H.O.M.E. Group Goals at Bethesda

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#666699" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Bethesda Evangelical Church</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><B>  </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bethesda Evangelical Church"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>H.O.M.E. Group Goals at Bethesda</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" background="03d11c00egdysm.png"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> H.O.M.E. Group Goals at Bethesda</div> <div> (H.O.M.E. = Homes Open for Ministry and Encouragement)</div> <bR> <div> The following are some of the goals we see for our H.O.M.E. Groups.  Obviously H.O.M.E. Groups can do more than we are listing below, and we are not placing any specific weight on the following order.  We believe, however, that the following things should be happening in and through healthy H.O.M.E. Groups:</div> <bR> <div> A. PEOPLE ARE GROWING IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD</div> <div> H.O.M.E. groups must ultimately point toward God or they will not succeed in the long run.  Group participants can grow in their relationship to God through prayer, Bible study, confession and holding one another accountable to move on toward maturity in Christ.</div> <bR> <div> B. PEOPLE ARE RELATING THE WORD OF GOD PERSONALLY AND PRACTICALLY TO DAILY LIFE</div> <div> While we can listen to sermons and presentations, it is in small groups that people can actively discuss specific biblical principles and seek to discern how those principles affect the life of the individual believer in his/her particular circumstances.</div> <bR> <div> C. PEOPLE ARE DEVELOPING DEEP AND LASTING RELATIONSHIPS</div> <div> By engaging in serious, Godly activities as well as sharing fun, lighthearted times, small group participants have the opportunity to open their hearts to one another and develop meaningful relationships with fellow Christians.</div> <bR> <div> D. PEOPLE ARE MINISTERING AND CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER'S NEEDS</div> <div> Everyone goes through difficult times.  Sometimes people will even face emergencies or crisis moments.  In either situation, we need a close group of friends who will pray for us and offer comfort and counsel.  H.O.M.E. groups should offer that kind of support.</div> <bR> <div> E. PEOPLE ARE DISCOVERING AND USING THEIR GIFTS TO DO GOD'S WORK</div> <div> God has given all Christians certain gifts to be used for the building up of the Kingdom.  The small group should provide a safe setting in which we can start learning what our gifts are amongst friends.  The group should provide an atmosphere where people can step out, take risks and even fail from time to time without ridicule.</div> <bR> <div> F. PEOPLE ARE BEING INCORPORATED INTO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND CHURCH</div> <div> H.O.M.E. groups should provide a place where new Christians and new members of the church can begin to develop friendships and find ways to "plug in" to the overall ministry of the church.</div> <bR> <div> G. PEOPLE ARE REACHING OUT TO OTHERS</div> <div> Ideally, groups should grow in fact, they must grow or they will ultimately die from stagnation.  While a group may be closed for a while in order to develop relationships in an atmosphere of confidentiality, groups should open up at various stages in their development.  Groups should always have times when they set up an "empty chair" and pray that God will fill that empty chair with a new person.  </div> <bR> <div> H. PEOPLE ARE LEARNING HOW TO LEAD AND GROUPS ARE MULTIPLYING</div> <div> Most groups should multiply every 912 months.  If they do not, they should very carefully analyze their covenant before continuing to make sure they are in agreement that things aren't getting stale.  Before a new group begins, it is important for each group to have an apprentice leader who will eventually branch out and start a new group.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>