Articles for tag: Organic Community

March 28, 2018

Easter and the Changing Nature of Belonging

By Kent E. Fillinger “Every modern brand that inspires intense passion—from Apple to Nike to SoulCycle to WeWork—has a spiritual underpinning,” writes Nicole LaPorte in the July/August 2017 issue of Fast Company. She tells the story of shared community, social connections, and a common purpose for those who participate in Tough Mudder obstacle course competitions. Will Dean, CEO of Tough Mudder, believes their events can provide people with these same types of spiritual rituals. Dean told the magazine, [Tough Mudder races] are the pilgrimage, the big, annual festivals, like Christmas and Easter [emphasis mine], if you use Christianity as an

December 9, 2007

Christian Standard

Church & Ministry Small Groups

Organic Community

From the new book by Joseph R. Myers It is not true that an artist is someone who manufactures art. An artist is someone who enables art to emerge from a canvas””someone who has the strengths, competencies, and patience to bring that miracle into being. An artist is someone who enables art to emerge from a canvas. Art is not formulaic, like a paint by numbers kit. It has life. It is viewed and appreciated. It moves and inspires. It invites participation, intermingling its own story with those of its observers. When it comes to our own lives, we want

December 9, 2007

Christian Standard

Church & Ministry Small Groups

Creating Environments (Southland Christian Church, Lexington, KY)

A book review by Myron Williams When Jon Weece became senior minister of Southland Christian Church, Lexington, Kentucky, he convened the leadership team to help determine Southland”s future direction. The mission, “Love God, love people,” was in place, but the strategy to accomplish these mandates was nonexistent. Over a two-year period the team developed six core values. This article tells the story of value four: “Life happens best in community.” A strategy grew out of many discussions and much prayer about how to create environments for moving “weekend-only” adults into smaller community settings where they could know and be known

December 9, 2007

Christian Standard

Church & Ministry Small Groups

Discussing and Discovering Community (Parkview Christian Church, Orland Park, IL)

A book review by Jon Zabrocki I”ve heard it said the motivation to do something in life can be traced to one of two things: either the desire to avoid pain or the desire for personal gain. For example, we pay our taxes, not because we enjoy doing it, but because the thought of the IRS agent camping out in our living room brings a certain amount of discomfort. But these competing motivations are not equally balanced in most areas of our lives; more often the avoidance of pain outweighs the desire for gain. Paying bills will always get done

December 9, 2007

Christian Standard

Church & Ministry Small Groups

Seeing God”s Work (Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY)

A book review by Bill Search “Why do you hate me and everything I stand for?” Those were my first words to Joe Myers, author of Organic Community. I admit it wasn”t the best way to make a new friend. However, I had just finished reading his first book, The Search to Belong, and I was certain he didn”t like small groups. And since I was a small groups minister, I took his criticism a bit personally. Joe”s gracious response and sly grin helped me realize he was initiating a conversation, not attacking groups. In fact, he gave voice to