Step 4 of the six steps in starting a seeker small group is "Launch the All-Important First Meeting". This is the first time you get people together in a small group to start discussing spiritual matters. This meeting is critical because if the people that come have had a positive experience, most likely they will want to return. Pat Sikora, founder of Mighty Oak Ministries and author of the recently published book, "Why Didn't You Warn Me?", talks about "party theology" in her June 4 Blog entry (see http://whydidntyouwarnme.com/2007/06/04/party-theology).
She quotes ministry leader, Eric Bryant of Mosaic, in which he tells of how their pastor Erwin McManus "does a message on what we call 'party theology.' It’s basically looking at Levi (his name later became Matthew). Not knowing any better, after becoming a follower of Jesus, Levi decided to throw a big party, he invited all of his friends who happened to be tax-collectors, prostitutes and sinners. Upon the invitation, Jesus went. In turn, Jesus had a horrible reputation, because He went to this party; He was known as a drunkard, a glutton, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Although Jesus was neither a drunkard nor a glutton, He was willing to ruin His reputation on behalf of befriending people that He disagreed with He disagreed with and weren’t honoring to Him. And more so, He (Jesus) didn’t expect people who did not know God to live like they did. And so for us at Mosaic, every year we would hear about this “party theology” and started putting it into practice. It’s amazing that in the context of a party, it’s simply inviting people into your home that you would normally never invite into your home." She further quotes Bryant saying, "Party theology is putting the needs of others before our own, in the context of relationship."
Pat goes on to talk about how difficult that is for her to do now. But how necessary it was for her to experience that as an unbeliever. Check out her full Blog entry to hear her struggles with this as well as to examine her new book, "Why Didn't you Warn Me?" in which she discusses some of the challenges of small groups and how to effectively address them. You can also learn more about Pat at her website, http://www.mightyoakministries.com. Pat Sikora is a great small group resource for all of us in the bay area. Pat has graciously offered to help us in our ministry! Feel free to contact her through her websites. - Mary
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