Building Relationships (bonding Part 2)

BONDING: Part 2

Building Relationships

E. Roger Ammons,

 General Coordinator

Building relationships is an essential aspect of the “bonding” process. Personal relationships encourage newcomers keep coming back to church.

Christian fellowship is emphasized in the “one anothers” of Scripture “peace one with another” (Mark 9:50); “love one another” (John 13:34, 35; 15:12, 17; I Thess. 3:12; 4:9; I Pet. 1:22; I John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11, 12; II John 1:5); “members one of another” (Rom. 12:5; Eph. 4:25); “kindly affectioned one to another . . . “preferring one another” (Rom. 12:10); “one may edify another” (Rom. 14:19); “receive ye one another” (Rom. 15:7); “care one for another” (I Cor. 12:25); “greet one another” (I Cor. 16:20; II Cor. 13:12; I Pet. 5:14); “serve one another” (Gal. 5:13); “bear ye one another's burdens” (Gal. 6:2); “forbearing one another” (Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:13); “forgiving one another” (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13); “teaching and admonishing one another” (Col. 3:16); “comfort one another” (I Thess. 4:18); “edify one another” (I Thess. 5:11); “preferring one before another” (I Tim. 5:21); “exhort one another” (Heb. 3:13; 10:24); “consider one another” (Heb. 10:24); “confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another” (James 5:16); “having compassion one of another” (I Pet. 3:8); “hospitality one to another” (I Pet. 4:9); “minister . . . one to another” (I Pet. 4:10); “fellowship one with another” (I John 1:7).

Small groups are an effective means of helping new people form significant relationships. God has set “helps” (auxiliaries) in the Church in the form of small groups which assist in the “bonding” process.  One pastor often announces that newcomers will soon be asked to join a small group, but that if they desire to join the church, they should approach the pastor and do the asking. All newcomers are not yet ready for church membership, but all newcomers are eligible to join some auxiliary. Even as courting may lead to marriage, joining an auxiliary may lead to church membership.

There is a dimension of bonding which cannot take place within the four walls of the church building. We read of the Early Church, “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:46-47). Small groups limit their help in “bonding” when they limit their activities to the church building.