Three Is Enough

Churches are beginning to use TiE Groups as their approach to discipleship and evangelism.

Below is a letter I gave to one such church to use in their brochure.

Dear TiE Group Member,

Thank you so much for participating in a TiE Group!

There are two really crucial underpinnings for TiE Groups. One is theological and one is practical.

The big idea about God (theology) and his relationship with us is this: heaven is real, but it is the destination, not the goal. The goal of Christianity is spiritual transformation into Christlikeness for the sake of serving others as ambassadors of Christ’s kingdom. The practices associated with TiE Groups give us a way to enter into and live out that reality.

The practical contribution of TiE Groups is that they locate both our discipleship and missional engagement with the world in the routines and rhythms of our actual exiting life. Many sincere attempts at discipleship have been frustrated by trying to make discipleship work in what we might call pseudo, temporary community—that limiting them to church and traditional small groups. Hold on now—I am not condemning churches and small groups! For all the good they do—and they do a lot—they are limited by space and time. In terms of time, the average Christian only spends 1 – 3 hours per week at church and home group. In terms of space, church is not where we have our most organic community.

For most of us, and this is the practical contribution of TiE Groups, our most organic, natural community is at work, school, hobby, places of residence, etc. Community, by definition, implies unplanned for, routine contact. The kind of connections you have over cubicles, or passing colleagues in hallways, elevates, parking garages, etc.

Neither our own discipleship, nor serving others can be something we add to an already over-busy, over-indebted and over-scheduled life. We must find God, discipleship and mission within the available routines of our present life. TiE Groups point us down that path and give us some tips to get us started.

My prayer is that through participation in a TiE Group you will go on what the Church of Savior in Washington, DC calls the journey inward and the journey outward; that you will grow inwardly as your life increasingly aligns with God’s purpose for you; and that others around you will experience your growth as for their good—the journey outward.

I’d love for you to share your stories on the TiE blog at www.3isenough.org. Also, please feel free to contact me on our contact page www.3isenough.org/contact-us.

The peace and power of the kingdom to you as you go on the journey.

Todd Hunter