|
|
|
|
Sydney Adventist Youth Newsletter 01.06.20
|
|
The Importance of Life Groups
Last week we looked at a biblical picture of Church life. Acts 2:42-47 presents a community of believers, prayerful, selfless, consumed in the word and fellowship, meeting in large gatherings and in homes – growing day by day.
I look forward to belonging to a Church like this.
I believe it’s worth pursuing a Church like this.
In his book Mission Shift – Dr Kayle De Waal suggests one major move we can make in our daily/weekly practise towards becoming a more biblical church. That is – strengthening the organic arm of the Church.[1]
As he outlines history, Dr De Waal notes that for its first 300 years of existence, the church had a strong organic wing. That is, they not only met in the “temple courts” and in public gatherings, as we do on a Sabbath morning, but they “they broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts” (Acts 2:42-47).[2]
Church was not a 3 hr per week public gathering in a building!
In fact, there were times when public gatherings weren’t possible due to government rulings and persecution – the church was forced to operate out of homes - its organic wing became healthy and robust.[3]
When Constantine became the emperor, however, things changed.
Christianity became the state religion and by 380 AD “Every Roman citizen was forced to become a member and was made to believe in the lex fidei, the law of faith. Other groups and meetings, including those in homes were forbidden. The decrees were issued against pagans but unwittingly targeted Christians who still met in private homes.”[4]
The result – the organic wing of the Church died.
During his time, Constantine built churches and gave buildings of the state to the Church. This fuelled the idea that Church was a place you visit, not something you are a part of. In time the idea of “the church [building]” being “the place where we meet God developed and continued unabated.”[5]
It’s hard for many of us to take, but the reality is that a lot of church practise in our time, even in Adventism, and throughout the Christendom era, has been based on the Constantine era. We really do need a mission shift – a reformation - a move towards a more biblical model of Church.
While the organised wing, and our Sabbath morning public gatherings are extremely valuable, we need to strengthen the organic wing of church life. With God’s help, I believe we can.
One tool I would like to suggest to you today is the concept known as - ‘Life Group’.
Essentially, a life group is a community of believers with mission. This community of 10-15 people does three things –
- Reach Up – Connect with God
- Reach In – Connect with each-other
- Reach Out – Connect with those who don’t know Jesus
Life groups generally meet once, sometimes twice, a week (outside of sabbath morning hours) as a whole – focusing on the three above mentioned areas (all three matter). The big idea is that this group, like Jesus and His disciples and like the early church, are doing life and mission together – focusing on Jesus as the one who leads their lives. They are a community of believers that genuinely care about each-other and those who don’t know Jesus.
Imagine the difference hundreds or thousands of life groups meeting all across Australia could make to our church. The relationships built, the spiritual temperature lifted, the people in our communities served and introduced to Jesus. Imagine the celebration that public Sabbath gatherings would become!
A community of believers, prayerful, selfless, consumed in the word and fellowship, meeting in large gatherings and in homes – growing day by day. Let us continue to ask God to lead us to become this kind of Church.
Pr Simon Gigliotti
Youth Director – Greater Sydney Conference
PS - If you would like to start a Life Group, be involved in one, or be in a leadership team for one, don’t hesitate to contact me @simongigliotti@adventist.org.au – I would be happy to chat and send you a training webinar.
[1] Kayle De Waal, Mission Shift, 98 – 132.
|
|
Update on Upcoming Events
As you may be aware COVID-19 restrictions are beginning to ease up. As of June 1, the NSW government has announced that places of worship are allowed to have up to 50 people on site (so long as social distancing is maintained, that is, 4 square metres per person in building). You can read more about this here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules
Because many of the events we run, as a Youth Department, are quite large in their attendance, many of our in-person events will not be able to take place this year.
The following major events will NOT run in 2020:
- Pathfinder Expedition
- Global Youth Day – we had postponed this, but are now cancelling
- Adventurer Camporee in person (An online Camporee will run instead - November - 6-8 weekend)
Other events that will not run this year include:
- Abseiling - May 31
- Map and Compass – June 14
- World Changers Bible and Leadership School – 26th June – 5th July
- Chosen (Union Event) – 6 - 10th July
- ASA Summit (Union Event) – 17th - 19th July
- “Shred It” is to be decided in the next couple of weeks.
For events after the end of July, we will keep you posted as things unfold further.
|
|
Revelation with the Youth Directors
Join Pr Simon Gigliotti and Pr Phil Yates as they dive into Revelation Chapter 9 - this Wednesday evening at 7pm. (June 3rd). Don't miss it!
Zoom link: https://adventistchurch.zoom.us/j/99689425944
|
|
Pathfinder Honours ONLINE
Pr Phil Yates has begun to create a series of videos that help fast-track getting your Pathfinder Honours. To see all of the latest videos, please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: Sydney Adventist Youth.
Check out our latest Honour:
|
|
|
|
Bridge Honour
|
|
Adventurer Awards ONLINE
Adventurer e-Awards are also available on our YouTube Channel: Sydney Adventist Youth.
Check out our latest Award:
|
|
|
|
Bible Friends Diamond
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
