Evaluating 40 Days of Community

"We're commissioned to reach out together...by using our small group."

"...you are working together and struggling side-by-side to get others to believe the Good News." (Phil 1:27b, CEV).

"We" is more powerful than "me."

This last phrase is a cute saying, and it is true in a human sense only. However, it is absolutely and resolutely false in God's view and how He wants us to see things. God never encourages the idea of "strength in numbers" in the scriptures; in fact, He strongly discourages it. Remember the tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9)? Remember what God did to Gideon's army of 22,000 men (Judges 7)? Remember when David numbered the people to determine his strength (1 Chron 21)?

Let's take a look at a more reliable translation than the CEV. Phil 1:27-28 in the NASB: "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents--which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God." God wants us to ALL know the truth, the full truth and nothing but the truth so that we are all the same in mind, standing firm as one in spirit against opposition (even if there are only 2 of us), and striving together for the faith. This unity for the gospel is a sign to them who oppose us even though they may successfully persecute us.

Different perspective than Rick Warren is trying to impose, isn't it?

...because "two can accomplish more than twice as much as one" (Eccl 4:9, LB)

The Living Bible has corrupted what Solomon is saying here. The text in the NASB says "Two are better than one because they have a good return [ie. reap more benefit] from their labour." Verse 10-12a continues... "For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him." So Solomon is simply saying that two are better than one since they can help each other out, not that the results of their labour is more than twice as much. In Solomon's examples, with just one person, he may fall into a pit and not be able to get out, or go to sleep and freeze or be attacked and robbed. But with two you are better off. Is it possible that Rick's purpose to make the scripture emphasize small group evangelism drives him to use a paraphrase that says what he wants and then use it out of context?

Please don't get me wrong here: it is good to come together as believers, to encourage one another and lift one another's requests to God in prayer. Jesus also sent the disciples out two-by-two, probably for safety, to help out another out, to support one another and to encourage one another. However, Rick takes it too far in trying to place power in numbers.

First, pray for an opportunity to talk about Jesus (Col 4:3). As God to give you an opportunity to tell others about Christ, and to invite them to church. You don't have to doubt it--God will answer that prayer!

Col 4:3-4 actually says in the NET (http://www.netbible.com/): "At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may make it known as I should." First, this scripture says nothing of inviting unsaved people to church. Church can be seeker-sensitive, but it should not be seeker-centered. The gathering of the saints was primarily for believers; for things like training, correction, encouragement, prayer and worship. And we are not simply to tell others about Christ, but about the mystery of Christ, which is how the man Jesus satisfied all the prophecies in the scriptures concerning the Messiah and through this has been made known to all the nations (Rom 16:25-26). Another mystery is how God through Jesus brought the gentiles into the promise of the Jews (Eph 2:12-3:1). Another mystery is that while we were yet sinners, Christ--God in the flesh, died for us and rose again, and because He lives, we have life evermore! Faith is not a matter of blind belief! We are to discuss the evidence with people, showing them the fulfilled prophecies, convincing them with many convincing proofs (Acts 1:3) that Jesus is the Christ and that the testimony of scripture is true. Use the law to show them their sin and need of a saviour and the testimony about His death and resurrection in the gospels to show them that He is who He said He was. To the glory and honor of God!

...and give an inventive creativity to our methods for outreach. Father, in faith we ask you that in this next year our small group will be able to reach twenty people for you.

Is it our methods or God's methods? We should take care to learn and use God's methods if we want to avoid false conversions. And when we pray "in faith," it is faith not in our words and ideas, but in what He has already said will come to pass--it is believing God at His word. If Noah said this prayer, don't you think he would have been discouraged in his faith? That's because God didn't say it! After all, if this is all that we need to do, why don't we pray that everyone in the whole world would be come to a knowledge of Christ? And I think we should pray for this, but praying for it doesn't make it so. God has ordained that people are to be given the freedom of choice, and so forcing them to convert by pressing Himself on them doesn't make sense. And tricking them into church by making it look like a theme park or a cafe won't save them either. Unless there is a change of heart, unless they see their need for a saviour and repent and turn to God, there is no salvation. People are saved by words, by conviction of sin, by turning to God and fully trusting and depending upon Him.