Thursday, September 19, 2013

Small Groups Are a Big Deal!



by Reba Collins

Every good church I’ve visited recently, my home church included, seems to be talking about “getting in a group to grow.”

I agree, and one of the reasons why we decided to join our current church is because of their strong small groups ministry. Our previous church talked about having small groups, but groups were only their way to get connected into the church. They were not a primary growth vehicle. Now, after three years’ of experiencing a dynamic small groups culture, I know there are significant differences among the small group models and philosophies found in churches. And it’s a big deal to find a group that will help you grow spiritually.

You’ll find churches define “small groups” as anything from the knitting club to the main method for worship, study, and service. Some churches have re-branded their Sunday school programs as “small groups.” Then, you find churches with really cool, descriptive names like Community Groups, Life Groups, Home Groups, Neighborhood Groups, and an endless variety of special interest groups.

Whatever a church calls its “small groups” isn’t really that important in making a good church choice. How a church uses its small group ministry is. To make a good church choice that hinges on your desire to grow spiritually, look past the name game and get down to small group 
execution.

Following are four basic approaches found in small groups ministry. Each approach offers some spiritual growth benefits depending on where you are on your own journey. But some are better at supporting and enabling growth more than others:

1.       No Growth Groups. Some churches state they offer small groups, but when you look at what’s available, it reads like a community center activities brochure.  With these church types, spiritual growth is concentrated on Sunday morning worship’s Bible study sermon and in stale, worn out Sunday school classes.  The purpose of small groups here is to ease people into a social setting they find comfortable, and it just happens to be in a church. Groups are organized only when someone wants to start something new and the groups receive very little leadership and curriculum support by the church.
2.      We Got Groups. This is where most churches land in re-branding their Sunday school programs. All group types – Sunday school classes, Bible studies, and fellowship groups – congregate under the “small groups” umbrella. The primary purpose of this small group model is to help people find a place in the church. You’ll be encouraged to join a group, told who to contact to join, and then left on your own to follow through in joining. Participation in groups with a clearly defined “growth” component is optional and considered just another choice in getting connected and growing. Leadership is determined by whoever is willing to step up, and participation may or may not have a clear on ramp.
3.      Growth Groups.  In my introduction, I said that every good church I’d visited recently was talking about small groups. Yep, this is a clear distinction between churches that just “got groups” and those good ones that intentionally use small groups as the framework for ministry and spiritual development. A good church choice, in essence, operates as a church of groups.  In a church of groups, you’ll find groups are talked about a lot. This means growth group churches encourage participation in small groups regularly and repeatedly. Small groups are considered essential for spiritual growth. You’ll find also that leadership and group on ramps are clearly and carefully planned, resourced, and communicated by small group participants and church leadership. 
4.      We Are Groups. This option is on the same upward trajectory as churches with growth groups. Some churches view small groups as the truest expression of the church. Within small groups, participants experience the primary church community including evangelism, worship, communion, and Bible study. Each small group is considered a mini-church that connects in mission and ministry with other small groups to form a highly dispersed church. Small groups are essential for spiritual growth. Each group is responsible for on-boarding new people, and church leadership has strong oversight over group dynamics, leaders, and curriculum. Many “groups churches” use the different stories of the first Century church in the book of Acts and beyond as their model for church organization and operations.   

Let’s face it, spiritual growth is relative. Visiting a church more than once can be a significant  growth step for one person; it might take leading a small group to fulfill another. Regardless, some churches are better equipped and prepared to help you get further along in the growth process. Choosing a good church with a small groups ministry geared for intentional growth offers better guidance and a healthier process for you.  
Here are three things you can do to tell how big of a deal groups are for growth at your church choices:

1.       Look at how groups are defined
2.       Listen to how groups are discussed
3.      Ask how groups are designed

Fall is a “growing season” for many churches. Now is the perfect time to spot one of a good church choice that will help you grow. If they aren’t making it a big deal now, then they probably won’t be serious about your growth later.

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