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Taking Our Groups Off Life Support
Several years ago a longtime leader came up to me one day and told me that he was done.
He just couldn’t lead a group any longer. He said that it was draining him of energy and time and, in his words, “sucking the life out of [him].” Surprised, I asked him why it was so draining. He proceeded to describe a typical small group meeting: three hours, lots of preparations for hosting and the Bible study, awkward circles—you know the drill.
What Does a Life-Giving Group Look Like?
I asked him what it would look like for that group to be life-giving, and he painted a gripping picture of a Christ-centered community. When I asked him why he didn’t lead his group to that picture, he replied that he didn’t know he could.
Small groups will thrive when they become the place where we experience life-giving transformation.
If we are going to take our groups off life support, we are going to need permission to re-imagine what gospel-centered community looks like. We will not change the preconceived view of groups by making participation a requirement for membership or by changing the names of our programs from “ministries” to “groups.” Small groups will thrive when they become the place where we experience life-giving transformation.
The Legacy of the Church
I, along with many others, am concerned with the legacy of the church. The number of seats we fill will not determine the legacy of our churches, but the depth to which the gospel penetrates those lives.
I have no qualms about large churches so long as they are committed to seeing the gospel transform the people in them. I want to see as many lives as possible saved and transformed by Jesus. My heart and conviction are that we can and will see lives transformed through authentic, gospel-centered community that is inspired by the power and wonder of God.
We cannot be content with the status quo of today’s church.
Foundational to this work is the conviction that we were created for more, we have been redeemed for more, and we are empowered for more.
This does not mean that we need to do more, but that we are more through the reconciling work of Jesus.
I want to join the chorus of leaders calling the sleeping church to wake up and “abound in the work of the Lord” because his grace has made it possible. I endeavor to affirm community as a gift of God’s grace for the purpose of exalting the Son and making him known.
In other words, community is not about us; it is about God. Community is an instrument of worship, a weapon against sin, and a tool for evangelism—all for the exaltation of Jesus.
Tweets
- Community is an instrument of worship, a weapon against sin, & a tool for evangelism—all for the exaltation of Jesus. #community
- Small groups will thrive when they become the place where we experience life-giving transformation. #community
- Community is not about us. It’s all about Jesus. #community
Adapted from Community: Taking Your Small Groups Off Life Support.