Growth Groups

by Pastor Mitch Horton | February 1999

This month we are beginning growth groups at Victory Fellowship. They will begin on Sunday, February 28th, and meet every 2nd and 4th Sunday night beginning at 7 p.m. and will conclude around 8:30p.m.

Growth Groups are designed to provide an avenue of personal growth, discipleship and ministry for believers at Victory Fellowship. God has not planned that we live in isolation from one another, but for us to be an encouragement to each other. This personal fellowship is a vital part of our maturing spiritually and growing into the likeness of Christ.

As the church expanded beginning on the day of Pentecost with Peter's message recorded in Acts chapter 2, believers regularly gathered to receive the ministry of the Word from the Apostles, to pray together, and to receive encouragement from one another through personal fellowship (See Acts 2:42-47).

An important ingredient in our spiritual maturity is the personal fellowship that we should have with one another. We live in a society that causes people to feel isolated though they may frequently find themselves in crowds of people. In our culture it is possible to attend church for several years and yet develop no real close friendships. We tend to have surface relationships in our daily contacts with others, and through fear of being hurt, we often have built walls of self protection around ourselves to keep others at a distance. Sin manifested through Adam first of all as a fear of God's presence, and quickly began its' work of isolating people from one another. God's original plan was that we live in an environment of love and unity created as believers gather together in small groups, the love of God works through believers lives and melts the walls that have been created around us by years of living in a sinful world.

The book of Ecclesiastes declares that a three - fold cord is not easily broken (See Ecc. 4:9-12). When we intertwine our lives with the lives of others we gain tremendous spiritual strength. Personal fellowship with others will quench the fiery darts that Satan shoots at us to make us feel that we are unique in our struggles in the various areas of our lives. We all face the same enemies in life (I Cor. 10:13) and God's plan is that we encourage one another as we fight the good fight of faith. Personal fellowship together is a effective tool that the Holy Spirit uses to keep believers encouraged and motivated to seek first the kingdom of God.

I urge you to become involved in a growth group this month. You will be encouraged by the fellowship, and the Lord may use you to be a strength to others. Sign up sheets for the growth groups will be passed out along with the bulletins for the next few Sundays. As you sign up, you will be contacted by one of the four growth leaders. Get involved in the lives of others this month and you may find yourself growing spiritually as never before.

Pastor Mitch