Well, not actually considering. In fact I am already sold on the idea of small groups. I believe very strongly that true spiritual growth comes from life experiences with people. I believe in small groups because I believe we never truly open up to a large group of people but we may in a small safe environment. Small groups are a great place to be vulnerable, open and raw. It’s also the place where you learn that you aren’t the only one struggling and gain perspective and empathy.
So that is all the stuff I do know. What I don’t know is if there is one right or wrong way to develop a small group structure. I don’t know if small groups should be study based, mission based or fellowship based. I don’t know is they should specialize in one or dabble in all three. I don’t know if we should insist on specified curriculum, let each group make it up as they go, or a combination of both.
So that is what I don’t know. Here is what I pray. I pray that everybody who considers LifePoint their home will get involved in a small group. I pray that they will establish relationships that will comfort them through hard times and challenge them to live the life Christ is calling them to. I pray that these groups will not become the destination but a launching pad for a greater walk with God. I pray I don’t screw them up.
Over the next week or so I will be sporadically posting on my thoughts and decisions concerning the future of small groups at LifePoint. Fell free to share your thoughts.
Jenny Bryant says:
I think there are pros and cons to having all groups have a specified curriculum. If they do, then you know all the groups are talking about and exploring the same topics, which could be good for the church as a whole. Some small group leaders may be more comfortable with specified topics as well because it means they don’t have to come up with their own thing every week.
But I think there are some major benefits to having different groups doing different things- so much so that that’s my personal preference. There are so many different personalities and interests in any given church that, if small groups do various things, hopefully each person or family will be able to find a group that really fits them best- their personalities, their interests, their particular situations.
I think guidelines for the groups would be helpful- nothing major, just some basic ground rules and boundaries in place. Some groups will focus on one thing- study, missions, or fellowship. Others will do some combination of the three. Some groups will prefer a specified curriculum, others won’t. But hopefully with several different options out there, people will find a group that really fits them and that they feel comfortable in. I think people are more likely to establish relationships and open up if they’re comfortable in the group’s environment.
So those are my thoughts. 🙂
Melody says:
I think small groups would be fabulous! I agree with Jenny; we all have different interests and gifts and it’s a lot easier for people (including myself 😛 ) to open up in a small group enviroment especially as the church continues to grow. I’m all for it!!! 🙂
Jeremy says:
Ya, what they said. I had the chance to have lunch with the small groups Pastor at Cornerstone (John Hagee’s church) yesterday and he laid out all the details of their program. Basically involves a sunday school class for the small group leaders taught by the pastor which lays out the next weeks’ curriculum which prepares everyone for the next weeks sermon. While that seems pretty cool, I think individual groups that really encourage small communitys of people doing life together that happen to center around a church affiliation could go so much deeper and further. So it depends on the point, is it to create a stronger more unified church, in which case the planned/mapped curriculum driven small group works best, but if the point is deeper relationships and faith, I lean towards a more unique group by group approach.