| How's your social capital?Huh?, you ask.That's the | | | | and to grow in knowledge of the Lord through Bible |
| term the academics use for friends. Or how | | | | study, prayer and application.For most, application |
| connected you are to other people. the sad fact of | | | | means reaching out and helping others, beyond their |
| the matter is that most of us have very few people | | | | immediate circule of friends. Many groups have |
| who we can count on to lend a helping hand or a | | | | regular outreach projects during the year. There is no |
| shoulder to cry on when we need them.You were | | | | shortage of needs. Working at a food pantry, |
| not made to go it alone.God created us for | | | | babysitting for single Moms, mentoring school kids |
| relationships with others.Have you ever realized that | | | | and visiting the sick in hospitals are just a few |
| four of the Ten Commandments deal with our | | | | ideas.Interpersonal relationships bring balance to life. |
| relationship to God while the remaining six deal with | | | | And the best such relationships are when we make |
| our relationship to each other. All 10 are about | | | | connect with others in a basic Christian |
| relationships.The most important relationship is a | | | | community.That's the small group.If you were to |
| personal relationship with our heavenly Father through | | | | count them all up, the New Testament has over 50 |
| His Son Jesus Christ . But we are also supposed to | | | | references to how Christians are to be connected in |
| be connected to others."Bowling Alone "is the title of | | | | friendship and fellowship. Bible scholars call them the |
| a popular book from a few years ago that talked | | | | "one another" passages. For example, we're |
| about how we in the United States have become a | | | | commanded to "love one another", to "pray for one |
| nation of loners.This is not good. Doctors tell us that | | | | another" and to "build up one another".It's clear from |
| loneliness is a major health problem. A Boston Globe | | | | the Bible that God wants us to be in regular, close |
| story on the issue reported recently that people who | | | | fellowship with each other. But such relationships are |
| are socially isolated like this but otherwise healthy are | | | | often the first to be sacrificed to our busy |
| twice as likely to die as those who have friends. A | | | | schedules.This doesn't make sense. For relationships, |
| similar study fund that isolated men are up to 25% | | | | not wealth or prestige or the accumulation of |
| more likely to die of all causes at any age versus non | | | | material things, are what matters most in life. |
| -isolated men. The odds for women are 33%.George | | | | Now listen. That is just plain wrong. That is sinful. |
| Callup's organization says Americans are among the | | | | And I say this on the authority of the Bible.In |
| loneliest people on earth, with more than a third | | | | Matthew 22:36-40. "Jesus said, 'Love the Lord your |
| saying they fell isolated and alone.But George Gallup | | | | God with all your heart...soul...and mind. This is the first |
| tells us something else, something he personally | | | | and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: |
| discovered that he says is "profoundly good news." | | | | Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and |
| Let me quote him:"I want to report to you now on a | | | | Prophets hang on these two commandments.' "That's |
| trend that may be contributing to a transformation | | | | called the Great Commandment.In Matthew 28:19-20. |
| of America. You will not read about this trend in our | | | | "Jesus said, 'Go and make disciples of all nations, |
| daily newspapers or on television, yet it is a powerful | | | | baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the |
| undercurrent in our society that, I believe, gives us | | | | Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to |
| cause for encouragement about the future! This | | | | obey everything I have commanded you.' "That's |
| trend could be described as a sociological and spiritual | | | | called the Great Commission.Both of those |
| phenomenon: Americans on a massive scale are | | | | commandments emphasize relationships.Here's the |
| rediscovering each other, and coming together | | | | bottom line: You cannot be the mature believer God |
| regularly in small nourishing support groups, many with | | | | intend unless you get involved with people. You will |
| a spiritual dimension."The news Gallup discovered is so | | | | stagnate. It is unbiblical not to be connected with |
| profound that he has now basically retired from his | | | | others. Pastor Rick Warren in big Purpose Driven Life |
| survey company's day-to-day leadership and has | | | | Book said it this way: "If you are too busy to be |
| devoted the remaining part of his life to the | | | | connected you are too busy."Clearly, we must make |
| development and encouragement of small groups. | | | | friends a priority if we are going to be obedient to |
| George Gallup, in case you didn't know, is a devout | | | | God.it's a matter of friendship. We all need to have |
| Christian.Small groups are all about relationships. And | | | | friends and we need to be a friend to others. It's a |
| that's something that Jesus teaches in the Bible that | | | | Biblical imperative.Are you connected in a small group? |
| we are to develop and nurture. | | | | If not, join one. Just contact your church office to |
| Jesus said our love for each other is to be our | | | | find out how. And if they don;t have a small group |
| witness to the world.There is nothing intimidating | | | | ministry, why not volunteer to start one?The author |
| about a Christian small group. They're a lot like | | | | is the publisher of the Online Christian Shopper ( a |
| families. Think of them as a group of friends who | | | | shopping site specializing in Christian T-Shirts and |
| meet regularly to support and encourage one another | | | | Christian jewelry. |