This past week I had the privilege of visiting two separate RMGs with my wife. Both nights we were greatly encouraged by the worship, teaching, discipleship, and fellowship that took place.

Personally speaking, I also appreciated the snacks and refreshments. And, just in case you ever wondered, you can’t go wrong with rice-crispy treats. But, I digress.

Anyhow, it was especially exciting to drive away that second night and contemplate both RMGs. We recognized that we had been given the privilege of witnessing the Body of Christ operating in a smaller setting through the uniqueness of God’s children and ministry to one another – and that is what makes the RMGs so special!

The scripture is clear: the church is “the Body of Christ”(1 Corinthians 10 and 12). There is the universal church (Ephesians 1:22-23 and Colossians 1:18), and there is the local church (1 Thessalonians 1:1 and 1 Corinthians 4:17).

FBC is our local body of Christ, and it is representative of the universal church body. Christ is the Body’s head, the Chief Shepherd, both universally and locally. Each local body, like FBC, is designed to have elders serving as under-shepherds to Christ, along with deacons who lead and serve the local body. And, in the same way that FBC is representative of the universal church, each RMG is a reflection of FBC, with shepherding and service taking place.

In addition to this, just as each of the many members of the universal body have been uniquely designed by God for His service, so has each local church body been uniquely designed by God for service. For example, only Faith Bible Church of Murrieta, California has its very own “Superman” and “Batman” (Chris and John’s twitter avatars on the FBC website). And, in the same way that God has uniquely designed FBC, so He has each RMG.

Each RMG is very different. Some are smaller and some are larger. Some are quieter and some are louder. Some are a bit more formal and some are a bit more relaxed. Some have a younger bent, some a middle-aged bent and some an older bent. And yet, at the same time, the RMGs are all very similar in that that they have Biblical-based teaching, worship, discipleship and fellowship; and through this they are all producing fruit.

What is taking place within the RMGs is important, encouraging and exciting! Why? Well, look again at 1 Corinthians 12 to see what God has to say about Believers as members of the body:

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.    1 Corinthians 12:14-18 (emphasis added)

It is also clear that God has sovereignly designed each of His children – you and I as Believers –to be a part of the local church body. It is then also clear that God has arranged each of the RMGs through the members of the body, sovereignly, as He has chosen, to be unique reflective ministries part and parcel of the FBC body.

In short, that means we have been “arranged” by God as “He chose” to be active in FBC. And, if you happen to be “inactive” right now, then know He has designed the RMGs as a part of the body for you and others to get involved. That is what is so exciting about the RMGs!

So, stop being timid, afraid, or resistant. Instead, be encouraged and try an RMG — God has arranged a place for you!

PS: Has it ever struck you as odd that John did choose the primary vigilante superhero as his twitter avatar?