Church planting: small communities

Small groups can achieve what large communities can’t. Part 3 in a series on church planting.

Although dating back to Biblical times, the resurgence of small groups has been one of the single biggest changes in modern church structure since the 1990s. Whether we call them small groups, life groups, cell groups, small communities or something else, we hope and dream that they will stir up real face-to-face relationships in our communities that will help people to connect, grow and influence their neighbourhoods for the glory of God. We pray that they will stir our communities to move beyond sitting in rows staring at the backs of peoples’ heads while we attend to a handful of individuals whose gifts lie in platform ministry. These are the essential bits when we consider small communities – because they are not an end in themselves. We should never be telling ourselves that our church needs small groups. That’s structure. We need instead to understand the benefits of small groups, evaluate the risks and decide if what we need is actually small groups or something else that provides the same benefits.

I am a big supporter of small groups and even house churches, having structured churches around them in the past, but I understand that they are not for every setting. Our home church has about 20 people who love Jesus and one another.  They serve the community sacrificially and have transformed their building into a place that welcomes and embraces new people. They care about and serve their neighbours – looking for ways to reach out and touch others’ lives. They don’t need small groups because they already do all the things we want our small groups to do.

We should never be telling ourselves that our church needs small groups. That’s structure. We need instead to understand the benefits of small groups.

Small group gatherings typically consist of 5-15 individuals, take place outside of regular Sunday worship services and often serve multiple purposes: spiritual growth, community building, accountability, care and outreach. While small groups can be highly effective in achieving these goals, they are not without challenges. This article explores the pros and cons of small group ministry, analyzes how they align with Biblical principles and offers alternative methods for churches to accomplish similar outcomes.

What can small communities do that larger groups might struggle with?

Understanding the why of small groups is essential to intentionality. Far too many churches look at programs that are effective elsewhere and simply adopt them without really understanding them. This often leads to failure and disappointment. So what difference should we expect small communities to make in our churches?

It can be easy for individuals to feel isolated. Small groups provide an intimate setting where members can share their lives, form spiritual friendships, and build a supportive community.

1. Relationship Building. One of the most fundamental purposes of small groups is to create a sense of belonging. It can be easy for individuals to feel isolated. Small groups provide an intimate setting where members can share their lives, form spiritual friendships, and build a supportive community. This type of fellowship is crucial for spiritual and emotional health, as it allows individuals to connect on a personal level and get beyond the performative interactions of most large group settings.In small groups, communication can be more direct and efficient, enabling members to express opinions and feedback openly.Acts 2:42-47 (NIV) – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
   
   As we consider this, we need to ask ourselves how healthy are the relationships in the congregation? What kinds of relationships are they? Do they have an essential spiritual component or are they mostly social in nature? Look carefully at the entire group – what percentage have ongoing relationships, and what percentage seem to be left out? What is the acceptable percentage? After all, some of the disconnected are disconnected by choice. These are meaningful questions that will help us to intentionally think about how our church community is doing in the area of relationship-building. If we are not seeing what we want to see, could small communities help?
2. Spiritual Growth and Discipleship.Small groups are vital for discipleship, encouraging members to grow in their faith through Bible study, prayer, and mutual accountability. They often provide structured opportunities for learning, where participants can wrestle with Scripture and its application in their lives. This allows for personal spiritual growth and helps cultivate a more profound understanding of faith.Small groups provide a structure for accountability, allowing members to encourage one another in their spiritual journeys. This accountability can be a motivating factor for personal growth.2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”
   
   Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) – “As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another.”
   
   I was raised in a church where discipleship was expected to take place in the home and school. But often it didn’t take place at all. Transfer of information took place, but not discipleship. Most of my friends graduated high school with little clue what it really looked like to engage the world as believers. A little older, I attended a church where discipleship was expected to develop by a kind of osmosis. The expectation was that if we spent enough time doing things together and in Bible study, that personal discipleship should follow. Years later I learned that information never guarantees transformation, and that the contexts for transformation are found more often in prayer and “doing life together” with other believers than simply showing up to the right programs and Sunday morning to hear a good sermon.Let your mind play over your congregation. Year over year are you seeing a growth in the breadth and depth of their faith, of their trust in the Lord? Don’t forget to consider those who are not in leadership positions.  That is where the true test of discipleship effectiveness lies. It is also the source of future leadership.
3. Service and Outreach. Small groups can mobilize members for service and outreach. Working together, they can harness the gifts of their members and make a significant impact in their neighbourhoods. This service aspect not only fulfills the church’s mission of outreach but also fosters a sense of purpose and teamwork. This makes small groups a powerful force for good.Matthew 5:16 (NIV) – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”Matthew 25:34-36 (NIV) – ^“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
   
   Most churches have some type of outreach and service taking place. However, in most mid to large-sized congregations that outreach and service is done by a handful of people. In many churches with small groups, the entire group is expected to choose and engage in outreach or service in some way, according to each one’s gifts and temperament. Every Christian should be involved in some type of service and/or outreach to their community. It’s a visible expression of Christ’s love and according to scripture it is not really optional. What percentage of our congregations are personally involved in some type of service to those inside or outside of the local church? Are there widespread opportunities, or is there a smaller group which does the church’s outreach? Which approach do you feel might grow disciples of Jesus more effectively?I know that it looks like many people do not have time, and they don’t have time if the intent is to create big service ministries. Instead I would take a page from Pastor Yongi Cho of Korea – he taught his people to walk around with their ears open to the conversations of others – to note those in their neighbourhoods who had practical needs. All that person did was to note the need, call up their small group members and everyone worked together to make a meal, bring groceries, deliver a card or some other expression of care. Sometimes we fail to exercise service or outreach because we envision it as being a big organised program, when really individual acts of kindness suffice.
4. Pastoral care. People leave the church, families are splintered by divorce, children are neglected, men and women struggle with failure after losing their jobs. In general most church leaders remain unaware of their flock’s pastoral needs until the point of crisis. Small groups make it easier to ensure that every member receives the pastoral care they need as soon as they need it. By delegating first level pastoral care to small groups and their leaders, church members are able to pray for and care for one another at the onset of life’s challenges. This level of care tightens the bonds of relationships in the groups. More serious issues can be referred to leaders or external counselling resources.1 Thess 5:13b-14 (NIV) – “Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”
   
   Basic pastoral care is something that we all need – someone to pray for us, someone to encourage us, to draw us toward Christ and to remind us of who he is in our lives. This is pastoral care that could be provided by any Christian. If we all had access to this level of pastoral care there would be many fewer Christians knocking on the pastor’s door, and many more Christians feeling loved and cared for and seen.Next Sunday morning look over your congregation. Ask yourself: who knows their hearts? Who puts an arm around their shoulder when they are sad or struggling?  Who reminds them that Jesus loves them when they feel far away from him? Who holds their hand and prays for their very specific needs? The likelihood for most is that if the answer is not a spouse or parent – it’s no one.As we consider the important question – “are small groups really what we need?” we can begin to answer it by asking each other – how are we doing as a church in these four areas? Where are we weak? Where are we strong?

Most church leaders remain unaware of their flock’s pastoral needs until the point of crisis. Small groups make it easier to ensure that every member receives the pastoral care they need as soon as they need it.

Perceived Risks of Small Groups

While small groups offer numerous benefits, there are also perceived risks that churches should be mindful of:

1. Exclusivity and cliques.One concern is the potential for small groups to become exclusive or form cliques. This can alienate those who are not part of a particular group, leading to divisions within the church community. This can be avoided by insisting on open groups, except for special circumstances such as recovery groups.
2. Conflict and disagreement.With increased intimacy often comes the potential for conflict. Personalities may clash, and differing opinions can lead to disagreements. It is crucial for groups to establish ground rules for respectful discussion and conflict resolution to manage these situations effectively.
3. Time commitment. Small groups require time and commitment, which can be a barrier for some individuals. Balancing family, work, and other responsibilities can make it challenging for some members to participate regularly. Churches need to be sensitive to these commitments and provide flexible options to accommodate varying schedules.
4. Dependency on leaders. There can be a risk of members becoming overly dependent on group leaders for spiritual guidance and decision-making. While leaders play a vital role, it is important to foster a collective body life that encourages all members to contribute and share their insights, promoting a more collaborative atmosphere.
5. Doctrinal drift. There can be a risk for groups to drift onto questionable doctrinal areas, especially if there is a special interest in topics like eschatology. Prevention is the key, so here are a few ways to mitigate this risk:
   1. Ask all leaders to sign an agreement promising to stay within the bounds of the church’s doctrinal teaching.
   2. Spend time with your leaders. Meet with them individually and as groups at least monthly to provide accountability and answer questions. Perhaps do book studies together.
   3. Provide group teaching resources. Many churches provide discussion questions based on the previous Sunday’s preaching. Have additional resources for the times that groups have a specific need or interest, such as the trinity, sacraments, grief, ecclesiology or eschatology.

When structured well, small communities reflect the early church’s example of intimate gatherings that foster faith and fellowship. However, the challenges should not be ignored.

Small group ministry offers many benefits: relational connection, spiritual depth, and shared responsibility in ministry. When structured well, small communities reflect the early church’s example of intimate gatherings that foster faith and fellowship. However, the challenges should not be ignored.

Thankfully, the purposes of small groups, discipleship, care, community, and service, can be pursued through a variety of means. What matters most is not the structure, but the function. As long as believers are growing in Christ, loving one another, and engaging in the mission of the church, the methods can be flexible.

Whether through small groups, mentorship, or ministry teams, churches should seek to create environments where spiritual formation is intentional, relationships are authentic, and Jesus is at the centre.

References

1. Wright, N. T. (2013). Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters. HarperOne.
2. Barna, George (2009). Churches That Heal: A Guide to the Healing Ministry of the Church. Baker Books.
3. Covey, Stephen R. (1992). Seven Habits of Highly Successful People Simon & Schuster
4. Hirsch, Alan & Frost, Michael (2013). The Permanent Revolution: Apostolic Imagination and Practice for the 21st Century Church. Mission Alive.
5. Blackaby, Henry T., & Blackaby, Richard (2007). Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God’s Agenda. B&H Publishing Group.
6. Wagner, C. Peter (1990). Your Church Can Grow: Seven Vital Signs of a Healthy Church. Regal Books.
7. McClung, W. (2008). The Power of Small Groups: How to Build Your Church Through Small Groups. Bridge-Logos Publishers.