What is a Small Group?
· A group, typically about 8-12 people, who meet on a periodic basis in fellowship.
· A Bible study and prayer group that meets in people's homes or elsewhere.
· A safe haven where one can share their deepest thoughts and concerns and know they will be ministered to in the love of Christ.
· A group of believers that encourages love and good works, and exhorts each other as they go out into the world on their pilgrim's progress.
· A smaller body within the church where one can worship God through praise, prayer, study and fellowship, and gain an outward focus for the lost.
· A place where one can develop close relationships with other believers to help one another in our daily lives.
What does the Bible say about groups of believers?
Hebrews 10:24 - And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Romans 12:10-13 - Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Not all groups are created equal…. As mentors we need to realize that each group will start and end at different times, and will develop at a different pace.
Small groups keep changing
People change. Small groups are organic. Like a garden, a variety of people grow at the same time, but at different rates. People move from one season of life to another. The initial reason they joined a small group may no longer exist. Life changes.
Therefore our goal is not to have each group to be the same, but to allow the group to grow with guidance (from the mentors) in order to fulfill the groups vision and purpose. The graph to the right depicts the five aspects that a group can potentially evolve or transform in to. An experienced group may start in “Develop Spiritual Disciplines” Phase and quickly evolve into “Ministry” Phase, whereas a new group may start in “Formation” Phase and never evolve into a higher phase. Any and all phases are good. It is the leaders and mentor’s goal to identify which phase your group is in, and help them achieve the next level through your guidance and inspiration.
Small groups are more than Bible study groups
Various types of groups meet the needs of people at different life stages—physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and so on. People own the small groups they help create. Commitment to groups is strongest when leaders use their spiritual giftedness to form groups around needs, interests, passions, and life experiences.
It’s about growing people, not programs