The Theology and Practice of POD Groups:

In Matthew 7, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount in the parable of the two builders, the one who builds on the sand is the one that ‘hears these words of mine, but does not put them into practice’ whereas the one who builds on the rock does put them into practice.  James is adamant that we should not just be hearers of the word, but doers (James 1:22ff).   Yet application, although discussed in small groups, is the bit that frequently fails to happen.  Subtly, knowledge of God’s word (clearly not wrong in itself), rather than doing what God’s word says, becomes the aim and this falls into the danger of becoming idolatrous.

The key passage behind POD groups is Ephesians 4:12-13, ‘ . . . prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature . . .’  The key difference between the normal ‘Home Group’, ‘Fellowship Group’ or ‘Bible Study Group and POD groups is that every six to eight weeks the POD group does not meet in the comfort of someone’s house but does an ‘App’ (short for ‘application’).

Why does this make all the difference? 

1. It gets people reading God’s word, always thinking how it can be worked out in practice rather than simply for information and knowledge.  Hopefully this will transfer into members’ personal Bible reading;
2. The group becomes a team; it plans, prays for and puts into practice together, thus developing a greater sense of unity;
3. It will develop growth in character as in each App There will be some stepping out of comfort zones and into new areas.  People will try things they would otherwise never have had the guts or imagination to do.  This helps people to learn how to overcome fears (thus being obedient to the most often quoted command of the Bible – not to fear, be anxious or worried).  The team will encourage them and motivate them.  This develops maturity, experience and confidence;
4. New gifts and talents will be discovered.  Sometimes we only discover we are good at something or called to something by doing it.  Thus the body of Christ is further equipped and empowered;
5. Sometimes it seems that we only really get to ‘know’ God’s word as powerful and true when we get out and put it into practice and find it true and that  God is at work in that.

So, all in all, God’s people are prepared for works of service, the body is built up, a greater unity is achieved, faith grows, knowledge and experience increases and people become more faithful disciples.

Putting the weekly studies together with the Apps, PODs encourage development of character and spiritual gifts. PODs are for equipping Christians to live out discipleship, helping them put down roots into Christ, equipping them to witness and to disciple others. PODs produce mature Christian leaders.  They help people to grow and to develop, they encourage them to be ‘Outward Looking’.  They enable people to try something new and learn how to taking risks in faith as disciples.