Monday, October 06, 2014

The Circle of Spiritual Life

When I became a follower of Jesus 44 years ago I was an undergraduate at Northern Illinois University. I began to attend a campus ministry. I was asked if I wanted to be in a Small Group for Bible study and prayer. I was told this experience would be one of the keys to my spiritual vitality and growth.

That proved true. I've been in a Small Group all 44 years of my Jesus life. Linda and I have been in a Small Group Community all the years of our marriage. 

The early church met in small groups of Jesus-followers, in homes, in upper rooms, wherever they could find a meeting place. Small Group Community was essential to the explosive spiritual and numerical growth of the early church. It's also essential to my spiritual life and growth.

My spiritual life looks like this:


I meet alone with God. I spend time with God in "the secret place." 
This is the Very Small Group (VSG) - God and I.

I meet weekly in a Home Group to study scripture and pray together. 
This is the Small Group (SG) - 6-12 people.

I meet Sunday mornings to worship and listen to the preached Word on Sunday mornings and other times.
This is the Large Group (LG)

Now it's Monday morning, and I have spent time alone with God in the VSG.

Tonight the LG is gathering - Linda and I will be there.

I'll meet every day this week in the VSG.

On Wednesday night my HG gets together.

Next Sunday morning I'll be with my LG.



It looks like this:




This is the Circle of My Spiritual Life.

(Note: this is a circle rolling forward on a path, led by God, progressing in the spiritual life and the movement of God and his kingdom. It is not "the eternal recurrence of the same.")