We have two basic emphases in our meetings: First, our meetings emphasize interaction and relational development. Second, we continue interaction and relational development outside meetings. We are not meeting oriented. In other words, we do not depend on meetings in order to function. We endeavor to share the life of Christ whether we are together or out and about. Our goals are nurture and service. Nurture promotes strength and strength promotes service. Our small groups reach inward and outward. Contemporary home groups are often miniature replicas of a Sunday church meeting; that is to say, subsidiaries of the larger congregation. We believe they ought to be the foundation of the congregation, not an elective, extra-curricular activity. If asked whether the chicken or the egg came first, we would answer, 'The chicken, of course!' If asked which is more important, the small group or the congregation, we would have to say, 'Small groups.' They are the stones out of which the building is formed. They are the primary building blocks of the Church. Personalities, programs and buildings are not the materials out of which the Church is made. They are the end result of the fit placement and strength of the individual stones. We realize that building a spiritual structure begins with first things first. God's building priorities are: individuals, nuclear families, small groups and then the congregation. That is our focus. American Christians often treat Church as though it were a smorgäsbord. That is to say, we expect the organization (church) to plan, provide, prepare and serve all the food. The smorgäsbord attitude can cause a few problems: 1) Consumer mentality (we shop around for the best buffet in town). 2) Spectator posture (we rely on others to inspire, entertain, motivate or feed us). 3) Sporadic involvement (we go to the buffet whenever it suits us). 4) Dietary imbalance (we load our plates with what we like instead of what we need). 5) Weight problems (we eat and eat and and eat and get little exercise). 6) An absence of help-in-the-time-of-need (unfortunately the local all-you-can-eat establishment has limited hours of operation). Now the smorgäsbord attitude is valid to some extent. God has definitely has placed public (not to be mistaken for important or significant) gifts in the Church for the purpose of equipping us. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers and the like are extremely important for the growth of the body of Christ. But God never intended a select few gifts to be our sole source of sustenance and growth. We believe that Church is a spiritual pot-luck. After all, Paul said, 'WHENEVER you gather EVERYONE has something to offer. EVERYONE has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. EVERYONE has something contribute in order to strengthen the church.' l Corinthians 14.26 The participation and contributions of every member are what makes the Church strong. One brings a healing casserole; another a side dish of encouragement; another a steaming pot of instruction; another a tray lined with insight; and another a basket full of freshly baked revelation. A spiritual pot-luck is simply a matter of making room for all of God's gifts to flourish. There are down sides to a pot-luck: 1) Occasional messes (menu items sometimes find their way to the floor). 2) Occasionally overcooked or improperly spiced food (pot-luck dishes sometimes find their way home untouched). 3) Occasional menu overlaps and gaps (the menu does not always work out neatly--too much of this or too little of that). 4) Occasionally misbehaved kids (and goodness knows we should all sit quietly in rows and pay attention to the pastor). Those things notwithstanding, we want our meetings to provide a platform for everyone to offer their special gifts and abilities. Those many and varied gifts are what provide us the necessary sustenance and strength to reach out to others. We gather and then we disperse. We draw near to Christ and then distribute His bounty to those around us. And that, in a nutshell, is how our small groups work.