This week's SSLesson presents biblical principles where we can apply among the present Truth believers. God choose small groups to help fasten the faith of each believers as they come together in faith. Inspiration says, "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest." Our work is plainly laid down in the word of God. Christian is to be united to Christian, church to church, the human instrumentality co-operating with the divine, every agency to be subordinate to the Holy Spirit, and all to be combined in giving to the world the good tidings of the grace of God. Ellen G. White. {GCDB, February 28, 1893 par. 19}

A.Examples of Small Groups, 1. The First Small Group, 2. In the Old Testament. 3. In the New Testament, B. Being Part of Small Groups, 1. Organization, 2. Dynamics

Memory Verse:

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly [is] plenteous, but the labourers [are] few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Matthew 9:37, 38

Prayer Thought:

When Christ saw the multitudes that gathered about Him, "He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." Christ saw the sickness, the sorrow, the want and degradation of the multitudes that thronged His steps. To Him were presented the needs and woes of humanity throughout the world. Among the high and the low, the most honored and the most degraded, He beheld souls who were longing for the very blessing He had come to bring; souls who needed only a knowledge of His grace, to become subjects of His kingdom. "Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest." Matthew 9:36-38. {CH 13.1}

Today the same needs exist. The world is in need of workers who will labor as Christ did for the suffering and the sinful. There is indeed a multitude to be reached. The world is full of sickness, suffering, distress, and sin. It is full of those who need to be ministered unto--the weak, the helpless, the ignorant, the degraded. {CH 13.2}

A. Examples of Small Groups

The Son is all the fulness of the Godhead manifested. The Word of God declares Him to be "the express image of His person." "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Here is shown the personality of the Father. {SpTB07 63.1}

The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fulness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-- those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ. . . . {SpTB07 63.2}

1. The First Small Groups

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness […]’” (Genesis 1:26)

1) A Small Group of Three

Our sanctification is the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is the fulfilment of the covenant that God has made with those who bind themselves up with Him, to stand with Him, with His Son, and with His Spirit in holy fellowship. Have you been born again? Have you become a new being in Christ Jesus? Then co-operate with the three great powers of heaven who are working in your behalf. Doing this you will reveal to the world the principles of righteousness.--The Signs of the Times, June 19, 1901. {7ABC 442.3}

2) The eternal heavenly dignitaries

God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit--arming them [the disciples] with more than mortal energy, . . . would advance with them to the work and convince the world of sin.--Evangelism, p. 616. {7ABC 442.4}

3) Cooperation of Three Powers

We are to co-operate with the three highest powers in heaven, --the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,--and these powers will work through us, making us workers together with God.-- Ibid., p. 617. {7ABC 442.5}

4) The Threefold Name

Those who are baptized in the threefold name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, at the very entrance of their Christian life declare publicly that they have forsaken the service of Satan and have become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly king.--{Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 91}

• The three persons of God gathered as a small group before creating the world. Their purpose was to plan and carry out the creation of humans and their environment.

• They even designed an alternative plan in case humans decided to move away from God: The Plan of Redemption (1P. 1:18-20; Mt. 25:34; Rev. 13:8).

2. In the Old Testament

“And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.” (Exodus 18:25)

This is the kind of men who should be chosen to carry forward the work of God. Lessons from God's Word should be learned by those who are carrying heavy responsibilities. {13MR 181.1}

1) Heads Over the People

"Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people." Speaking to the congregation afterward, he said, "I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him" [Deuteronomy 1:16]. {13MR 181.2}

2) God's Directions to Choose Leaders

God's directions have not always been followed. Men have been selected to fill places on the Foreign Mission Board who had not sufficient experience for the work. They needed to lift up their eyes and behold the field white unto the harvest. The decisions which have been made in various lines have shown that some of the men chosen were not men of consecrated ability, men who were of value because of their experience in living connection with God. They became self-important, wise in their own conceit. {13MR 181.3}

3) Entrusted to Work

Men have been given the work of judging whether or not a book was of value, who were not sufficiently intelligent in regard to the matter to be entrusted with this work. They needed to realize their ignorance, to become educated. They needed to wear Christ's yoke, and learn of Him who is meek and lowly in heart. They needed to heed the injunction, "Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it" [Deuteronomy 11:8]. "Lay up these words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" [verses 18, 19]. {13MR 181.4}

Consider the following:

• When Israel got out of Egypt, Moses divided the people in camps (by tribes) and tents (by families). Later, Jethro suggested to expand this with smaller groups of 1,000, 100, 50 and 10 people.

• Each small group of 10 people was led by a devout leader. These groups prevented various problems and helped to cultivate the spiritual life of people, and to build close and affectionate relationships… It was–and still is–an effective method for comradeship, spiritual growth and problem solving.

• Later, Samuel founded the schools of prophets. They followed a similar organization and goals to the groups Moses had established (1S. 10:10; 2K. 2:3).

3. In the New Testament

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” (Acts 5:42)

1) Our Lord Jesus is the ONE SPIRITUAL HEAD

Many fail to meet their high responsibilities and privileges. O how long will this deadness and insensibility continue? How long will differences rend the church? The Lord Jesus is the one spiritual Head, and we are the members of his body. The church is represented as growing up "into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ; from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." Cannot we pray over this matter more earnestly, that the Holy Spirit of God may quicken the discernment of his people to see that by putting away envy, evil surmisings, jealousy, they may answer the prayer of Christ, that his disciples might be one, as he is one with the Father? Can it be that the senses of those who claim to believe the truth are paralyzed? Do they not see that they deny Christ? Do they not understand that they scatter from him in acting as though it was a light matter to disagree and engage in controversy? Brother looks coldly upon brother, minister distrusts minister. The church seems to have lost the blending attribute of love, and its members unite no better than ropes of sand. And yet the great crisis of the day of God is at hand. {RH, March 19, 1895 par. 15}

2. Foundation of the Gospel

Therefore, "theoretical discourses are essential, that all may know the form of doctrine, and see the chain of truth, link after link, uniting in a perfect whole. But no discourse should ever be delivered without presenting Christ and Him crucified as the foundation of the gospel, making a practical application of the truths set forth, and impressing upon the people the fact that the doctrine of Christ is not yea and nay, but yea and amen in Christ Jesus." -- "Testimonies," Vol. 4, pp. 394, 395.

• Jesus established the first small group in the New Testament by choosing the twelve apostles.

• They were taught and trained in a practical way on how to use their gifts to effectively preach the Gospel, while growing spiritually.

• The heart of the early Church was small groups who gathered at homes (Acts 12:12; Ro. 16:5; 1Co. 16:19; Col. 4:15; Phlm. 2).

• They also organized small evangelization groups. They supported each other with their personal experience to fulfill the mission. Thanks to these groups, the Gospel quickly spread through their known world (Acts 15:39-41; 20:4; Ro. 15:19).

B. Being Part of Small Group

As ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ, "in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the 144,000," our work, especially at this most critical time, is not to collect money for God, but to lead the blind to Him through presenting the message of Present Truth, thus preparing a people to meet their Lord, Who shall soon appear with power and great glory," "shake the heavens and the earth," "overthrow the throne of kingdoms," and "destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen." (Luke 21:27; Haggai 2:21-22.)

1, Organization

“But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?” (1 Corinthians 12:18-19)

1) Perfect Union

Perfect oneness,--a union as close as the union existing between the Father and the Son,--this is what will give success to the efforts of God's workers. "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me," to bring about this union, this sanctified harmony. "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." It is this union that convinces the world that God has indeed sent his Son to save sinners. Christ gives to his true disciples the glory of his character, that his prayer may be answered. Through the impartation of his Spirit, he appears in their lives. {RH, January 27, 1903 par. 15}

2) Organization in Ancient Times

The Bible says all the souls who came into Egypt were seventy in number. If we can in some way, find the meaning of the number, then we shall understand the lesson. When Moses, with the children of Israel, came to Sinai, he organized the church there, and in organizing, selected seventy elders. This same organization, years later, crossed the Jordan and went into the promised land. There they had the Sanhedrin which was composed of seventy men. Thus, the number "seventy" is a symbol of church organization. The meaning, then, is that there will be a church organization, sometime in the history of A.D. If this is true, then that church which Christ, with the apostles organized must disband, and of necessity be re-organized. This is true, for the Christian church was disorganized in the dark ages during the time of the beginning of papal rule. When again organized, it would partially fulfill Joel 2:32, "And in the remnant whom the Lord shall call." The 2300 days, or years, of Daniel's prophecy in the eighth chapter gives us the entire truth of church history to 1844, until which time there was no call for re-organization. If there had been, or if this call for re-organization had met its fulfillment before 1844, then Daniel's prophecy would have made mention of it. As the prophecy is silent, and there has no prophet of God risen since the church fell into papal power about A.D. 538 to 1844, then the truth of the symbol was yet in the future. {1SR 73}

"The organization of the church at Jerusalem was to serve as a model for the organization of churches in every other place where messengers of truth should win converts to the gospel. Those to whom was given the responsibility of the general oversight of the church, were not to lord it over God's heritage, but, as wise shepherds, were to 'feed the flock of God,...being ensamples to the flock;' and the deacons were to be 'men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.' These men were to take their position unitedly on the side of right, and to maintain it with firmness and decision. Thus they would have a uniting influence upon the entire flock.

• The human body is made of individual cells that come together to form members or organs which are organized in systems. Each cell has its own role in each member, each member has its own role in the system, and each system has its role in the body.

• They are all interrelated and work together harmoniously. The Church is the body of Christ and works in a similar way. When each person is part of a small group, it’s harder to get discouraged and easier to fulfill our mission.

• The groups are organized in a way that each person can make the most of their gifts to help the body growing and fulfilling the mission.

2. Dynamics

“So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.” (Acts 12:12)

1) Order and Harmonious Action

"Later in the history of the early church, when in various parts of the world many groups of believers had been formed into churches, the organization of the church was further perfected, so that order and harmonious action might be maintained. Every member was exhorted to act well his part. Each was to make a wise use of the talents entrusted to him. Some were endowed by the Holy Spirit with special gifts, -- 'first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.' But all these classes of workers were to labor in harmony.

2) Diversities of Gifts but the same Spirit

"'There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.'" -- The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 90-92.

• God uses small groups to make the Church grow by nourishing the faith of the believers and teaching them how to testify of Jesus.

• Every group has the main goal of leading people to Jesus, although each group may have different dynamics according to its specific goals.

• Each local church must plan their best small groups with specific goals according to their peculiarities.

From the Pen of Inspiration

“The blessing of the Lord will come to the church members who thus participate in the work, gathering in small groups daily to pray for its success. Thus the believers will obtain grace for themselves, and the work of the Lord will be advanced.” {Ellen G. White, Ev. 111}

“Let little companies meet together to study the Scriptures. You will lose nothing by this, but will gain much. Angels of God will be in your gathering, and as you feed upon the Bread of Life, you will receive spiritual sinew and muscle. You will be feeding, as it were, upon the leaves of the tree of life. By this means only can you maintain your integrity.” {EGWHite, This Day with God, January 3}