8/8/2015

UsingSmallGroupstoFightSin:9Marks

UsingSmallGroupstoFightSin
ByCorbyMegorden

Mynaturaltendencyistosaytothosearoundme,Imdoingquitewell,
thanks.Theproblemis,sinisactiveandwarsagainstuseachandeveryday.
Itsunwiseand,frankly,dishonesttosuggestthatIdontneedhelpinmy
battleagainstsin.Often,Icanputanaccuratelabelonmysinpatterns,andevenidentify
versesthatspeaktothem.Butjustasoften,therearesinsandsinpatternsIcannotsee.
Article
03.01.2010

ThecaregrouptowhichmywifeandIbelongatourchurchinGaithersburg,Maryland
comesalongsideandhelpsmefightthebattle.Theyhelpmetoseemysin,andthenapply
thegospelofJesusChristtoit.
Andweurgeyou,brothers,admonishtheidle,encouragethefainthearted,helptheweak,
bepatientwiththemall(1Thes.5:14).
Byremindingmeofhisallsufficientsacrifice,mycaregroupsadmonishesmewhenIam
idle,encouragesmewhenIamfainthearted,andhelpsmewhereIamweak.Thisis
bringinggraceinanappropriateformaccordingtoourneedsatthemoment.
ThecaregroupIleadconsistsofthreemarriedcouples.Allsixofusmeetmonthly.The
threehusbandsalsomeetseparatelyonceamonth,asdothethreewives.Sinceallthree
ofusmenworkonthepastoralstaffatourchurch,weareabletodropintooneanothers
officestocareforeachanotheronaregularbasis.Yetinourcaregroupswemeetas
friends,notascoworkersorprofessionals.
Thoughweperiodicallyreadanarticletoenrichourmarriages,primarilywefocuson
learningtoapplywhatwehavebeentaughtfromthepulpit.Themajoremphasisofour
discussionsissimple:howdoeswhatwehavebeentaughtaffectmylife?Thatmeans
ourconversationwillbringthemessageofthesermonintopersonalheartstruggles,into
daytodaydecisionssuchaswhetherourkidsgotocollege,intoourlatestconflicts,orinto
evidencesofgraceinoneanotherslives.
Ourgoalisnottomeasureeachothersperformanceitstogivecareandbegrace
bringers.Thereisanunderlyingassumptionoftrust,aswellastheassumptionthatwe
continuetobesinnersinneedofaSaviortoday.Inthiscontext,wedonttrytoout
performoneanother,buttotrulyknoweachotherandbeknownbyeachother.
Giventhiscontextoftrust,wewillopenlydiscussalmostanytopicascouples(withthe
exceptionofmatterspertainingtosexualtemptation,whichwillbediscussedinoursame
sexmeetings).Discussingourliveswithspousespresentisimmenselyhelpfulincaringfor
oneanother,sinceitallowsthegrouptogettheperspectiveofthepersonwhoknowseach
individualbest.Withoutsuchinput,wearelessequippedtohelponeanother.Additional
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8/8/2015

UsingSmallGroupstoFightSin:9Marks

benefitsofmeetingasmarriedcouplesinclude
allowingindividualstohearhowsinaffectsothersinthefamily.Theindividualmay
notbeawareoftheconsequencesofhisorhersin,andthegroupmightbeableto
facilitateaconversationorofferaperspectivethatleadstoalevelofshared
understandingthecouplecannotreachontheirown.
lettingthegrouppointoutevidencesofgraceinanindividualslife,evidenceswhich
thespousemaynothaveseen.
allowinganindividualtohearhowaspouseseesGodchanginghimorher(oftento
thesurpriseofthehusband/wife).
helpingspousesbemoreeffectiveatcaringforoneanother.Byobservingothers
careforourspouse,welearnhowtomoreeffectivelydothesame.
providingconversationtopicswhichcanbepickedupinourseparatemeetingsfor
menandwomen.
EveryChristianhaspredominantsinpatternsthataffectourlives.Formyself,Icanbeself
sufficient,judgmental,andproud.Thesesinsresidedeepinmyheart.Whilethesesins
mayshowupinprimaryareassuchasmymarriage,theyreallyaffectallofmyactions.
Becauseoutoftheheart,themouthspeaks,ourdiscussionsreflectmyheartandwhatI
trulybelieve.Everyconversationisthenanopportunityforotherstoseemysinpatternsat
work.Byhavingothersthatknowmesharetheseobservations,Icanmoreeffectively
mortifythesinthatisactiveinmyheart.Andwhatajoytodothiswithbrothersandsisters
whoknow,believe,trust,andalwaysremindmeofthesamegospelthatChristdiedfor
oursins,thatwemightbelongtosinnomore!

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