Meeting Ideas (Part 1)
I wanted to share some abbreviated notes from Frank Viola’s book Finding Organic Church. Perhaps it may encourage you as we “learn how to meet” together in our simple churches. Please note that, to my knowledge, the Frank Viola that wrote this book is not the same Frank Viola that played for the Mets and signed the ball above.
Chapter 15: Learning How To Meet : Meeting Content
1) Sing Together – without instruments, without a song leader or a music leader, learn lots of new songs together.
2) Share Together – Viola suggests the following “share together” exercises for the first six months (it could vary in time depending on the number in your group.)
Exercise 1: Life Story. Each person share their life story including their testimony of how they came to faith in Christ. Do this until everyone is done then move to exercise 2.
Exercise 2: The Word Preached. Go to http://www.housechurchresources.org and select a few messages to listen to each week. Most importantly discuss the message afterward with the group. Do this for several weeks before moving on to Exercise 3. (Note: most of these messages are from Frank. I have listened to “a sober word to the simple church” and I think that it is something that we all must consider. I might also encourage you to check out some of the messages and videos located at http://www.house2house.org, and http://www.cmaresources.org.)
Exercise 3: Music. Everyone takes a turn to bring a song written by a Christian or non-Christian artist. Either lead it or play it for the group and share why it focuses you on Christ and how Christ ministers to you through it. Encourage others to comment. Everyone take a turn then move on to exercise 4.
Exercise 4: Scripture. Each week two people take turns to bring one of their favorite passages of scripture to share with the group. Share what it means and how it has applied to them.
Exercise 5: Future. Each week two people share what they would like their lives to look like in 5 years.
3) Eat Together – a pillar upon which true body life is built.
4) Have Fun Together - learn how not to be religious, joke a lot, laugh a lot.
