Leadership Thought: The Importance of Small Groups in Making Disciples

Dear Friends

If you have seen the movie, “A Few Good Men,” you probably remember the striking three-word question shouted by Colonel Jessup as he sought to defend himself against the charges of malfeasance: "Are we clear?”

Likewise, as a church we need to be asking ourselves the same question. Are we clear when it comes to communicating what we believe should be the goals and direction of our church? Church members deserve to know those goals and the process by which we seek to achieve them.  For example, if one of our goals is to ‘make disciples,’ and I hope we all can concur with this goal, then the question becomes how will we achieve this goal?  If we know the “what”-making disciples- then what is the “how-”-the process for making disciples?

To use a baseball analogy, just putting the ball in play is never enough. We need to figure out how we can insure our players cross home plate. If the team is not clear on the “how to” of accomplishing the goal, we may wind up with each player using his own strategy to accomplish the goal, rather than working together in a coordinated effort to achieve that goal.

One of the most effective ways of achieving the goal of making disciples is through the formation of small groups. To that end leadership must be unified in their commitment to help form and foster the development of  small group ministries.

A lot of discipleship strategies include the dispensing of information-what disciples need to know- which is largely communicated in the large group context of worship. And yes, knowing what to believe is an important part of the disciple making process. But also, of critical importance is teaching followers the importance of belonging and pointing them to those they “need to be with.” You may need to take a moment to reread this last sentence, or you may miss its significance. Often the most effective venue for disciple making is found amid a loving and supportive small group environment comprised of people who are committed to love and care for each other. Following Christ involves believing, but it also means belonging, and these two aspects must never be separated.

As much as I enjoy gathering together for worship in a large community setting like worship, I recognize that some of the deepest spiritual truths I have learned have come within a small group setting where I was challenged, exhorted, encouraged, and yes even rebuked in the interest of disciple making.

In closing, I remind you that while Christ intended for our relationship with Him to be personal, He never intended for it to be private. 

We really do need each other and churches that invest in the development of small group ministries will see lasting growth and transformation in both its members and the church.

Yours in faith and fellowship,

Pastor Tom