Church Alive: The Personal Touch

Another element that is consistently found in alive, vital, growing churches is what might be called "the personal touch." No matter how large or small the congregation, there is an opportunity to experience intimate community at the level of the small group or other personal relationship.


We see that rhythm between the large/public experiences and the smaller/personal experiences in the New Testament:

ACTS 2:46. Day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes...

ACTS 5:42. Every day in the temple and at home they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

ACTS 20:20 (The Message). I taught you out in public and I taught you in your homes.

We see the same thing in Jesus' ministry. He spent time with the crowds, with the twelve (the disciples), and with the three (Peter, James and John).


"Alive" churches have a clear plan for ministry that is both public and personal.


HEBREWS 10:24-25. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another.

This passage focuses perhaps not so much on church attendance, as upon renewing our commitment to BE the church to ONE ANOTHER.


Here is a list of some of the most important "one another" passages in the New Testament:

• Greet one another (Rom 16:16, 1 Cor. 16:20, 2 Cor. 13:12, 1 Pet. 5:14)
• Comfort one another (1 Thess. 4:18)
• Forgive one another (Col. 3:13)
• Build one another up (Rom 15:2; 1 Thess 5:11)
• Serve one another (Gal. 5:13)
• 
  Bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2)
• Encourage one another (Heb. 10:25)
• Meet with one another (Heb. 10:25)
• Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving towards one another (Eph. 4:32, Rom. 12:10)
• Receive (or welcome) one another as Christ received us (Rom. 15:7)
• Care for one another (1 Cor. 12:25)
• Minister one to another (1 Pet. 4:10)
• Show hospitality to one another (1 Pet. 4:9)
• Pray for one another (Jas. 5:16).

1 JOHN 1:7. If we live in the light...we share in life with each other.

These two go hand in hand - living in the light - sharing in life with each other.


1 JOHN 4:20. We cannot see God. So how can we love God if we don't love the people we can see.


The personal touch is so much more than simple relationship building - though that is indeed a good thing. The personal touch is about growing in discipleship - becoming more Christlike.


The early Wesleyan Methodist small groups had a level of intense oversight that is amazing. Read this document for a description of the early "band societies." Notice that five questions were always asked of each participant:

1. What known sin have you committed since our last meeting?

2. What temptations have you met with?

3. How were you delivered?

4. What have you thought, said, and done, of which you doubt whether it be sin or not?

5. Have you nothing you desire to keep secret?


If so many great things happen at this personal level, then why don't more church people attend small groups? This article by Pastor Steve Cordle seeks to help answer that question.


Here is an example of a Methodist congregation in Ohio that has a strong ministry of home cell groups. Click on the various sections listed under "Cell groups" for more information.