Assimilation - Part 9 Continued - Closed Groups

In my last post on assimilation, I briefly mentioned that the basic structure of closed groups is tracks. Closed groups are to equip us to accomplish the objectives of the church. A track would be specialized in nature for a particular objective. These tracks would align with spiritual giftedness. If you have skills and talents in an area, a track would help you understand how to use those skills and talents to minister to yet-to-be Christians and/or the body of Christ.

Here are some possible tracks. Hopefully this helps in understanding what I am trying to communicate.

1. Leadership Training - intentionally organized to train people for volunteer leadership positions in overseeing open group or closed groups, corporate worship, committees (teams as we at FCC like to call them) and so forth. Larry Szyman talked about Deacons in last weekends message.
2. Evangelism Training - intentionally organized to train open group leaders and participants in evangelism and to engage in ongoing evangelistic experiences.
3. Ministry Equipping - intentionally organized for a short period of time for the purpose of training people for a specific ministry experience or assignment. Example: training adults to serve as counselors on a youth mission trip.
4. Women's and Men's training - groups intentionally organized for men/women to discover how they are uniquely called and shaped by God. Training in how to apply our uniqueness to every aspect of their lives - personal, home, church, workplace, community and the world.
5. Special Interest - groups intentionally organized on interest of people such as marriage enrichment, parenting skills or prayer.
6. Special Needs - groups intentionally organized on the basis of specific affinity and personal needs such as divorce recovery, substance abuse recovery or health.

Closed Groups would lead Christ followers in pursuing Christ's reign in all of life. As well as train Christ followers to facilitate others in pursuit of Christ reign in their life.