Make A World Of Difference | Northstar Church

“You can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.” — James 5:20.

It seems a contradiction putting “power” and “small” together because we are conditioned to believe that the power is always in the big things. The bigger things are the more powerful they are, right? In some cases that is true, but not in the case of small groups. The sum of the small groups can make a bigger difference than the whole.

I’m sure you are wondering why we talk about small groups as much as we do. We talk about it all the time because we believe that people grow best when they participate in meaningful small group relationships. Jesus showed us the way when he chose 12 disciples to change the world. Northstar is, therefore, a church whose primary focus is to connect every person to a small group family which in turn reaches out to touch others. Small groups are a great place to connect with other churchgoers, but that is not where it ends. There is more than sitting in a living room talking, there is the opportunity to change people’s lives and make an impact on their communities.

Let’s talk about numbers. How many people do you think you will meet in your lifetime? The average American lives for slightly over 78 years. Starting at age 5, we interact with 3 new people daily. So the total will be (78.3 – 5) x 3 x 365 = 79,935 people. That is a lot of people. But what if each small group member changed one person and then they change one person per year and so on. We would quickly change every person living in the Panhandle. A good small group helps you to apply the Bible to every area of your life. The key is application. How does this passage apply to my life today and tomorrow? The small group discussion time helps you to make that application in your life and in the life of others.

At the heart of our church is the desire to make a difference in the lives of others. As a church, God has called us to be a catalyst to transform the Panama City area and to help the whole world find and follow Jesus. The reality is you can’t get to really know other believers unless you are in a small group. And other believers can’t get to know you better unless you are in a small group.

What our world needs is not more Christians, but more people who are living like Jesus. And the best way to study Hebrews, acquire writing tips, learn to run or bowl or to be a better grandparent is to do so in the company of a small group of other like-minded folks. The best way to become more like Jesus is no exception: it happens most powerfully in a small group.

God can often do more through a few people than he can do through many. Maybe today God is speaking to you about becoming a member of a small group

Discussion Questions:

How could you make a difference as part of a small group?
What can we do this week to make a difference?