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Meeting Times
The first Tuesday of every month is designated as "Celebration
Night". It is held at 6:30 PM in Port Charlotte, Florida.
Attendees are the members of the weekly Bible Discovery Groups, but all are
welcome.
In addition, a group of us meet weekly, at
each others homes at Bible Discovery Groups. Email or call
to find out how you can participate and to confirm dates.
Fellowship on Celebration
Night
1 Corinthians 14:26
Well, my brothers and sisters, let's summarize what I am saying. When you meet,
one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God
has given, one will speak in an unknown language, while another will interpret
what is said. But everything that is done must be useful to all and build them
up in the Lord. (NLT)
The word “meet" is derived from the word “synergy.” Christian gatherings are not
supposed to have a speaker/audience structure. Christians are to meet to
synergize as peers. “When you meet, synergize.” allowing the uniqueness of each
person and his gift(s) to manifest in a crescendo of living instruments.
For this to take place, the body must arrive with a certain amount of
expectation. People should come ready and prepared to participate. Things happen
when God’s people come together. Paul writes, “A spiritual gift is given to each
of us as a means of helping the entire church." (1 Corinthians 12:7).” Paul
explains that each person’s gift is given to benefit the others, so unless there
was a coming together, a meeting, and a synergizing, some person(s) might not
receive their benefit(s). This scripture conveys the idea that God never
intended a single person, or even a few “elite,” to have control or dominance
over any meeting. It is the interaction of all available parts that creates
synergy/unity.
In fellowship on Celebration Night, there is no stage, no “front” of the
room, no pulpit, no person in control. All of us have prepared for the meeting
in private study, worship, and prayer. We all sit together as a group with our
children present. We worship the Lord together and wait upon Him. The Holy
Spirit moves among us as a flowing river, touching each of us with a different
aspect/gift of His common theme. We share spiritual insight, testimonies, what
God has been doing in our lives, prayer requests, and healing needs. We
encourage each other and we hold each other accountable. And our children are
just as much a part of our fellowship as the adults.
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