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Scripture Reading: Heb. 10:24-25; 2 Tim. 2:2; Eph. 4:11-12
In this chapter we will continue to fellowship concerning the practice of the group meeting. First, we must consider how we should come to a group meeting and how we should enter into a group meeting. We should not come to the group meeting in a religious way. We should come in a normal and spontaneous way. We may sing if we come alone, or we may fellowship if we come with another. It is always good to come speaking, either to the Lord or to one another. If we wait until we come to the meeting to sing or speak, that is religious. We all have to learn to do this naturally and spontaneously.
Then when we enter the meeting, we can sing, pray, or simply praise the Lord. It is better not to ask about others, but if we are burdened, we should pray for them. We should not have anything foreign or religious in the group meeting; we must be in spirit and in life. Then when another comes in, he can simply join us in whatever we are doing. Whether we are singing or praying, he can easily join our singing or say Amen to our prayer. In this way the group meeting has begun. Then as others come, they may also come speaking or singing.
Everything must be done in a natural, or normal, way. There are many ways to practice the group meeting. You may have heard that a certain brother has just had an automobile accident. When you come to the meeting, you may say, “Brothers and sisters, Brother John has been in an automobile accident.” This is fellowship. Then some will spontaneously intercede for this brother. In the group meeting singing, fellowship, and interceding should all come forth in a normal and spontaneous way.
First, the group meeting must take care of the proper fellowship. Many things should have happened since the group meeting the previous week. Therefore, when we come together, we should fellowship with each other. This kind of fellowship can spontaneously turn to intercession for one another. Then following intercession, we may have some mutual care. After praying for the brother who has had the automobile accident, someone may know if he is at home or in the hospital. Then immediately some may go to visit him. This is shepherding. Along with the shepherding, we may need to render some help. We should consider this brother’s family and the financial situation. Some sisters may want to go to visit his wife and children. All these things can be done in a very spontaneous way. In the group meeting we have to take care of fellowship, intercession, mutual care, and shepherding.
By the mutual fellowship we can know one another’s situation and consider one another. In Hebrews 10:24-25 there are three important words concerning the group meeting. Verse 24 says that we should “consider one another so as to incite one another to love and good works.” Consider implies fellowship. If we do not fellowship, how can we consider one another? The next word is incite. This considering should issue in our inciting one another to love and good works. Then in verse 25 we are to be those “exhorting” one another. We should not take these three words — consider, incite, and exhorting — as a doctrine, but we should immediately practice these things in our group meetings. If we consider one another, we will surely have something to fellowship when we come together. This kind of fellowship will spontaneously usher the meeting into intercession. This prayer for one another will bring us into a mutual care for one another. Then the mutual care leads to shepherding, and the shepherding leads to the rendering of help, whether it be spiritual, practical, or material. Through these practices our group meeting will thoroughly cover the needs of the saints.
After fellowship, intercession, mutual care, and shepherding, which includes the rendering of some help, we come to the main purpose of the group meeting — the perfecting of the saints. To perfect the saints is to edify, educate, and raise them up. This perfecting depends on our teaching, but we should not teach in the way that Christianity does with one man teaching and the rest listening. That way does not develop the gifts of the saints. In the group meeting the teaching is carried out by every member in mutuality. If we have an assigned teacher, everyone will come merely to hear this teacher’s teaching. That might be considered as a kind of group meeting, but that is the old way; that is not what the Bible reveals as a group meeting, especially Hebrews 10:24-25: “Let us consider one another so as to incite one another to love and good works,...exhorting one another.” These verses show that a group meeting is full of mutuality. Every time we come together in the group meeting, everyone is exercised to practice. By this practice everyone is developed in their spiritual function, gift, and ability. In the group meeting everyone is both a teacher and a learner. Everyone is both an asker and an answerer. Every answer becomes a part of the teaching in the group meeting.
Because the group meeting should have some very young believers, we must learn to begin our teaching with something very simple. One of the new ones may say, “I was saved one week ago and was also baptized, but I do not understand what baptism is. What is baptism?” If after such a question, everyone would turn to a certain brother for a reply, this is the way of religion. Even if the question was directed toward a particular brother, it would be altogether right for a sister to say, “I would like to tell you something concerning baptism.” This shows the livingness of the meeting.
In our speaking we should not be formal or religious but come directly to the point. A sister may say, “Baptism is when we put you into the water, and the water is very significant.” This is simple and direct; this is a good beginning, but this sister or someone else should continue by sharing some of the significances of the water, using some verses from the Bible. We all must learn to function together as one teacher — a sister shares something, I may add something more, and several others would add other points. However, we should not do this in a foolish way. We must care for a proper continuation in our teaching and cover the points of the truth step by step. Eventually, after about five minutes seven different saints may have spoken a point concerning baptism. These seven points added together should be a very good short message concerning baptism.
There may be a brother among us who is more experienced and knowledgeable in the truth, but he must learn not to be the only teacher in the group meeting. He should exercise to sit and listen while all the attendants function. Then at a certain point he may feel that this subject has been covered but that there is the need of a conclusion. Then this brother may give a word as a conclusion to the seven persons’ speakings in order to complete this short “message.” In this way everyone learns something in a short period of time.
In practicing the group meeting, although we are teaching others, we must realize that we are also learning how to teach. We should not think that our teaching is that good or complete. A new believer may say, “I was baptized last week, and I noticed that you were all calling on the Lord. And you also asked me to call on the Lord. But when I called on the Lord this week, I did not have any feeling. It seems that you have some feeling. Why don’t I have any feeling?” We may be able to respond to this question in many ways, but we must learn to answer such a question in a simple and direct way. Someone might answer, saying, “Calling on the name of the Lord is just like breathing. Quite often when we breathe, we don’t have any feeling, but when we breathe deeply, we do have some feeling. In the same way, the louder you call, the more feeling you will have.” With a short word of only a few sentences, we can answer such a question.
Many times when we try to answer a question, we give a lot of good teachings, but we do not answer it according to the asker’s thought. Therefore, while one is teaching, all the others must be learning. In this way everyone is exercised. We are all being taught, sometimes by seeing a negative example. We might realize that although someone’s answer is good, it does not fit the question. We have to learn how to answer in a very fitting way. After going home, we may consider certain questions so that the next time such a question is raised, we can answer in a better way. Each saint may be able to attend forty-five group meetings in a year. In this time we will all learn very much, and our gifts can be developed.
Also, in our practice of the group meetings, our teaching should not be too long. If we say a short word to hit the point, this is good enough. We should not try to answer everything in every aspect. We should try to leave more time for others to say something. Then we will learn more.
When someone asks a practical question, you should first give them a practical answer, and you should also try to make your answer short. Someone may ask, “You talk about worshipping God. How do you worship God?” You may say, “To worship God is not to bow down or prostrate yourself, which is what many people think. That is not the worship the Bible teaches. To worship God is simply to contact God. When you pray to God, that is your worship to Him. When you sing to God or praise God, that is worship. Even when you are sitting and considering God, that is another kind of worship.” This answer is good enough. You have spoken, and now you can leave some time for others. Then a sister may conclude the answer to this question by saying, “In order to pray to God, to praise God, to sing to God, and to call on Him, you have to exercise your spirit. Do not merely call or pray from your throat; you have to exercise your spirit. The Bible tells us in John 4:24 that God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit.” This is not too doctrinal, yet it gives him some practical instruction. If you give someone a good answer, this answer can imply very much teaching.
Someone may ask how to read the Bible. There are many ways to answer this question. You may teach him to pray-read the Word. This is not bad, but this is not the best answer. You must give him some direct, brief instruction. You must always consider someone’s question and not answer anyone according to your thought. You must answer a question according to the asker’s thought. He has asked how to read the Bible. You might say, “The best way to read the Bible is simply to read it. Just read it again and again.” Then you may go further to tell him that the Bible is the Word of God, so you should pray before reading it. Also, you should advise him to read through the Bible consecutively, not skipping from book to book, and that it is better to begin with the New Testament. If he takes these points and practices them, he will receive very much help. If you still have time in the group meeting, you may go a little further, but do not go too far at one time. Do not forget that he is a new learner. If you go too far, he will not be able to pick up that much.
Some questions raised by new ones are quite trivial. They are not related to a crucial point, or doctrine, so we should not spend much time on these matters. Some questions are related to basic problems like baptism or calling on the Lord. For these we need to spend more time to answer them properly.
A new one may raise a question about what it is to eat and drink God. He may be offended when we speak about this, feeling that this is disrespectful. How should you answer this one? You may immediately turn to John 6 and teach this one; however, before you refer people to the Bible, it is good to give them a very simple and practical answer. You may say, “God is our supply, but He is a Spirit. This is too mysterious. It is hard to realize how we can receive His supply. The Bible tells us that God is our food and that God is our living water. Since God is our food, we have to eat Him; since God is our living water, we have to drink Him. How can we eat and drink Him? To eat Him is to read His Word, the Bible. When we read the Bible with consideration, we take God in. In this way God becomes our food, a kind of life supply. Then when we pray to Him and call on His name, we take Him in. To take Him in is to drink Him in.” You all have to learn to give simple answers, yet this simple answer implies a lot of points. This is a good teaching.
This matter of eating and drinking God is a big point, so you should spend more time to cover it. However, do not bring in other related points that are not within the thought of the question. It is better to stress one point repeatedly than to bring in a distraction. The problem with this new one is that he feels that to say we eat and drink God is disrespectful. You may say, “This may sound crude, but we have to consider what God is to us. He is not merely our Lord and the object of our worship; He is life to us. The Bible even tells us that He is our food and our living water. Even the Lord Jesus said that He has come to be the heavenly bread. He Himself told us that he who eats Him shall live because of Him. We receive food by eating it, not by worshipping the food. If we are going to worship the food, this would be foolish. The more we eat the food, the more we respect it. The Lord is our living water. The more we drink of Him, the more we respect Him. To eat Him fits His purpose regarding us. We do not despise or disregard God because He is our food and our drink. Therefore, we have to eat Him, and we have to drink Him.” This is to answer the question within the limit of the thought of the question.
In the entire recovery the practice of having group meetings according to the scriptural way has just begun. In the past we did not have the organic practice of the group meetings. You all have to learn very much; therefore, you should go forward gradually in the group meetings. After faithfully practicing for about one year, this will be built up as a very positive habit among us. Some in the full-time training who are learning to practice this way will bring this way to every place.
Question: Sometimes in a meeting a new one will ask a question that is peculiar or bring up a subject that is not so proper. How do you respond to them in a sensitive way so as not to insult or offend them?
Answer: This is one thing that you all have to learn. If someone brings up a subject that is not so proper, you must turn that improper matter to something good. You can turn the whole situation simply by talking about something good. You do not need to argue with them but should try to calm down any turmoil in the meeting.
Question: In one group meeting, there are some who have the tendency to “keep the ball.” The meeting is like a game, and we all should be passing the “ball” to one another. But some would hoard the “ball” and ramble on and on, speaking something natural. As a result, the meeting suffers. However, they are young in the Lord and somewhat sensitive, so we are afraid we may offend them if we cut them off. How can such a situation be handled properly?
Answer: First of all, not many homes have this kind of problem. Some homes may be very difficult, but in general we have to believe that most of the homes will be very good. If there is such a problem in one of your group meetings, the first thing you can do is to ignore it. If you rebuke them, they will fight back. Then the meeting becomes a fighting meeting. Most in the meeting are quite good, so let the good ones “play with the ball.” Try not to let the “ball” get into the hands of these troubling ones. In this time of turmoil, there are some troubling ones in the church life but not that many. We encourage those who want to go on to “play ball” in the proper way. Eventually, the atmosphere will change in your place.
No turmoil lasts forever. I have never seen a typhoon that lasted for one month. The typhoon comes; the typhoon goes. You do not need to worry. Just be at peace and be joyful. Sometimes we all have to say, “Hallelujah, no storm remains forever.” I am glad that I am not in the storm. When the storm goes away, I will stay. Do not join the storm. If you join the storm, you will also be gone when it is gone. Whoever is in the storm will not stay.
My ministry has lasted through fifty-seven years, since 1932. I can testify that within these fifty-seven years I have seen many storms. Eventually, I learned that no storm ever lasts very long. Storms do not alarm me; I know them very well. It seems that each new storm makes a lot of noise; however, to me that is not noise but music. I do not need to be bothered because every storm that comes will also go away. Wherever you are, do not be bothered; the storm will pass.
Question: When the new ones come into the group meeting, they become so rigid and stiff. We have tried to do different things to break up this kind of atmosphere. Can you give us some fellowship concerning this situation?
Answer: You do not need to do anything different. If you will practice according to this way, the new ones will be released. I am not concerned for the new ones, but I am a little concerned for the old ones. When all the older saints come into the meeting, their appearance and gesture may cause the new ones to be bound. If you are bound, surely they will also be bound. In a home all the little brothers and sisters follow the older ones. If you “play ball,” the new ones will never stay bound but will join in with you to play. If you all function livingly and actively when you come to the group meeting, the new ones may be subdued for half an hour, but after that they will say, “Praise the Lord!” and “Amen!” If you never say Amen, they will never know to say Amen. If you want them to “play ball,” you have to “play ball.” Then they will join you. A child learns to speak English simply by hearing, but the immigrants who come to this country have to learn by being taught. We are somewhat like the immigrants learning a new language. After one or two years we will be able to speak this new language properly. This is why I have to spend so much time to turn us from the old way to the new way. For this we need much practice.
Question: We are caring for a meeting that has three new ones who are all at different stages of growth. Many times it seems that they all want to talk at once. Sometimes it seems that the meeting will actually divide because the young ones are talking so much. I feel that we should take the lead somewhat, but I do not know what to do. What should we do in this situation?
Answer: You should never try to keep a meeting that much in order or that quiet. We always expect to have an orderly meeting, but we should not have this kind of expectation. That is religious. Let the new ones feel free. If three of them would speak at the same time, you should say something to them, but you must say it in a happy and encouraging way. When these three all start to speak at the same time, you may smile and say, “I am so happy that you all will say something. What if we let this dear one speak first?” Surely the new ones will listen to one another, and the two whom you stopped will not be offended. It all depends upon how you handle the situation and how you speak to them about this kind of matter. When the first one finishes, do not ask the second one to speak right away. Instead, take the opportunity to answer some of the first one’s problems. In this way you can turn the whole meeting, and the other two will not be offended. This is another thing you must learn in handling the group meetings.
Question: I was in a group meeting that was very enjoyable with a lot of speaking, but then one brother began to speak for over ten minutes. He went on and on, and all the new ones became uncomfortable. One of the new ones even left the room. Eventually, I said, “Brother, let’s all sing a hymn.” Is this the way to handle this kind of situation?
Answer: You have to be wise. At the opening of the meeting you may say, “What if each one speaks for not more than two minutes.” We can do this at the beginning of the meeting, making it a kind of regulation. Even if you do not say such a thing, and one is speaking quite long, for eight to ten minutes, you can still handle it in a loving way. You can say, “Brother, let’s give some time to the others.” Most people would listen to this. The young ones would usually take your word, but the older ones would say, “Give me another minute.” This means another ten minutes. Do not argue, and let him continue. Then after one minute say, “Brother, one minute is over. Let’s turn the meeting to others.” Most people, even the older ones, would take this word. But sometimes the storm comes, and when it comes, you have to endure it. Do not be bothered; it will pass. This is not a problem, so do not make an issue out of it. If you do, you will turn this matter into a problem, and you will suffer.
Question: One thing we have been practicing in our group meeting is to ask the new ones a question to draw out something from them. Is this profitable?
Answer: This is altogether right. If the new ones do not have any questions to ask in the group meeting, you must learn how to initiate a subject by asking a question. However, you have to ask your question just as a new one. Do not ask it as if you were the apostle Paul. That will cause trouble. You must ask a beginning type of question just like a new one in order to stir up some answering. Then those answers will all become teachings.
Question: In the past you said that we should go to a meeting with a definite goal. If in a group meeting the questions being asked do not match the goal of the meeting, should we answer the questions and disregard our goal?
Answer: What is the goal of the group meeting? The goal of the group meeting is to perfect the saints; it is not any particular subject. You may have a burden to teach people about justification, and now they are asking you about the eating and drinking of God, but this is not your goal for the meeting. This shows that you are religious; you are too legal. The goal of the group meeting is to perfect people. As long as you can carry out this goal, that is marvelous. Whether you teach justification or you teach people why we should eat and drink God, both help to fulfill our purpose. The purpose is to perfect. Surely you have to prepare something, but you still must leave this matter wholly in the hands of the Holy Spirit. Then you can be flexible and simply follow. You must learn how to be flexible all the time. You may feel that to learn all these things is too difficult, but this is not my invention. This is what the Bible reveals.
