True Biblical Fellowship

On vactaion, I read through Jerry Bridges' The Crisis of Caring: Recovering the Meaning of True Fellowship. This is not Bridges' best book (that is The Dicipline of Grace or The Great Exchange). However, it is an excellent primer on the nature and foundation of true Biblical fellowship. Bridges exalts the importance of living our lives together in the local church. He encourages us all to have a few people who know us as completely as possible. As always, Bridges bases true fellowship with each other in the power of the Gospel. Because we have fellowship with God, we also have fellowship with each other.

Pursuing Fellowship: Care Groups

This Sunday evening at Christ Baptist Church we will begin "official" care groups. We will divide into groups of about 10 people and begin a journey of caring for each other's souls. Each group will meet once a week and reflect on the Sunday morning sermon as well as pray intentionally for spiritual growth in each other's lives. Here are seven purposes we have identified for these care groups:

· to cultivate genuine fellowship with each other
· to get to know each other better
· to better hold each other accountable
· to apply the Sunday morning sermon to our lives
· to utilize our spiritual gifts in serving each other
· to pray intentionally for each other
· to grow in our commitment to and love for Christ

Question: Are you a part of a small group of Christians who meet regularly to hold each other accountable? If so, what is the stucture of the time? How long have you been a part of that group? What is the most beneficial aspect of the group? Any other thoughts about small groups?