Emmanuel Family, Redwoods are the tallest trees on the planet. They grow several hundred feet tall and live for many centuries. The scientific name for these trees is sequoia sempervirens, which actually means forever green. The secret factor for the longevity and strength of the Redwood forest is found in their roots. Their roots only descend 6 10 feet deep, a seemingly insufficient depth for structure that extends hundreds of feet into the air. However, their secret isn t in their individual proficiency. Instead, each tree s root system is intertwined with the trees around them. That means the growth and stability of each tree and ultimately the forest as a whole is found in the relational connection of the trees. What does that have to do with us at Emmanuel? Everything! The secret to the strength and longevity of a Redwood forest mimics the strength and longevity God wants to happen at church. The growth and stability of every believer at Emmanuel is dependent on their relational strength with other believers something that can t be cultivated solely in a Sunday morning setting. Relational growth and interconnected roots best happen in a smaller group setting. That s why Redwood Faith is a major core value for us at Emmanuel. This is also why we want to make it easy for you to connect with people! Our Step Closer series starts this Sunday and we want you to dive deep with us into learning and growing in God by joining a Connect Group for six weeks. Here are four reasons why connecting with a small group will change your life: 1) Spiritual growth happens in the context of relationship.
a. When we are in relationship with others, they can encourage and strengthen us in a way we can t do on our own. Proverbs 27:17 puts it like this: As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. The people around us poke, prod, and encourage us to stretch beyond what we thought was possible. They help us move into God s possibilities for us. Taking an afternoon or evening to meet together for a small group provides plenty of opportunity for conversation. We can show other people how much we believe in them and prophetically encourage each other to continue growing in God. b. God has called us to a maturation process as we grow with Him. That process isn t always easy. Talking with other believers who are on the journey with you allows you to process what God is challenging you to become. 2) Pastoral Care is meant to be communal. a. Read through 1 Corinthians chapter 12, and you ll see that God created us to work together as a body. If we attempt to live life on our own, we become separated from the rest of the body, away from the nourishment we need to grow as a whole being. This is particularly true when new believers step into the kingdom of God; we want to work together to help them know they are part of a bigger team, one that works together to develop each other. The small group setting is the best incubator for this type of teamwork. b. Sunday mornings are a great place for corporate worship and hearing the Word preached. Connecting in a small group setting is an even better place for sharing real-time needs and asking for prayer over things that happened in the past week. c. When you meet on a regular basis, you walk through a number of life events together. Everything from marriages and babies to hospital visits and the passing of loved ones, life events are always better when shared together. d. We don t know what we will face in the future, but we will always be better prepared when we are in good relationships with others. Not only can we provide care for those who go through difficult times, but we know who can help us when we face those difficulties ourselves.
3) Spiritual gifts function in the context of relationship. a. God uses the small group setting as a safe place for us to grow in our spiritual gifts. You can both learn about and function in your spiritual gifts when you are with others you have grown to trust. Those first steps in functioning in your spiritual gifts are much easier when you know people will still be your friends when you mess up. b. Small group settings offer a safe place to receive from the spiritual gifts of others. When someone is giving a word from the Lord, we can discern what is happening much easier when we already know the people who are present, rather than trying to discern what is happening in a room filled with hundreds of people. 4. Leaders are developed and that includes you! a. People often mistake leaders for everyone in a leadership position not realizing that God has called them to be leaders in their own circles of influence. Jesus intentionally invested His life in His disciples and the other circles of influence He had. He knew that they would turn around and invest in their circles of relationships, who would then influence others. He expanded the responsibility to fulfill His mission beyond Himself. b. We can all grow into the responsibility to receive discipleship and to disciple others. As our Connect Groups grow at Emmanuel, we will have unlimited opportunities for you to become a leader in some way and ultimately invest what you ve learned into others. It s the model Paul described in 2 Timothy 2:2 (NLT), You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. c. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:11 12 that pastors, teachers, evangelists, apostles, and prophets are assigned to equip others to do the work of the ministry. Did you catch that? Too many people think that pastors and other church leaders are called to the work of the ministry, but that s not the case. You are! You are called to the work of the ministry. Church leaders will equip you to follow God s leading on your life, but you are called to grow in faith and lead
others to Jesus within your circle of influence. Leading within a small group setting is a great, safe place to practice that leadership God requires of you. d. When you step into a leadership position, you may not have the answers to all that you encounter while leading. That s okay! That is a great time to approach the leaders above you and ask for help in that situation. Acts 2:42 tells us that the New Testament church devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Connect Groups mimic this house-to-house connection that the New Testament church had. At Emmanuel, when our people are joined in Connect Groups, powerful things happen when all of those Connect Groups converge in our Sunday services. The vision of the larger church house provides strength for the local Connect Groups. Put it like this: Large group gatherings on Sunday morning are one wing of the church. The other wing is the small group setting found in Connect Groups. Both of these together create the strength God needs for His church to soar through life. Important Prayer Calendar for this Fall: 1) Step Closer Series & Connect Group Campaign. We believe that God wants every person who attends Emmanuel to step closer and experience the fullness of His life and power! This week we will begin a six-week sermon series
on worship entitled: Step Closer: David s Secret Weapon in Every Season of Life. We would like to see every person in the church attend a Step Closer Connect Group for six weeks. THIS Sunday we begin with the sermon as well as launch parties outside of each our campuses (think tailgating ) for people to find a group and get ready. Please pray with us for the hundreds of hosts and their groups. Pray that authentic spiritual connection and Redwood Faith would develop! 2) Emmanuel Sisterhood event Made for This. An evening for the ladies is planned on Friday, September 21, at 7 p.m. at the Spring Lake Park campus. It will be a fun night with refreshments, worship, and special guest Susanne Cox. Hundreds of women will gather to find hope, friendship, and life. Pray that God moves in a powerful way!
3) Greater Faith Weekend. October 26-28 is the weekend for our whole church to have a camp experience that often is only available for kids and youth. Mark your calendars and be prepared to make room for God to speak! Friday night will be worship and the release of our new worship album plus a time of anointing for healing. Saturday morning will be leadership training with national leaders. Sunday morning will be our regular services with a Greater Faith emphasis and we ll end with a special Sunday night miracle and anointing service. It will be awesome! Our whole family is grateful for your prayer covering. Our lives are at full speed right now as one of our sons gets married this week. We are grateful for the power of our spiritual community! God has great things planned for Emmanuel this fall. Let s work together to step closer to God as individuals and as a church body! Good things are ahead. Together in the harvest, Pastor Nate and Jodi Lead Pastors