Episode #8: Life. Better Together.

Living in Community

Sunday School { studying the Bible together on Sunday mornings } has been a key component of the mission of Eastwood Tulsa for many years. Following Bible study is a time of worship and preaching/teaching.

For many years we have also had Small Groups, smaller groups of 10-12 people to disciple, mentor, pray for, minister to, and hold each other accountable that meets on various days of the week in different locations.

Storying the Gospel

In the beginning, all groups were using Storying the Gospel – telling the stories and then breaking them down (Head-Heart-Hands) to study together. Larry was one of the guys who came to the group through one of the guys in the group who had lost his wife. The group grew so large that we multiplied and added another group. We still have new guys coming. Now, Larry is leading in a Sunday School class, he is active in his faith, he’s serving, and he’s a deacon. Through Larry’s journey, he and his wife were baptized.

It is my belief that you can’t grow just coming to worship. As much as I love worship and like to praise the Lord with God’s people, you need a smaller group to begin to grow.

Theology of Small Groups

We truly believe that being in community with other Christians is Biblical and essential to our growth as Christians. The early Church was composed of believers who gathered in the Jewish temple and synagogues for evangelism and their homes for worship, prayer, teaching, fellowship and the Lord’s supper. There were no church buildings small or large. There were no churches to ‘join.’ The new believers didn’t have Bibles, commentaries, Christian books, internet, apps, or other things we take for granted. Their fellowship with other believers was crucial to their new faith in Christ.

Watch yesterday’s Sermon, Life. Better Together. Online at >> https://eastwoodtulsa.org/life-better-together or https://youtu.be/TdsVSyh2RXA

Jesus preached to the crowds and He discipled the few. He also had the inner circle of Peter, James and John who He really poured into. You have to have closeness with other people, not just from a stage or platform. You need more.

#EWStorytellers

Jeremy and his wife, Sofia, started a small group several years ago. A new couple came into the group during their relocation process to Tulsa. The group continued to connect with Cory and Heidi and over time came to know of their desire to adopt.

Read their story here >> https://eastwoodtulsa.org/small-groups-our-pathway-to-adoption/

We Are Better Together

People need community. A personal invitation to a worship service or small group is the best way to help people connect with others. Just because you may be attending a Church or watching a service online doesn’t mean that you are connected with other believers. Saying hello to people in a foyer or greeting them in an auditorium is important but not enough. Large worship gatherings are inadequate places for discipleship to occur.

Coming Up: This Sunday I Thessalonians 2

What’s more important than the gospel? People. The gospel is meant for people. You can’t love or hate people unless you’re around them, close to them. You can’t serve, you can’t walk with them, you can’t hear their story unless you are with them. So, life is definitely better together.

Research strongly indicates the people in your church who are in a group are more likely to serve more sacrificially, share the gospel more frequently, give more generously, and repent more regularly than those not in a group. Transformational Groups by Eric Geiger and Ed Stetzer.

With those type of dynamics, the group self corrects. We will challenge each other.

Power of a Small Group

This time of small group is also one of the most important times of prayer. Look at the important things that we can see from Acts 12:1-19:

1. Constant/Earnest prayer was being made by the church. V5

2. Prayer was focused and intentional for Peter. V5

3. The prayer meeting was held in a home where many were gathered. V12

4. God answered their prayers even though they were skeptical. Vs 13-16

5. God answered their prayers supernaturally. V17

Prayer is so paramount to our Christian walk. You can’t divorce anything from prayer.

Next week’s Sermon: I Thessalonians 2:7
“But we were gentle[c] among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.”

Find a Small Group

If you’re in the Tulsa area, there are so many churches with small groups. Here at Eastwood Tulsa we have study groups and affinity or interest groups starting now. Here is where you can sign up and get more information. >> https://eastwoodtulsa.org/small-groups and https://eastwoodtulsa.org/value-community-groups/.

If you have a question, or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or if this podcast has been a help to you in some way, please write to us at [email protected], or in the comments section below.

And finally, we invite you to join us live next Sunday at 10:45am in Tulsa, or at 11 am online. Once again, thanks for joining us for the Eastwood Tulsa Podcast.

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