All of you are Christ's body and each one is part of it.
1 Corinthians 12:27
| Text size: +/-Link March 2004
Connexional Link Resources - March 2004
A message from the General Secretary
Dear Friends
A challenge to think about*: Christians who want to get somewhere belong first to a small friendship group and only second to a worshipping congregation.
What counts as a useful small group?
1. A group must build trust. It needs to be a place where we can speak the truth - fearlessly but with sensitivity. If one member takes courage and talks about life's ups and downs, its joys and hurts, other members have to be good listeners, have to be supportive. A group must be a safe place. But it is not there to breed self-indulgence: it's pretty unlikely everyone will agree with us, or think us wise. Sometimes they will think we're pretty stupid. But they will not write us off. Or ridicule us. A good group exists to help us work through
life's traumas and thrills, and to grow in maturity.
2. A group must be fair to all. You've experienced it, haven't you? One or two people do all the talking, and you feel you'll never be able to have your say. But everyone's voice counts. So there needs to be an agreement
about everyone having a fair turn. And there needs to be a referee whose job is to monitor fair shares for all.
3. A group must give something to people outside the group. No group worth the name of Christian can be purely inward looking. The Christian life is about giving - giving time, giving attention, sharing our gifts, donating money. It's about action as well as talking; action which shows generosity and a passion for justice. So take a newspaper to your group; or a story about someone whose plight seriously challenges you.
4. A group must strengthen faith. So why not share what truly inspires us, or touches the heart, or purges the conscience? What moves us to prayer? It may be a book we've read, or a text in the Bible, or a film, a poem, a picture or a piece of music. Something that lifts the spirit, or makes us feel whole and free and glad to be
alive - taken out of ourselves into something worshipful.
David G Deeks
*My last article produced lots of responses. Keep them coming! To:
or:
Revd David Deeks,
Methodist Church House,
25 Marylebone Road,
London NW1 5JR.
March 2004 Resources Mission Matters
Link's regular source of news and information for mission enthusiasts / church councils.
View this resource (PDF 394K)
Achieving the Vision
A recent initiative from the World Methodist Council.
See also www.worldmethodistcouncil.org
View this resource (PDF 115K)Share
Link's regular source of news and resources for youth workers and groups prepared by the Methodist Youth section (MAYC).
View this resource (PDF 541K)
Public Issues
News and Features for Public Issues people.
View this resource (PDF 306K)
Safeguarding
Information and guidance on policy concerning the safeguarding of children.
View this resource (PDF 324K)
Link's regular news sheet.
View this resource - landscape format (PDF 94K)
