The last half of John 3:22 contains a short phrase that speaks volumes about how Jesus often ministered while on earth. Following his one-on-one encounter with Nicodemus, John records this little bridge verse, “After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.” So, here we have a picture of Jesus coupling community and ministry—simultaneously hanging out with His disciples while also ministering. Many such couplings in the Gospels could easily come to mind where Jesus is ministering in a group setting (e.g., feeding of the 5,000).
Makes me think of a phrase we use quite often around here, “worshipers in community, engaged in ministry.” That’s who we want to be. And one of the main ways engagement in ministry is expressed at Grace is in community through our small group ministry, which we refer to as “Shepherding Groups.” The “one anothers” of Scripture are often best expressed within the context of these groups—loving one another, encouraging one another, bearing one another’s burdens, and a whole bunch more “one another” couplings. All of them designed to mature us and make us more like Christ.
Jesus modeled the way for us. After all, he did say, “Come, follow me.” In other words, “Let’s hang out together and see what ministry opportunities the Father puts in our path. Oh, and then follow my lead. Do as I do.” The coupling of groups and ministry with Jesus in the middle . . . sounds like a “Kingdom of God” kind of thing to me. How about you? Are you in? If not, come join us!
—Tim Thomassian