Beyond "Normal"

By definition, “normal” is common, typical and expected. It conforms to a standard. Many small groups in North America are “normal”. Eight to twelve people meet regularly to study the Bible, share, pray together. Often group members meet socially for dinner or a movie or a summer picnic at the beach. Often group members serve the community together through an outreach project or a church initiative.

Nothing’s wrong with normal per se. Many of us would be so happy to have a group experience like that. (Wouldn’t you be thrilled if all your group members even just attended all the meetings?) God has done many great things in groups like these throughout the history of Cornerstone and the Church.

But what if God didn’t create us to be “normal”? What if our experience in community and small groups was to be so much more than what we’ve been experiencing?

Is it possible that there’s more beyond “normal”?

• Is it possible that our curriculum (as good as it is) can actually get in the way of group members “doing life” together?

• Is it possible that meetings can run smoothly (and as planned) but we still miss out on experiencing Jesus’ presence in our group or even forget to check in with Him?

• Is it possible that even with church and small group attendance, our lives and priorities and relationships still look much like those of non-Christians?

• Is it possible that we can do all the “right” things in our groups but still miss out on the life transformation God wants us to experience?

• Is it possible that God has actually designed the quality of our small group experience to impact and bless and attract our neighbours and those around us?

This year at Cornerstone, our Small Groups Leader community will be exploring what it means to go Beyond “Normal” in our experience and thinking of small groups. Through conversations, training, prayer, studies, experiments, etc. we’ll seek God’s vision for biblical community and be encouraged and resourced to take that next step in our leadership and in our small groups.

Please keep this in your prayers and ask that God would lead us closer to discovering and experiencing what it means to live in biblical community.

Looking forward to going on this journey with you.

Jeremy