Small Groups

[seekr]

I have been involved in cell group ministries, trained for leadership, BUT (don't hate me)--What happens is what i spoke about before. The nature of man always tends to reconstruct the same thing in a different form. Although the concept of cell groups is better than what goes on in megachurches as there is closer relational type activities, it is still powered by the pastor in most cases and we end up where we started from. I am hopeless (not really).  Frank Viola says in his book "Rethinking the Wineskin" "that it has left the unscriptual clergy system untouched". This is not to say that good things cannot be gleaned from this type setting, nor any setting for that matter as we are just children looking to please our Father. But until we realize the heirarchy of the system is the "old wineskin" as Frank has stated, and they are bursting, then we still fall short of the loving family we could be with Jesus as the head of the church (us). Usually too, the cell group is just an arm of the corporate assembly instead of being just the church assembling. I am still in a place that God has brought about and do not have the answers for where I am going, just know He is leading. this fellowship has been greater than any I've been involved in.

Maurine

[nerdneh]

Booty, it's in our nature and theology to analyse. We caught it from Aristotle and it helps us to pigeonhole ideas and people. That way they are always available to us when we need to think about what sort of persons these are that we are dealing with.

However, in this case I don't think it's an attempt to categorize, as much as describe a method of working with persons in congregations. The idea, as I understand it, is that you have this large group that praises God together, but the size of the assembly prevents significant interaction, so smaller groups are initiated so that everyone may have a chance to express their concerns, ask for prayer, pray, encourage the group, etc. ktl, I don't think anyone is trying to label or encapsulate the small group (sometimes unfortunately called a cell (why?) not a jail cell, but a body cell.

Sorry if I seem pedantic, I just know our culture must seem strange to you at times.

[julie danley]

Small group has been such a good thing for our church.  We have 4 very active small groups... all with their own flavor.  The small group that I attend is very large....some would say we could be a congregation by ourselves.  We are mostly families with children but no infants.  Mostly intact families...one single mom with her daughter and her mother...one couple who are probably late 50s who are grandparents to all the children.  We are very attached to each other and have in the last 6 months been praying together and throughout the week for specific things for each other.  If everyone came including the children all at one time we would have over 40 people.  We always eat dinner together and have so much fun.  We are so large because we have a tendency to invite new people and they love it so much that they stay with us.  We actually started as a break-off group from another small group.  The other three groups operate very differently than we do.  That is what is so great about small groups...you can adapt to the people in them.  One group is mostly older couples who like to meet at the building on Sunday night.  They have a very traditional Bible study.  They prefer to be at the building in case anyone comes by thinking that we still do traditional Sunday night church.  They usually have dessert together and coffee.  There is also a large group that is very mixed young and old.  They are mostly single or couples who don't have children yet or couples whose children are already moved on.  They mostly sing and have some Bible study(but like I said...mostly sing) and usually go out to eat together after...they also do sometimes have a meal at the host house.  The other small group is made up of 3 couples with small children...they are a new group and are just deciding what will work for them...they usually meet on Saturday night.  I forgot to tell you that our group usually tries to include the children either by singing or a game or whatever fits that night.  The children love to give their prayer requests...we have been praying for a very long time about one sick lizard who is not eating.  I just thought it might help all of you out there who have not had any real experience with small groups.  There was a little peak at ours.  grace, Julie

I appreciate everone's thoughts and comments.  FYI there is a discussion of the issue in the latest issue of the Christian Chronicle.  It is on their web-site under the "currents" link on the left side of the home page.

First, what we do.  We have several small groups that meet on Sunday evening in lieu of regular worship.  Generally the small groups meet at the same time, but they are free to vary the time to suit the group.  There also continues to be a traditional service at the building.  Of our 5 elders, 2 participate in the groups, the other 3 go to the building [although one has participated in a group but changed for logisitics more than any other reason].  As a group, the elders support the small group concept.  Our groups are free to choose their own format and procedures.  We have a minister who assists in the preparing of materials where the group leader wants or needs the help.  Groups tend to organize on rough age lines.  My own group shares a meal every night then spends time afterward in Bible study and prayer.  We try to avoid lengthy and difficult discussions, but I try to have some specific point to each period of study.  Our group has about 8-12 members depending on who shows up and which kids are around.  Our group tends to have older kids.  The overall Sunday evening attendance [between the groups and the building] for our congregation has increased.

Random thought and comments:

1.  Small groups are Biblical.  In Acts 2:42-47, Luke tells us that the early Christians met from house to house and in the Temple square.  This tells me that the Church met in smaller groups [house to house] and in larger groups [the Temple square].  Paul often sends greetings to the Church that meets in someone's house: Rom 16:5, 1 Cor. 16:9, Col 4:15; Philemon 2.

2.  Small groups are most effective for providing connectivity, that is, for integrating members into the fabric of the congregation. This enhances accountability.  It is harder to go missing in a group of 12 than it is in a group of 400.

3.  Small groups are also good for intimate discussions of serious issues that would not normally happen in the whole church.

4.  Many feel comfortable raising questions for discussion in a small group setting that they would not raise in "public" at Bible class Sunday morning or Wednesday evening.

5.  When small groups become too structured, they lose many of their benefits.  I shudder when I hear words and labels [like "cells"] to describe the concept that make it seem just like any other program.  But they should be more than just parties.

6.  Don't be deceptive.  What I mean by this is do not use small groups as a subterfuge.  Don't say we are going to have small groups for fellowship and Bible study when you really mean we are going to try them out as an evangelistic gimmick.  Gimmicks rarely work.  If you say you are meeting for Bible study and prayer, make sure you do that an that you do it in meaningful ways.

7.  "Small groups" is not a guarantee of success.  What works for us or the 1st Evangelical Free church down the street may not work for you.  If it doesn't work, don't be afraid to back up and try something different.  Start with an understanding of what you mean by "success."  If your definition of success is limited to numerical growth, go back and think about it some more.

8.  In my view, groups of more than 15 start to lose the benifits of the small group and when one grows to that size, it should consider subdividing.

Well, just my thoughts.

[janine]

Monk's cell?  Dividing reproducing cell?  Separated cells of "underground" Christians fighting the war against the world for Jesus?  Jail cell?  Bees' wax brooding chamber or honey storage place?

Brings a lot to mind.

Perhaps our elders are trying to reach for the benefits of a small-group program after all.  We have Sunday-night meetings of segments of the congregation, for fellowship, to get to know each other better, to learn who has troubles, etc.  We also use that time to look at who in the congregation needs encouragement, prayer, a visit, whatever.

If the primary focus was to love each other and serve each other, praying and staying in the Word, there would likely be more attendance at these Sunday night meetings (after the evening worship service).  Right now, the main focus is yes, to spend time together, but mostly to find out who needs help.  (Which translates freely to "who needs to come back into fellowship with the church".)

So many people let their shyness about approaching others inhibit any help they might be able to give.  If I worry that the program might be too confrontational or judgemental, isn't it my duty to enter into it & do it right?  If I handle these things with the love of the Lord, well, it all fits in with living Christianity anyway.

[Beverly Nuckols (hocndoc)]

Oh, Booty, that's too good!

""

                          AND A MIRACLE OCCURRED!!! OUR MOST LEGALISTIC BROTHER IS NOW SPEAKING IN TONGUES!!!!

                          (Or at least I believe he was, he was so excited I could not understand him!)"""

[OldDad]

I'm interested in your experiences and opinions on small groups (AKA cell groups) in the church.  I have ministered in churches with and without them and have some definite views, but I want to know what you're thinking.

My topics are pretty much flow-n-go, but here are some questions to stimulate thought:

Have you ever been involved in small groups as a ministry of a congregation?

What did you like about it?  Dislike?

What were the benefits?  Drawbacks?

How were leaders selected, trained?

Hope this isn't too heavy of a topic for the sunny summer days!

OD

[socrmom]

My husband and I have been involved in small groups a couple of times with our congregation.  Each group has taken on a bit of its own personality.  I loved our group.  Why?  Because I am an extrovert that learns best by hearing and participating in discussion.  Because it allowed those present to talk about their experiences without fear.  because it gave me a place to invite my friends to learn about God and what He means to us Christians in daily life, and show them the relevance of the Bible as we studied and discussed passages together.   What I didn't like-groups that remain together for long periods of time become clique-ish, unintentionally, it is just a natural occurance.  Leadership and hosting responsiblities do become burdensome when others are not becoming equipped to lead or host.  this takes intentional planning and prayer.
Our group is currently on break for the summer.  We will shuffle up, invite new folks in and begin anew in the fall.  I am looking forward to it!!

[Bill]

OldDad

I thought the info on house churches as described in the Vineyard Central website would be of great value in doing small groups.  I realize there is a difference but the principles they talk about would be valid for small groups, IMO.

Bill

[Booty]

You know at times we are separated by a common language.

And just exactly what are "small groups" or "cells"?  I even read the linked articles and still cannot dicypher this one.

We are Brothers and Sisters, (Well more specifically hermanos y hermanas). Do we need to apply still more labels to our activities to divide us?

If a group chooses to gather in the work of the Lord, is that a small group?  I like to go to the plaza with Omega, while there we always evangelize. At times we sit on a bench and discuss the word. Others have joined us over time so there are now maybe 5 of us regularly in the Plaza. Any and all are welcome, none are excluded. Any and all are free to attend or not as their schedules and their desires dictate. Are we a small group?  Are we a "Cell"? (Wow in light of our current political situation with our "Castro want to be President", the word "CELL" really raises the hackles!!)

You know many times when I look at the states and wonder at the many hyphens you use to describe yourself, I really am given pause.   (Of course not the pause I experienced when one of the Yanks here called me a W-A-S-P to attempt to include me in his Exclusively NON LATIN group. I do wish people would learn their history, Anglo Saxon I am not!!)

Small Groups, Large Groups, Multitudes, Individuals  ...Sinners all.........And all paid for by the blood of our Lord.   Could we leave it at that?

[Fate]

Thanx for the article Barb... :)

[Bill]

Bob, I would like to echo your thoughts.  IMO, if we can use small groups or whatever we want to call them to help people come to know Christ better, then let's do it.  It's not the name, it is our aim.  If our aim is to be like Christ, then let's go for it.  If our aim is a social club then we probably have a problem, no matter what we name it.

Bill

[Booty]

Multitude to be sure Maurine, definitely a multitude.

Thank you  Bob for the explanation. Sounds normal... Wasn't it Moses' father in law that had a bit of advice for him about delegating?

You know with our transportation logistics, we are probably forever consigned to be small groups. I cannot envision a single thousand member congregation, but I can certainly see some 20 or 30  fifty member congregations. I believe the largest in the country presently would be in the range of 100 to 200 or there abouts, (Actually one of the legalistic congregations would probably top a thousand if they would stop disfellowshipping members faster than they can baptise them!!)

[Booty]

Oh sweet Jesus it is quite the trial I am, here I was just to ask the lizards name so we could add it to our prayer list! :)

Julie said something that interested me and leads me to raise a question. Could the Small Group phenomena be in part truly congregations? Individual diverse congregations within a broader frame work? Julie's examples show enough diversity in style of worship to where I believe this phenomena may exist as an example of the Unity, (Not Uniformity), that can be realized in the church in general.

From my perspective the concept of large congregations is quite  inconceivable. And being intimately involved in two different congregations, I do see definite differences in style amongst them both. Yet there exists also a strong communion amongst them both as Brothers and Sisters from Piritu travel with us to Clarines always.   We soon may baptize a concubina in Clarines if it is the Lord's will. Piritu has never baptized a concubina, yet the congregation of Piritu has voted unanymously to accept and honor this baptism when it occurs.
Now of the 6 current congregations in our state, two, possibly three, might take exception, ( Even though should they check their own histories, each of them has baptized concubinas!!).

I believe my musings have led me to the question of just how much autonomy exists for these Small Groups? Do small groups ever serve the elements? Could Small Groups be a modern equivalent to House Churches?

Once again a flawed perspective to be sure, but I sit here wondering if smaller isn't better. I envision these mega congregations and what frightens me is the very real possibility that I might look out from the pulpit and see regular members whom I do not even know their names! It is such a blessing to be able to look at your brothers and sisters and realize that you share unique special moments with each of them.

[WileyClarkson]

We (Granbury CoC in Granbury,TX) are moving slowly into small groups.  We are presently meeting only once a month in the small group setting with the other 3 to 4 Sunday evenings per month being in the old style evening corporate worship that some seem to think is a written in stone commandment from Scripture.  We are not set into a particular line up of members in each group and will probably reorganize the membership make up of our small groups in August (from what I have been told).  Presently, locality is not considered but I feel it will have to be in the near future because of the wide area of residence (four Texas counties and 30 mile radius from the building)that exists in our growing congregation of more than 800 members which requires driving distances of almost 50 miles in some instances.  We have a small group that meets at the main building for those members that just can't bring themselves to break with the notion that they must meet in the building to feel they have met with the church and also to work with those that are not in a group yet or who would like to take communion (an evening Communion in each small group for everyone in the group would not yet be considered by most because that would mean they would do it twice in one day!).  Our small groups were started as a way to get to know members who are outside of our normal church relationships.  The attendance in these small groups has doubled our evening attendance on those evenings that the groups meet (25% normal Sunday evenings to over 50% in small groups).  As people (many are over 65, retired, and just don't take to change real easy) get used to attending once a month, I am hoping the leadership will go to every other Sunday evening.  I have to admit that I personally still like an evening corporate worship about evenly divided with the small group gatherings.  BTW, these small groups are averaging 15 to 30 people each.  The congregation where my wife and I spent almost 20 years in our home town averaged apx 15 to 20 attending on Sunday mornings, almost the same on Sunday evenings, met in it's own building all those years, and in my opinion, would have been much better off if we had simply met in homes and sold the church property.  If we met in a home it was for a once a month fellowship meal but never included singing, group prayer, devotional, etc.  That was before we built a kitchen and fellowship hall on the building.  When the congregation closed its doors, there were less than 7 members (due to internal problems).   A house church would have been considered a "liberal" notion by the main leaders of our small church and nixed if suggested.

Whatever name one wishes to apply to these smalll groups, they do, IMO, approach the small house church concept of the 1st century.  They have a very important place in today's society if we will just allow it.  Many of the churches in our area of Texas would never consider the concept.  Every church that I have heard of trying the small groups on Sunday evenings has kept it up.  Plus, I know of some small groups that are also meeting during the week in addition to Sunday evenings.

Grace to you and peace.

[OldDad]

Appreciate everyone's participation in the discussion.  I was sure we had a wide range of experiences and opinions.  This has proven to be accurate.  Here's my 2 cents:

Early 90's: Planted a church with small groups.  After we were on our feet, we moved away from what we felt was an over-dependence on the groups.  Big mistake.  It really is true that what you win them with you keep them with.  The people valued the informal relationships of the small groups, and when we said "it's time to move to the next phase..." some of them didn't want to make the transition.  We went from 50 involved in groups throughout the week to 20, then 15, showing up for worship and Bible study on Sunday.  The baby church died a slow and agonizing death.

Mid 90's: On staff at a "cell-based" church.  Highly structured, with firm guidelines about training, multiplication of groups, study materials based on the pastor's sermons, weekly reports had to be turned in, etc.  We used the acronym FLOW to describe the mission and purpose of the groups: Fellowship, Learning, Outreach, and Worship.  Even with the structure and high accountability the groups became unbalanced:  Some were primarily Bible studies;  Some focused on Fellowship and Worship;  Some were only prayer meetings.  The church did grow through the groups, but I tired of the regimentation and felt we were over focused on the skeleton, but weren't as concerned about putting meat on the bones.

Currently: We don't have formal small groups.  We'd like to, but have some other things on our plate at the moment.  For my part, my Sunday school class is structured like a small group, but we've grown to the point where we need to move to the auditorium.  Afraid we'll lose that family feeling in the larger space sitting in rows of chairs.

Incidentally, this is the first time I've ever come across anyone with an aversion to the term "cell" to describe small groups.  Just wonderin' why...

OD

[Booty]

With El Presidente's admiration of Cuba and Dr Castro, "Cells" goes bitter for me as well.. I know the idea and concept is different.....  but the word itself touches sensitivities here.

You know though as a committed church planter, I believe the actual term should be "Congregations".

And the more I think about it, the more I become an advocate of small congregations. The baptism statistics per member are much better than large congregations, so I would assume the evangelism must be more active. And is that not waht it is all about? Evangelizing?

[WileyClarkson]

Booty,

[!--QuoteBegin--][/span][table border=\"0\" align=\"center\" width=\"95%\" cellpadding=\"3\" cellspacing=\"1\"][tr][td]Quote [/td][/tr][tr][td id=\"QUOTE\"][!--QuoteEBegin--]And the more I think about it, the more I become an advocate of small congregations. The baptism statistics per member are much better than large congregations, so I would assume the evangelism must be more active. And is that not waht it is all about? Evangelizing?[/quote]

In this area, just the opposit is true.  Most small congregations are dying slow painfull deaths wrapped in death blankets of legalism and apathy.  They tend to come to the Sunday worship and then go home.  Fellowship and personal attachment is lacking in these old, small rural congregations and evangelism among many of these older church members takes a "let the younger ones do it--we've done our time at evangelizing and teaching" attitude.  The larger churches (congregations :) ) are the ones that are reaching out to the un-saved and the un-attached, especially among the younger generations where these younger souls respond to a different style of presentation of the Gospel and tend to rebel against the very legalistic beliefs that are very common in our small rural congregations that have become lopsided memberships of people over 66.  The larger congregations are the ones that have re-evaluated their views on grace, legalism, the Holy Spirit, and many other views that were very prevelant during the 50's through mid 80's that have restricted growth, and they are the churches that are moving forward with goals of local evangelism and personal spiritual growth.  I know of no small congregation in this area that is actively engaged in any type of local evangelistic effort or would consider more progressive techniques (including small groups) that are being used by larger churches to try to reach un-churched/un-saved residents of the area.

Guess what it really boils down to is this:  do what is effective and works in a particular area to reach the unsaved and the un-churched who have lost their connection with the body that they used to have.  In your area it, from what you are telling us, the larger congregation of our area probably wouldn't work well.

Btw, I personally love a small congregation setting when it's eyes are on Jesus.  Maybe that's why I like the small group setting in homes so much, while mixing it with the corporate worship and praise of 250 to 350 members on Sunday morning in the more non-traditional worship setting of our early service.

Grace to you and peace.

[Booty]

[!--QuoteBegin--][/span][table border=\"0\" align=\"center\" width=\"95%\" cellpadding=\"3\" cellspacing=\"1\"][tr][td]Quote (Arkstfan @ July 05 2002,11:53)[/td][/tr][tr][td id=\"QUOTE\"][!--QuoteEBegin--]The large congregations can offer the "extras" that small congregations cannot and by using small groups develop the tighter personal relationships that keep people at a church and active.

The small groups will be the route that opens the doors to more discussion of women's roles as well since you typically have free involvement of women in discussion, prayer and even teaching in the small groups.[/quote]
WOMEN!!! Ark my Brother!!

I just raised a few points in a "Small Group", the retreat of all the church leaders in the east of the country. Little discussion of allowing women to pray because they "Have to maintain their silence whenever a man is present"!!  I just asked a few innocent questions.

Who was Anna?
What did Phillips four daughters do?
Who was Deborah?, Junia? Etc. Etc.
How could the women referred to in 1 Cor 11:5 pray and prophesy, uncovered or not, if they were maintaining their silence?

AND A MIRACLE OCCURRED!!! OUR MOST LEGALISTIC BROTHER IS NOW SPEAKING IN TONGUES!!!!

(Or at least I believe he was, he was so excited I could not understand him!)

I do agree with you though, also smaller groups do not have the luxury of anonymity, when a Brother is inclined to lord it over a woman, she is better known to him affectionately and I do trust it would be more difficult.

[janine]

The only small group/cell group setup I've been a part of in recent years was when our schedule allowed us to be part of a couple of cells of my sister's church.  She and her husband are 'associate pastors' of a group with praise band, liturgical dancers, spinning around and marching around with banners as part of their Sunday assemblies.  Ooooooookaaaaaaaaaay.....

The house cells were supposed to be Bible studies and informal fellowships.  They were organized and the house leaders trained by the church leadership.  New ones were 'born' when cells got too big for the houses they were in.

It was fun, met some nice people, but it was pretty light on the actual studying of the Bible.

We did much the same thing with a Tuesday p.m. home group years ago in my smaller church up north.  Ours was much heavier on the Bible study, though.  I enjoyed that much better.  Less room for fluff when the Book is open.

We didn't have this regimented, authority-figures-training-new-leaders system, either.  People wanted to get into the Word and spend time in fellowship, so they did.  The guys who were competent and comfortable moderating the studies did so.

[Barb1957]

fwiw, this might be interesting reading,  "myth #3" in the article is about small groups:
4 myths about reaching the unchurched—and 4 ways to draw them in.
written by James Emery White, senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. (As I recall, I ran across this article and that's how I was led to this church's web site, which I posted a link to in Fate's CofC websites thread.)

Barb
:D

[seekr]

Hey, I took a friend to lunch last Sunday, of all days, and we spoke about the things God was doing in us and it was a wonderful time of sharing each other's lives. Small group? Assembly?

Maurine

[seekr]

Booty, how I have missed your insight and responses. Certainly the congregations were only those christians in each town that gathered together whenever, wherever, no matter the size, no matter the day. Groups like Julie spoke about sound so much closer to what the Lord intended as it is about relationship one to another, with Jesus interacting with all of us as we meet in love as opposed to any obligation put forth  by traditions of men. I particularly love that Vineyard' site and the fact that they face each other and sit around tables. I can picture you meeting in the courtyards, sharing Christ with the body of Christ at your side. Doesn't assembling just mean getting together with each other?

Maurine

Don't take my aversion to "cell" too seriously.  It just seems like jargon.  Like a term with added meaning.  Like Dr. Doe's super duper one size fits all program.  No program will work for all church's, I just don't like canned programs and I don't like jargon.

But [with apologies to Dennis Miller] that's just my opinion and I could be wrong.

[janine]

"Cell" is used by some non-denom. charismatic groups around here, so I guess my congregation wouldn't use it.  (If we find out the Baptists use doors, we'll start crawling out of windows...)

Moot point, though, 'cause I don't see our bunch ever using the small-group concept as an elder-approved, announced-from-the-pulpit plan.  It may be considered to happen spontaneously in the groups of Christians getting together to pray or study...

[Arkstfan]

The large congregations can offer the "extras" that small congregations cannot and by using small groups develop the tighter personal relationships that keep people at a church and active.

The small groups will be the route that opens the doors to more discussion of women's roles as well since you typically have free involvement of women in discussion, prayer and even teaching in the small groups.