 |
|
Case Studies
After you have reviewed this lesson, read the following case studies and answer these questions about each one:
1) What type of group is being described?
2) What can be done to make sure the group includes faith, friendship, and leadership?
3) What curriculum do you think should be used?
Pan De Dios
On Saturday mornings, Elizabeth and a group of her friends prepare coffee and sandwiches for the sojourners who are gathered in the Home Depot parking lot looking for work. Sometimes a group gathers for prayer and a short Bible study.
University Campus
Prescilla started a Bible study in her university dormitory. Each week the group ate a meal together and then studied the Bible. Even though most of the group members had little understanding of Christianity, Prescilla made sure to have a time of prayer in which she prayed for each member individually.
House Church
Pastor Wil has a goal to host a home Bible study on every block in his neighborhood. He currently leads four Bible studies in four different locations. Once a month these groups gather at the church for a time of worship and fellowship.
Prayer Group
On Tuesday mornings a group of ladies from the church gather to pray for their church and their families. Occasionally the group engages in a special service project.
College and Career
Santosh hosts a Thursday evening Bible study for college and career aged students. The core of the group is comprised of maturing Christians. However, many attend who are not familiar with Christianity.
Caravan
Each Wednesday Linda meets with children from the church and the community. She uses the Church of the Nazarene Caravan program to teach both life skills and Christian principles. |
|
|
|
|
Introduction
The purpose of Mosaic is to help individuals become mature, fully devoted disciples of Christ. Mosaic provides the perfect context where discipleship and Christian maturity can be developed.
- Through Mosaic, people feel a sense of purpose and belonging.
- Mosaic provides an atmosphere where people can experience community and build relationships.
- Mosaic group members practice serving by identifying and meeting the needs of others.
- Mosaic groups provide opportunities for one-on-one evangelism.
- Members are encouraged to discover and exercise their spiritual gifts.
- Mosaic provides opportunities for leadership development.
Simply put, Mosaic is the people of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, doing the work of God.
As you prepare to lead your Mosaic group, make an intentional effort to include the following components:
Faith
Friendship
Leadership
|
|
|
Faith
Study Scripture: We believe in the divine inspiration of Scripture. As we study and apply biblical truths, we grow closer to God and become more like Christ.
Worship: Through worship, we give God the recognition He deserves and we declare His goodness to others. It is through worship that we know God and make Him known.
Prayer: We believe in a living God who wishes to have personal and dynamic relationship with us. Prayer is our way of communicating with God.
Friendship
Fellowship: Intentional relationships are key to sustained spiritual growth. That's why MOSAIC groups are such an important part of our discipleship strategy. MOSAIC provides opportunities for individuals to find "their place" in the larger Christian community. Through authentic relationships, we find love, support, encouragement, accountability, and discipline.
Service: We are instructed to "do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God" (Micah 6:8). Every MOSAIC group seeks ways to serve others. It has been discovered that small groups are much healthier and live longer when they intentionally work together to serve others.
Leadership
One of the goals of MOSAIC is to identify, enlist, train, commission and encourage leaders. As a Mosaic leader, you should always be preparing and mentoring leaders within your group. You should be spending extra time with an apprentice; preparing him or her to someday be a group leader. Like cells in our bodies, healthy small groups (or cells) should always be producing more cells. This cannot take place if new leaders have not been prepared to launch more groups. |
|
|
Types of Groups
There are various types of Mosaic groups that can accommodate many needs. Groups typically form around areas of affinity such as marital status, age, language, ministry, stage of life, et cetera. Most groups can be characterized by one of these five categories but can often become a blend of two or more:
Discipleship Group: This is a group of believers who are involved in a structured discipleship process. There is a set curriculum Lessons for New Christians. The goal is to develop spiritual disciplines, understand scripture, and mature in faith.
Outreach Group: The purpose of this group is to introduce God's love to the community. Notice, we did not say, "introduce the church". While the church may be the perfect conduit through which people experience God's love, the ultimate purpose of an outreach group is to share Jesus. This group focuses on evangelism that is both relational and attractional.
Service Group: The primary activity of this group is centered around a certain task--worship team, serving the poor, mission teams, cleaning the church, et cetera. The group may have a short time of prayer and a devotional, but then move on to serve. One person described this group's purpose as "work-ship".
Seeker Groups: The primary purpose of this group is to lead people to Christ and disciple new converts. The curriculum is designed to be particularly attractive to the nonbeliever. It requires a great deal of sensitivity to its audience.
Support Group: These groups are formed to support members as they work through personal difficulties. The focus of this group is on sharing, supporting, applying biblical principles, and accountability. |
|
|
