(20 Questions)Your Best Christian-Group Experience Ever
1. Was the group part of a larger network?
Yes
(Who?)
My church
2. Was this experience in the past, or is it still going on?
Still going on
3. How long did it last? (Days, Months or Years? When, specifically?)
It's been going on strongly , in the last couple of months (not to say it was bad before it's just stronger now)
4. How many total people?
over 60
How many "fully active"?
about 50
(Which were you?)
One of the 50
5. Were some (or many) already friends, before the group?
a few,yes
6. List any important activities that most everyone participated in.
Worship, Bible study,prayer, fasting
7. List any important doctrines that most everyone believed.
The Scriptures Inspired
The One True God
The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Fall of Man
The Salvation of Man
The Ordinances of the Church
The Baptism in the Holy Ghost
The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Ghost
Sanctification
The Church and Its Mission
The Ministry
Divine Healing
The Blessed Hope
The Millennial Reign of Christ
The Final Judgment
The New Heavens and the New Earth
8. The most important thing to know about God was... (fill in the blank).
He loved the world so much He gave His only Son to die for us.
9. Did the "best" part begin after you got to the group, or before?
I think the group had some great parts before but there was a rough patch and then some more great stuff after.
10. Did something specific cause that "best" period of time to begin?
Being in one accord. Letting God have His way and throwing the church routine out the window and allowing the Spirit to move
11. If the cause was a person, did the "best" times end about when he/she left?
It wasn't a person
12. Did some leave along the way?
yes
Were they content or upset?
I think they left because (and this is sad and unfortunate) they were not spiritually grounded. They weren't upset with us but with life in general.
13. Back to the "best" part... Tell five things that were wonderful. :)
1.Our love for each other grew
2. Spiritual growth
3. unity
4.Deeper knowledge of God
5. Deeper understanding of how the Spirit works
14. Did you get to "FUNCTION"? (Participate? Speak? Share? Contribute?)
Yes
In what ways?
I allowed God to minister to my heart and my life. I allowed (not that God needed to ask me for permission, you get what I mean)Him to guide me in what I should preach and teach. I was an active part of worship.
15. Could everyone else "function" too?
yes
(In what ways?)
In whatever way God led them to.
(And DID they, actually?)
Some people might have had a desire to do something but didn't. I can't speak for all who were led because some choose not to share but Yes most who were led by God to function in a particular way did.
16. Were there some who naturally did more "leading"?
Yes
17. Did the natural leaders do ALL the leading?
No.
What did the others do?
Some were led to intercede for others or to share a message
18. Did ongoing conflict develop among the strongest "function-ers"?
Honestly, I don't think so and I know that sounds like a denial answer but if anything, any conflict that may have existed before is gone.
19. Did the group stay together for more than two years?
yes
20. IF the group had NO single, local leader, AND IF it lasted more than two years, THEN WHAT did the group DO that helped it stay together through difficult times?
Trusted in God in the darkest moments
If any of these questions seem unclear, tell me, and I'll clarify in the comments or edit them above. Thanks for getting "real"! This could prove to be extremely valuable...I'll post my own answers in a week or two... but I'd rather not go first! ;)
God is With Us
Tuesday, February 21, 2006,at 8:43 AM
2 Comments:
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Post a CommentAt 2:04 PM, 
Bill Heroman
Hey, Debbie. Thanks for breaking the ice on my "Dare"! :)
A lot of that sounds truly wonderful, so I'm even more curious now...
Re: #2: Are you talking about a sub-group of 50-60 who meet outside of sunday services, or is 50-60 the whole church? Is that like a really big cell group? I'm wondering what context to place the rest of your answers into...
Re: up top: It says "Pastor" Angel Roman, but you answered #20. Does he have a particularly "hands off" style where he doesn't act like the leader all the time? (Most "pastors" I know kind of slide into the leader role just because people let them, when they're around. Is that a bit different for y'all?) Or was he just not around whenever the 50-60 subgroup was meeting? I hope you understand my curiosity. I'm just trying to speak specifically! :)
Re: #10: This was my favorite line!!! WA-HOO!!! Any chance you could share about H-O-W that attitude came to develop? Did a dozen of the fifty just get realy humble and start seeking him with that same spirit, until others came along later? Or did the Lord just "come over" all 50-60 in some really powerful way on one dramatic evening, and turn your hearts? Or did it blossom gradually? Or something else? Please, I'm dying to know...
Not to analyze it to "death"... but because if it's worth sharing, then the details are worth sharing too. Not to set up a pattern, either, as if God does everything the same way ever. But just to get the rest of the story. If you understand my heart about these questions, I hope? :)
A LOT of christians never get to actually experience what you wrote for number 10...
Please tell us more, if you can?
It still sounds truly wonderful... I'm just trying to get a clear-er picture.
And thanks again, so much, for what you shared so far! :)