QC and SG accountability (30/9/16)

Today Chee Boon joined as as the visiting PLT member (they are going round to different SGs)

Joshua asked if the Holy Spirit was active in sanctification of believers in the OT.
We note that the Spirit was given only on select individuals prior to Pentecost - to kings (1 Sa 10:10, 11:6, Ps 51:11), prophets, judges and craftsmen (Ex 31:13).It is interesting that even in the OT the manifestations of the Spirit's power was different in different individuals. Joel 2:28-29 looks forward to the time when all God's people will be recepients of God's Spirit. And we are individually (1 Co 6:19) and corporately (1 Co 3:16) the temple of the Spirit. So we can be sure that we enjoy the blessings of the New Covenant paid in Christ's blood in a way that OT saints did not. But I believe the Bible does not rule out a lesser work of the Spirit in the preservation and sanctification of His people.

Shaun asked about the bodily resurrection of the godly dead at the time of Jesus' resurrection mentioned in Matt 27:52-53. The fact that this remarkable miracle was mentioned in only one of the gospels should not cause concern that it might simply not have occurred. The miracles of Jesus are differently described in the different gospels, and only the feeding of the 5000 is common to all. The deeper issue is that of trusting in the inerrancy of the Bible because although only the original manuscripts ('autographs') are divinely inspired, we are well able to deduce the content of the originals with a very high degree of accuracy via textual criticism.

I shared my thoughts about why it is we can go for subsidized overseas retreats while at the same time planning to reduce financial support for church outreach ministries (see article). We also discussed whether leaders attending these retreat should be granted subsidies. Should not leaders be requested to pay full costs for themselves if they can afford it? Wen Ai's analogy of a per diem allowance of people on official business for a company was helpful. We are not paid for the work, but the church helps to defray costs involved in our work for the church. Leaders often bring their families at their own expense and take leave in order to attend retreats.

Chee Boon asked for our perspectives on cell standardization. Shaun was very passionate about reaching out to young adults who were not attending cells. I noted that we should be allowing different kinds of SGs to flourish (c.f. Christ Methodist, where there are general, special interest group and family cells), but that these should have the following characteristics:

·         Authentic relationships

Good groups practice trusting self-disclosure, care giving and active listening to one another. Group members serve one another and tell the truth to one another in love to help one another grow. They affirm the continuous work of God in one another’s lives. Spiritual transformation results when group members are known, loved, served, celebrated and admonished.

·         Biblical teaching that connects with real life

Good groups will not only strive for Biblical content or only for deep sharing of experiences. Both are necessary. Good groups will have members that understand the truth about how God works in their lives from day to day. Leaders of these groups will help connect truth with life by learning how to ask questions that encourage active discussion and creating “holy moments” where God’s presence and power can be known during group meetings.

·         Healthy conflict

Conflict is inevitable when truth meets life in authentic relationships. In good groups. members face tensions and disagreements with direct loving communication, rather than letting resentment, hidden emotions, and unresolved anger break up the group. Members want the best for each other and will speak truth in love to one another. Healthy conflict can be a tool the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into Christ’s image if there is submission to the word of God and the practice of love.

·         Well-balanced shepherding, so that people are both cared for and discipled by one another.

In caring for one another, group members help one another in the midst of and in recovery from crises. They give one another long-term mutual support. In discipling one another they intentionally model Christ-likeness for one another and help one another achieve spiritual goals.

We also said that the church was trying to institute standardized SG leader training.

We cannot expect the whole church to have the same passion for things that we ourselves are gifted and called to. But the local church must have the breadth of ministries to allow all people to exercise their gifts and calling.