In the early 70’s, Sunday school was designed as a tool for evangelism and assimilation, but over the years, its primary purpose is for education. Today, very few churches even had Sunday school classes. Gathering crowds of people together to worship and celebrate is the norm. ironically, during the first 300 ears of the church, people didn’t meet in temple courts; they met in homes (Acts 20:20). Since then, we have done just the opposite by moving from homes to church buildings.
The book of Acts teaches that the early church met as a church gather and a church scattered (Acts 2:46). Somehow, we have forgotten the scattered church, and small group ministry that can help us model the early church. The truth is we need more house-to-house ministry to grow our churches in a healthy way.
A. THE NEED FOR SMALL GROUPS MINISTRY – Acts 2: 46; 20:20
Small groups is 8 to 10 people meeting together to share, talk together about the bible, messages, pray and edify one another in the journey of life and faith. Small groups provide a place for people to fulfil these five purposes:
- Grow warmer through fellowship
- Deeper through discipleship
- Stronger through worship
- Broader through ministry
- Larger through evangelism.
- Small group community is a primary felt need in our churches.
- Significant life transformation can happen in small groups
- Small groups can exponentially grow your church.
- Small groups are not a programme but a primary model for doing church
- Small groups’ ministry will become the primary means to lifestyle evangelism tomorrow.
- Small groups are the cooking pot for training unlimited leaders
- Small groups are the fastest way to church planting and sustainable growth
- Small groups help the commitment level of people to Christ, work of Christ and church of Christ.
Healthy small groups allow 90% of the congregation to be involved and be properly nurtured for the lord. It helps effective evangelism and closing the backdoor of the church.
B. THE FUNCTIONS OF SMALL GROUPS.
We may attract attendees through preaching and celebration meetings, but disciples are made in small groups. Small groups provide the kind of accountability and support we need to mature as believers. So how do small groups function?
- Small groups are relational – the allow you to know people, regardless of how big the congregation becomes.
- Small groups are flexible – they can meet anywhere – in a library, office, shop, park, inside, outside or in a home (Matt. 18:20).
- Small groups are expandable – let them multiply over the community. Building is just a tool for ministry. Invest in people; they will last forever.
- Small groups are economical – people will be lively in a small group than in a church. We can do ministry with less money on utilities.
- Small groups are leader- producing – it is the best avenue to reproduce leaders.
When we allow small groups to function properly with good training, it helps the church in many ways. Properly functioning small groups with well trained leaders have the potential to grow the believers and grow the church.
C. MARKS OF HEALTHY SMALL GROUPS – Acts 2:42 -47.
Yes, so many churches have one small group or the other, but not all are functioning in healthy ways. Many are rebellious, left to do what they like and sinful.
- Healthy small groups study the bible. You can heavy them study the bible and talk over the sermon on Sunday.
- Healthy small groups share life together. Jesus calls us to be committed to one another, and it is through small groups that we learn the skills of relationship.
- Health small groups remember Jesus together. The communed and fellowshipped together. the serve communion together in group settings. Communion is meant only for believers and a small group setting ensures that only believers will take part.
- Healthy small groups pray together. in the intimacy and confidentiality of small groups, we can pray for each other as we share our hurts, reveal our feelings, confess our failures, disclose our doubts, acknowledge our weaknesses, and ask for help.
- Healthy small groups are generous – Acts 2: 5. Small groups can do decentralized ministry to feed the poor. Clothe the needy and help one another in times of need.
- Healthy small groups worship together. the take time during the week to worship together and edify one another. They worship under the banner of the central church, not in rebellion.
- Healthy small groups witness together. One of the proofs of a healthy small group is that it reproduces. They invite others to join them. So small groups ad members, but may also help to start another small group.
Recommeded Reading
How To Build A Good Prayer Life
The Prayer Life of a Christian
Ten Ways to Persevere in Trials
D. HOW TO KEEP SMALL GROUPS HEALTHY.
I have noted that man churches have small groups that are not health, for one reason or the other. Now, here are tips to make small groups healthy so they can make the impact God wants:
- Share the vision and invest in training of leaders
- Reload and refire – groups must not only do life together but also to give life
- Rotate leaders and remix old groups for new life
- Allow for testimonies of impact in group leaders’ meetings
- Focus on what really matters – recruiting new leaders
- Begin with the end in mind – the end is to build healthy churches, groups and lives
- Preach it, pray it and emphasize small groups regularly from the altar.
- Recruit and develop a senior ‘leader of leaders’ – he will administrate and lead the small group ministry well.
Prayer Points:
- Wisdom to excel in ministry, come upon my life
- O lord, give me healthy people.
- O lord, surround my life and ministry with healthy supporters in Jesus’ name.