Ministers Desk 3 June 2012

Our latest Natural Church Development (NCD) survey gives us good news regarding our Explore Group ministry.  According to the survey results this is the strongest and healthiest area of our church life at the moment and it has been the area in which we have seen the most growth since the last survey was conducted three years ago.

Explore groups are an essential part of our purpose of Growing Disciples who Exalt, Explore, Embody, Engage.  As part of this purpose each one of us are encouraged to be part of an Explore group that meets weekly or fortnightly.  Explore groups are the place where we deepen relationships with God, other people and ourselves (by this I mean we understand more about who we are created to be in Jesus Christ).  Through discussion, reading and prayer we learn about the life of faith as it is expressed in the bible.  With the support of the others in our group we then seek to live this out in our lives.  Explore groups are therefore a key discipline through which the Holy Spirit grows us to be more like Jesus Christ.

Almost 100 people in our congregation are part of an Explore group.  The survey tells us that they find these groups highly relevant to the lives that they live and that what takes place in them helps them with the challenges of everyday life.  This is the best thing that I think about Explore groups.  The time we invest in them has a huge impact on everything else we do.  I was recently talking to someone.  They had been struggling with a problem yet when they raised it at their Explore group and allowed the bible to speak into their situation, they found a new pathway and an increased resolve to fix the problem, which they did.

To a lesser extent people in our Explore groups say that they feel comfortable sharing personal problems and having others pray for them.  Praying for each other is one of the most powerful ways that we can offer pastoral care for each other.  Through prayer we unleash the limitless power of the Holy Spirit and we seek the very best of God for those for whom we pray.  Each time we meet in an Explore group we should devote time to prayer where each member (not just the leader) prays for the needs of the others.  This will deepen and enrich your times together and demonstrate the unity of Christ’s body.

I have said before that this congregation is too large for everybody to know or recognise everybody else.  For some people this can lead to a feeling of isolation.  However, in an Explore group we can develop relationships of trust and friendship that help us in our spiritual growth and bless us in our daily lives.

If you are not yet part of an Explore group, please join one.  On the back page of the notice sheet is a list of our current groups, contact a leader and invite yourself to be part.

If you are in an Explore group and you know someone who is not, contact them and invite them to join your group.  The best way that we are going to be able to spread the word about Explore groups is through word of mouth.  It is only once we’ve been part of a group that we know how good they are.  Please tell your friends and share the blessing.