Who am I?

I am sitting in your row at the 10:30 service,
in the next line at the grocery store,
running laps around our neighborhood.
I look familiar to you. Do we know each other outside of this place?
I've smiled at you; you've smiled at me.
I feel happy here, but I know, really know, few.
We're familiar, yes.
Let's take it beyond smiling today.
If you stop to talk, I won't think you are crazy.
Don't worry about what to say--it will come.
We don't have to talk about God.
Just show me who you are.
Worried we have nothing in common?
I know one thing--
We both navigate this same path week after week.
Open your mouth. God will do the rest.

Reading:
Romans 8:26-29

Prayer:

God,

In Jesus,
Amen

Permalink

Have you been involved with a cell group here at Quest? If you have not, I urge you to give it a try. It's unlike a church Sunday school class or Biblestudy group I've ever participated in. I like the fact that most of them meet at someone's home; therefore, the atmosphere is more relaxed. I also enjoy the friendships that are developed through this group of people.

You can go to cell and share your thoughts, struggles, etc. and know that you have people that truly care about you. They will pray for you, become involved in your life and love you. Some days you will really dive into the Bible and other days you may have more of a conversation about what's going on and just be there with each other.

Long ago, I went to a cell at a local coffee house. I always looked forward to grabbing a cup of joe and sharing each other's trials and triumphs! It was a small group and we've grown and changed since then, but it was something I could look forward to each week.....a wind down. We would find out what each other were going through, what was on our hearts, how God was blessing us, etc. And we would find out how we could pray for each other (personal issues, co-workers, family struggles, etc.)

This week I read a quote "friendliness means I'm looking for ways to serve, to minister to people and come alongside of them and just share what God has done"--not in words, but to treat them the way God has treated me. If we could each strive to do this, what a difference it would make!

Permalink

Everyone I've spoken to about cell groups has the same response: enjoyment.
People enjoy the opportunity to get together to socialize and grow spiritually in a more intimate setting than a church service can provide. Cell groups can provide an opportunity to see the bigger picture in life. Often times, we can become so self-absorbed that we forget that there are people and issues out there bigger than us. Cell groups can also provide the opportunity to form long-lasting friendships with people we might not ordinarily encounter. I encourage everyone reading this to try attending cell group and, you don't have to try just one. You can go to several different cell groups. If one doesn't work for you, try another one. After all, the word community originally meant fellowship and we should all be about fellowship. 1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

Permalink