This is the fourth week of our homily series we're calling Next Steps. As in next steps to a better you. As Christians we are called to be followers or students of Jesus Christ. Church people call that Discipleship. Discipleship is about following Jesus Christ. It's a journey. And every journey is made up of steps. And that's what this homily series is all about: the simple steps of discipleship.
These STEPS are choices that are essential to growing in a relationship with Jesus through which he can change our lives for the better. STEPS is an acronym.
- S is about service in a ministry. Jesus called himself a servant and that's what he wants his followers to be in the best sense of the word.
- T is about tithing and giving. God is generous. God is a giver and we can use our money to become more like our giving God.
- E is engage which is about small groups.
- P is the practice of prayer and the sacraments.
- With the last S we talk about sharing our faith. Our faith actually grows as we share this message with others.
To examine this step we are going to look at a passage taken from the book of Genesis, our first reading today. It is the story of creation, and after God creates Adam, God says: "It is not good for the man to be alone.” Adam, like us, was created to be a social being who needs relationships with other humans, and groups of humans, especially small groups, so God creates Eve so that they at least have each other. That’s our first small group of humans, a very small group, but, none the less, a group of two, who support and encourage one another. Their group grows over the years into many relationships and many small groups.
Like Adam, we can be alone and lack friendships and companionship and not even realize we're missing out. We all know people who are lonely and feel isolated, who just don’t seem to realize that, like Adam, we all need the love, support, and encouragement of others with whom we are in relationship. And we are not talking about just a one-on-one relationship here, even though we spoke of Adam and Eve as a couple as an example of us needing other people, we are talking about support through groups. Even couples need the support of small groups. As a matter of fact, couples especially need the support of small groups in today’s anti-Christian world.
When it comes to following Jesus, without a small group of friends, in faith, you will not be all you could be as a follower of Christ. You are limiting what Jesus can do, through you and in you, and how he can change and transform you, to be the great mom or dad, or husband or wife, the great boss or business leader, the great student leader, you want to be. It is not good for you to be alone as an individual or as a couple in facing your faith, and facing a world, that is actually hostile to your faith.
Another reason to engage in small groups is because small groups are where our big church gets small. It is great to be in a big church, and there are lots of advantages to it, personally I love it. It's fun, it's exciting, we can do a lot of things small churches can't do. But lets face it. Big parishes can sometimes be impersonal. There is something about "everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.” That is just not going to happen here, where we've got 4,500 parishioners,1,400 of whom come on any given weekend, to one of 4 different Masses.
There is rarely a weekend that goes by that I don't hear the remark, oh. . . I didn't know they were in this parish. I know people who have left this parish and joined smaller churches because they were looking for community. You don't have to leave the parish. Small groups are our answer to that need for community. Small Groups are where our great big church gets small, up close and personal. Small groups are a place where "everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.”
It's where everyone can find friendship and fellowship. People who know you, know about you and care about you. Small groups are our strategy to get you friends in faith. They're the place where you can find encouragement from others who face the same challenges and struggles you are facing. They are a place to learn from other people's life experiences.
You don't have to figure everything in life out on your own. You can learn from other people's successes and failures, whether we are talking about parenting, school, work, or your spiritual journey.
Small Groups are where our great big church gets up close and personal. Small Groups are our delivery system for member care. Ultimately our groups are the way we care for you and look out for you as a church family. Our church is way to big for me, or the staff, to care for everyone here. The clergy and staff can't do it all, and that's not God's plan anyway. God's plan is that the members of the church engage in mutual care for one another. (Repeat)
Because you know the members of your group, you're going to be more qualified to provide support and care than I, or the staff, or the rest of the clergy, will ever be. The problem with small groups though is that they are like retirement savings. If you wait until you need it, you won't have it when you need it. You save and invest now for your retirement so you will have it, when you need it.
Here is the truth: trouble is coming your way, eventually. I don't want to sound overly dramatic, but it's true. I know that because trouble always eventually shows up on our doorstep, so to speak. If you get in a group now, when that trouble comes, you'll be better prepared for whatever life brings. There are many stories of people in our parish who have been supported through trauma and sickness, through loss and grief, through conflict and divorce, by their small groups.
When trouble comes your way, you need more than platitudes and expressions of consolation from your church, as important as that is. You need a network of care and support which what your small group can provide. And getting in a group is not just about what you get, but what you give. The opportunity to help pour into the lives of others is also a richly rewarding thing to do.
There is rarely a weekend that goes by that I don't hear the remark, oh. . . I didn't know they were in this parish. I know people who have left this parish and joined smaller churches because they were looking for community. You don't have to leave the parish. Small groups are our answer to that need for community. Small Groups are where our great big church gets small, up close and personal. Small groups are a place where "everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.”
It's where everyone can find friendship and fellowship. People who know you, know about you and care about you. Small groups are our strategy to get you friends in faith. They're the place where you can find encouragement from others who face the same challenges and struggles you are facing. They are a place to learn from other people's life experiences.
You don't have to figure everything in life out on your own. You can learn from other people's successes and failures, whether we are talking about parenting, school, work, or your spiritual journey.
Small Groups are where our great big church gets up close and personal. Small Groups are our delivery system for member care. Ultimately our groups are the way we care for you and look out for you as a church family. Our church is way to big for me, or the staff, to care for everyone here. The clergy and staff can't do it all, and that's not God's plan anyway. God's plan is that the members of the church engage in mutual care for one another. (Repeat)
Because you know the members of your group, you're going to be more qualified to provide support and care than I, or the staff, or the rest of the clergy, will ever be. The problem with small groups though is that they are like retirement savings. If you wait until you need it, you won't have it when you need it. You save and invest now for your retirement so you will have it, when you need it.
Here is the truth: trouble is coming your way, eventually. I don't want to sound overly dramatic, but it's true. I know that because trouble always eventually shows up on our doorstep, so to speak. If you get in a group now, when that trouble comes, you'll be better prepared for whatever life brings. There are many stories of people in our parish who have been supported through trauma and sickness, through loss and grief, through conflict and divorce, by their small groups.
When trouble comes your way, you need more than platitudes and expressions of consolation from your church, as important as that is. You need a network of care and support which what your small group can provide. And getting in a group is not just about what you get, but what you give. The opportunity to help pour into the lives of others is also a richly rewarding thing to do.
Small Groups are where our big church gets small, they're the delivery system for member care, but more than that, and most of all, small groups are schools for discipleship where our spiritual growth occurs because Catholicism is not just about me and Jesus.
Catholicism is not a me and Jesus religion. Catholicism is a, we and Jesus, experience of faith. Spiritual maturity, just like emotional maturity, is developed in relationships. Like Adam and Eve, you are made for community. You are made for group relationships. We grow in prayer, we grow in in our appreciation and celebration of the sacraments, we grow in in our understanding of love of Scripture, we grow in all the steps of discipleship, further and faster, if we're doing it in relationships with others.
So we encourage you to engage in a small group. Look on the cover of our bulletin today, at the groups listed there. Consider joining one, or if you would like to start a small group that meets for an hour, maybe in your home, let me know. I can give you the content and the format for that. I encourage you to start a small group in your home or engage in one we already have.
Give it a try. Discipleship is simply following the Lord, step by step, on the path of greatness. It's following the Lord step by step… In the direction of discipleship. A little bit more today than yesterday, a little bit more tomorrow than today, and in the process, discovering a more successful life, a great life, step by step.
Here is a link to the audio version:
Catholicism is not a me and Jesus religion. Catholicism is a, we and Jesus, experience of faith. Spiritual maturity, just like emotional maturity, is developed in relationships. Like Adam and Eve, you are made for community. You are made for group relationships. We grow in prayer, we grow in in our appreciation and celebration of the sacraments, we grow in in our understanding of love of Scripture, we grow in all the steps of discipleship, further and faster, if we're doing it in relationships with others.
So we encourage you to engage in a small group. Look on the cover of our bulletin today, at the groups listed there. Consider joining one, or if you would like to start a small group that meets for an hour, maybe in your home, let me know. I can give you the content and the format for that. I encourage you to start a small group in your home or engage in one we already have.
Give it a try. Discipleship is simply following the Lord, step by step, on the path of greatness. It's following the Lord step by step… In the direction of discipleship. A little bit more today than yesterday, a little bit more tomorrow than today, and in the process, discovering a more successful life, a great life, step by step.
Here is a link to the audio version:
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