100% Natural Evangelism

Well, our life groups are winding up their 5th season next month.... and, from all I've heard, it's been a very good year!

Each fall, we form small groups at Riverside... we call them 'Life Groups', and try to loosely imitate the small group model which Buddy Bell developed at the Landmark Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

The purpose of the life group is to create an environment in which closer relationships can be nurtured... with each other and with our living God... we study with each other, eat with each other, pray with each other... and generally grow closer as friends and siblings.

We try very hard to have a focus each 'season' (our small groups begin in August and wrap up in May, taking the summer 'off'), and this year that focus has been primarily outward... we began the year studying - and applying - 'Outflow', which very simply calls for us to live like a fountain... each group developed its own 'outflow' focus, endeavoring to live Jesus out in our community... the intent was for each group to use its collective God-given gifts to reach outside of our comfort zone and train ourselves to have a constant and intentional outward focus. The obvious benefit was that each group member would, as a natural result, learn to act with that outward intent on a personal level....

(of course, as each season 'ends', the focus for that year will fade as the new season - and focus - begins.... but with the beginning of each new season, it is our prayer is that we never forget what we learned.... but instead view each season's lessons as building blocks along our spiritual journey... continually adding to our arsenal of gifts which we use to show Jesus to our friends.)

well, from all accounts, the Outflow season was an unqualified success! I have heard literally dozens of stories of how this group or that person 'outflowed'...

In the middle of the season, we were given an unbelievable opportunity to step up in a very big way. The February 6 Gassville tornado devastated our little town, and the church (collectively AND individually) did what the church is called to do:

It served

It helped

It shone

God worked His will through His people.

Last week we introduced a four-week video series which will serve to 'finish up' our 07-08 life group season; it is produced by my friend Terry Rush from Tulsa, and it is wonderful!

100% Natural Evangelism gives very Biblical, practical advice and simple examples of how we can live Jesus.

Thank you, Terry, for this awesome tool!

Thank you, God, for Riverside and the wonderful people you are using to accomplish Your will.

...and thank you, God, for all the people you put in our lives that make us who we are through You.