Counsels on Church Life

Counsel #5 — Don’t Lead Alone

Picture: Counsel #5 — Don’T Lead Alone CCL 76.1

Up-reach, in-reach, and outreach are the three pillars of a successful study group. Up-reach focuses on connecting the group with God through prayer and Bible study. In-reach is about building strong relationships within the group. Outreach involves planning activities to serve others outside the group. It’s best to designate leaders for each position to cover each role. For example, the in-reach leader can check on those who missed a week, while the up-reach leader can maintain a prayer list for those in need. The outreach leader can help the group plan ways to help others. Balanced groups can create lifelong friendships and a deep connection with God that lasts forever.^[101] CCL 76.2

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NKJV CCL 76.3

“None [of the disciples] were sent forth alone, but brother was associated with brother, friend with friend. Thus they could help and encourage each other, counseling and praying together, each one's strength supplementing the other's weakness. In the same manner He afterward sent forth the seventy. It was the Saviour's purpose that the messengers of the gospel should be associated in this way. In our own time evangelistic work would be far more successful if this example were more closely followed.” Ellen White in The Desire of Ages, p. 350.1 CCL 76.4

Reflect: When thinking about who could take on the three group leader roles, what are some other things each leader could do for up-reach, in-reach, and outreach? CCL 76.5