "p-group" reminds us that Christ is in even the smallest gathering to work through every one of us--if we will participate!

2. GOD IS IN THE BUSINESS OF REVEALING HIS PRESENCE AND POWER THROUGH THE CHURCH -- MATT. 16:13-17

a. We should expect to see the presence and power of Jesus in our p-groups.

b. Peter's "aha" moment will be repeated in our p-groups if we involve those yet to meet Christ.

3. NOTHING CAN STOP THE SUPERNATURAL WORK OF JESUS IN HIS CHURCH -- MATT. 16:18

a. After all the hermeneutics experts are done trying to explain it away, Jesus really did say that he would build his church on Peter (and the other apostles). He looks us in the eye and says: "You may not believe it, but on stuff like you I will build my church, and no power in heaven or on earth can stop my work!"

b. The building work of Christ is done on people like Peter and us only as products of God's grace. He will build the church on your p-group as a product of grace. One more time: it is not your ability or training which will qualify you or your group for the building work of Christ.

4. JESUS GAVE THE KEYS OF HIS KINGDOM TO THE CHURCH -- MATT. 16:19-20

a. Jangling in our sweaty hand is the power to usher people into Christ's kingdom through the gospel, to release people from bondage to sin, bondage to demonic spirits, bondage to sickness, bondage to addictions.

b. We must reject the lie that someone else holds these keys--we do! Kingdom ministry happens mostly in the context of personal relationships, not large group meetings.

CONC: Rachel Lane had the advantage of standing in the jungle with no distractions from an existing church which would lie to her about how God works. There is no evangelist on TV who has more of the power of God than you have available to you--if you will participate! Until we see that even the smallest p-group in the church has all the power of Christ we will keep waiting for someone else to do kingdom ministry.