Between Intention and Action
Jesus attracted followers. His standards were high. If you’re in, you’re all in. “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” I’m not sure I could meet that standard, but I understand commitment and I understand community. So did Jesus.
In the story of the feeding of the five-thousand, Jesus has the multitude sit down on the grass. My image of that moment is that the people gathered into small groups; groups of friends, neighbors, family. And they dealt with the provision of food enough for the masses.
Small groups have great power; power to support one another in love and to nurture living in Christian community. Trust builds and strengthens with the practice of trusting one another.
I consider myself fortunate to be part of a number of small groups, not all associated with the church, but all precious to me. The group of longest standing is one of writers, over twenty years duration, and the newest is our Daylight Diners supper group. We’ve only met once. I was a long-time choir member — that’s a small group. There are so many, and so important.
Sometimes I imagine the church as a body formed of many interlocking small groups, each strong in itself and sharing strength with the whole. Perhaps it is like chain-mail, strengthening and protecting the body in the way of the whole armor of God. And it is out of small groups that actions begin like our sanctuary team, compassion ministries,
et al.
Prayer: Bind us together, Lord; bind us together, with cords that cannot be broken. Bind us together, Lord; bind us together, bind us together in Love. Amen
Michael Herzog