The Love Verb
Chapter 5 of The Church of the Perfect Storm was written by Dries Lombaard. In this chapter he explains the purposes of small groups in churches. What is the main purpose of small groups? The author gives the answer that we all already know … community. But what is community? Some people say community is a polite, friendly group while others say community is to share deep struggles and happy moments.
The author reminds us that “the first church never ‘did’ community; they ‘were’ community” (page 63). We aren’t supposed to ‘get’ everyone in small groups and call it community. We’re supposed to follow Jesus’ model and use the word ‘love’ as a verb. Jesus modeled and taught love in action. “The only acceptable motive for small groups is ‘agape’ love: unconditional love” (page 64). This is the kind of love that comes from Jesus from the cross.
Ministers, especially, must model this agape love of Jesus by remembering that our authority comes from God and we cannot teach and serve others if we don’t love them first.
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