Growing Through Small Groups

Many churches today provide few opportunities for Christian discipleship and nurture. I believe discipleship and nurturing one another in the context of the body of Christ can best take place in small fellowship groups, care groups, or discipleship groups. Churches must find ways to provide opportunities for people to come together as a community of believers to worship God and to learn how to live out life as Christ's disciples in the world. As Christians and as members of the body of Christ, we do not stand still in our faith. We either grow or fall behind. Growing churches continually explore the possibilities of offering Bible studies, prayer, and fellowship groups to meet physical, emotional, and spiritual needs so that people will grow in their journey of faith with Christ.

Fellowship or care groups could center on numerous lifestyle needs, Bible study, or prayer. Such groups might include:

• Divorce recovery groups
• AIDS support groups
• Singles groups
• Alcoholics Anonymous or other twelve-step programs
• Groups for working couples
• Groups for those dealing with compulsive behaviors
• Exercise classes
• Men's breakfast/study groups
• Bible study groups centering around certain themes or books of the Bible
• Couples groups
• Groups for parents of young children
• Working women's groups
• Intercessory prayer groups
• Covenant groups
  
• Disciple Bible Study groups

and the list may go on and on . . .

There are numerous benefits to establishing small groups in our congregations. Small groups can help us become what we are meant to be — those set free by the love of Christ who seek to share the love of God with others.

Small groups can meet the following needs:

• Spiritual growth
• Friendship, support, and encouragement
• Strength in the face of trials and hardships
• Receiving and sharing love
• Serving others in the name of Christ

Small groups can also develop and equip strong lay leadership. During times of renewal in the history of the church, small groups have always been one of the ways in which vital personal faith in Christ Jesus has been nurtured, strengthened, and encouraged. Small groups have been used to help people discover what the Scripture says, what it means to be a Christian, and what it means to participate in the Christian community. Small groups are away for the church to reach beyond itself to those outside its active fellowship and leadership. Lay leadership emerges in small-group involvement, and the church is strengthened to accomplish God's purposes in the world.

Small groups also help motivate people to put their faith into action, to bring love, reconciliation, peace, and social justice in the world. People joining together in small groups help promote justice as they attempt to solve challenges in their immediate community and the world.

Numerous resources for small-group ministries are available from Discipleship Resources.Consider learning more about the importance of small-group ministry in the life of your congregation, and explore the possibility of developing a comprehensive small-group ministry in your context of ministry. It can have a significant impact on your ministry!

Dr. Wesley S.K. Daniel is aformer staff member at the Discipleship Ministries.