Community Group Leader Meeting '11

Dave Enns, Growth Group Pastor at North Coast Church, spoke at my church's Community Group Leader meeting.  His main point was that many times we are more of an influence or role model than we may realize; and as Acts 1:8 says, it is the Holy Spirit who can empower us to be an influence.

While there are times we are "unconsciously competent"  (i.e. being able to do something but not aware of why), he gave a ways on how to be "consciously competent":

1.  Ability to Ask Questions (including type of question and how it is asked) - For example, God asked Adam and Eve questions after the Fall, instead of directly rebuking or reprimanding
2. Character We Live - Integrity gives us the credibility to be able to ask the questions.  Character may not necessarily be made in difficulty; but it is definitely where it is revealed
3. Service We Do - "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)

In the Feeding of the Five Thousand, the disciples did not even want to feed them at first.  Ultimately, it was Jesus' miracle, BUT, He involved the disciples to pass out the food and be part of it.  Similarly, we are part of God's story.  We are important, but we are not THAT important.  We are not THE story, just part of it.

In preparing for this week's community group lesson, one of the associated Scripture passages was on Feeding the Five Thousand (not just coincidence, I'm sure).   The disciples saw the problem ("hole"); but, Jesus saw the opportunity ("whole").  And, maybe, when they collected twelve leftover baskets of food, each served as a reminder to one disciple of his lack of faith.  God does not ask us to bring more than we have; but, He cannot use what we don't bring.   What is our perspective?  Do we see a "diminished" gospel due to our lack of faith and vision; or do we see a "revolutionary" gospel due to our faith and God's vision?