We are continuing with Fellowship Concerning the Urgent Need of the Vital Groups for the God-ordained way reading schedule for the churches in Anaheim, Cypress, and Orange. Detailed information including the full reading schedule is available at churchinanaheim.org/gowreading/.
This week we will be reading Fellowship Concerning the Urgent Need of the Vital Groups, Messages 6 and 7. This book is available for purchase from Living Stream Ministry. You can also read it online at ministrybooks.org.
Fellowship Concerning the Urgent Need of the Vital Groups Message 6 is on practicing the groups under the proper arrangement and leadership. The groups need to be formed by prayer and fellowship under the proper leadership. In the beginning we can set up the groups with seven or eight members. Then, within a year each group should double, at which point they should be divided. The most necessary requirement for grouping together is intimacy. Then, within this inner circle of intimacy the group should practice the fellowship and the feeding. We also need to practice intercession, that is, to pray for one another. Following intercession we need to practice the mutual shepherding and caring for one another. Then we should practice teaching one another in mutuality. Then we will practice the last item, the matter of going out to visit people for the gospel.
Message 7 is the first of several messages on the topic of the vital groups in the church life. The church today is below the normal level. Therefore, we must do something to uplift the level in the church. The purpose of the vital groups is the increase, perfecting, and building up of the Body of Christ. The nature of the vital groups is spiritual. To be spiritual means to be filled with the Holy Spirit within and without. The condition of the vital groups is that of loving one another in oneness and with one accord.
Quote from p. 49:
The intention in forming the new groups is to have groups of overcomers. This is the reason that the groups are called the “vital groups.” We do have some groups already, and we honor them, but there is still the need for some vital groups to fulfill the purpose of the groups and to discharge our burden. The groups that are up to the standard should be up to the normal level revealed in the Bible.
Week 18: August 12th through August 18th
If you have any questions or comments contact us at: gowreading@gmail.com.