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Is Your Group Petal or Fugal?
By Paul | December 14, 2007
The ten dollar words centripetal and centrifugal may have something to teach us about our small groups. Centripetal means “to draw in to a central place”. Centrifugal means “to spin out from a central place to many places”. With those short definitions, which word would best describe your group?
Centripetal is what we are generally most comfortable with. We draw people who are like us and we enjoy doing life with them. We see ourselves as the center. The down side is that this can lead us toward an unhealthy introversion which is inward-focused, suspicious of outsiders, and protective of itself. Like the tornado, a group can be like this and start with a lot of noise and then end up consuming itself.
Centrifugal is not natural to us but has the greatest possibility of bringing health and growth. We start from our central place but then intentionally cross barriers to bring help, hope or the words of life. To spin out from the safe confines of a familiar home with familiar friends and familiar studies can bring anxiety and fear. It can also bring new life not only to those outside the group but, amazingly, bring new energy and purpose to the group members themselves. Jesus taught that the message of the gospel contained within itself seeds both for its continued spread and for deepening into the soil of our lives.
With those further descriptions, would you say then that your group tends toward centripetal or centrifugal? What steps could you and your group take to move beyond familiar needs to meeting new people and needs beyond your group?
• Start with prayer—As a group ask the Lord what He would have you do. Where is He already at work and your group needs to join Him? The Burgess care group did this and the Holy Spirit led them to organize the funeral/memorial services at Bethel not only for our members but for people from the community. They have not only ministered to hurting people but have had at least one person become a Christian!
• Invite your friends to your group—Have your own special event and invite somebody.
• Tap into Bethel activities—Your entire group could attend and bring friends to the Alpha course coming up in February. The beauty of this course is that you get to do it with others and not have to rely just on your own.
• Investigate the possibility of your small group doing a short term mission trip together—Bethel has adopted several areas around the world where your group could serve. We also have missionaries that we support that could have a group come and help them for a short time.
Some of the best ways that your group could go beyond itself to touch our community and world are the ways that your group comes up with. What will you do to go from centripetal to centrifugal?
Topics: Inspire |
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