WHY SMALL GROUPS MAKE SENSE

There is a strong case to be made for churches to embrace small groups ministry. It begins with the Bible, is supported by sociological evidence, and makes sense from an organizational standpoint

Theological Evidence - The Bible

Scripture paints a clear picture of a God who not only lives in community but embraces and seeks after it. First, with Adam (Gen.1:26), then with the people of Israel (Deut.6:4) and finally in the Godhead itself (John1:1-3). Since God himself lives and works in community, and you are made in the likeness of God, then you too are created to live in and for community. To be human is to hunger for community.

Additionally, Jesus and the disciples modeled community. Christ himself came to provide community and live with us (Matt.1:23) and then he called a small group of disciples to live and walk with him (Mark 3:7-10,13-14). Jesus knew masses had great needs, but chose to minister to the twelve, by walking with and training a few, he ultimately could touch many.

CommUNITY is Christ's highest dream for you. It is seen in his prayer for us that we may be one as he and the Father and Holy Spirit are one (John 17:11). Further, Christ sees our unity and community as our message to the world that He, Christ did come and that He is love, and if we, the church, fail at community, we fail in our mission. (John17:21, 23)

Sociological Evidence

There is sociological evidence that God created you to crave relationships and community:

  • God wants people to seek a relationship with Him (Acts 17:24-27)
  • God wants us to have relationships with others (Genesis 2:18)
  • God reveals His emotions to us (Ephesians 4:30; Zephaniah 3:17)
  • God intervenes when we can't communicate (Romans 8:26-27)

There is also blessing that comes from community:

  • Strength for storms of life (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
  • Wisdom for making good decisions (Proverbs 15:22)
  • Confidentiality and accountability for spiritual health (Proverbs 27:17)
  • There is strength, reliability and assurance in community (Proverbs 18:24)

Organizational Evidence

As churches are planted to accomplish God's work in the world, organization becomes a necessity to insure community. Small groups are a way to ensure that this done in a life-giving manner through "Span of Care" - everyone is cared for and no one cares for too many (not more than ten or twelve). Groups also ensure that no one stands alone, struggles alone, serves alone, develops alone, seeks alone, or grows up alone.

Small groups are a God ordained way to provide infrastructure to assure the workload is shared (Exodus 18:9-22), that everyone receives care (Acts 6:1) and that leadership is provided (Titus 1:5).

Finally, small groups provide a structure for "mutual membership" to promote unity in the body (Eph. 4:1-6, 11-16), a sense of belonging to one another (Rm. 7:2-4) and a place to edify, bless, grow, serve and challenge each other through the exercise of each person's spiritual gifts (I Cor. 12:12-27).