July 3, 2008
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Why do churches move to small groups?
1. Our focus on solving problems.
Americans are programmatic. Everything we tend to do is to solve a problem through a program. Do you want to lose weight? Get on the internet and find a long list of optional programs to help you accomplish your goals. Want to get married? Get on the internet and find a program to help you meet singles that are “perfect” for you. The church has followed suit. Every problem a person faces, we can try to meet that need with some kind of pre-made program package. Small groups often become a problem solver for the church to grow, develop relationships, become more healthy, develop leaders, etc.
2. Our focus on individuals.
Americans are individualistic. Everything we do is for the individual. The church can easily slip into this trend. Even small groups, which you would think are not about the individual, tend to be designed to individual needs. First, they are often started by the pastor to help his church grow (often an individualistic aspiration). Second, they are promoted as something that can help the individual become a leader, help the individual meet people, help the individual grow spiritually.
Scott Boren, in The Relational Way, states:
“Jesus instructed us, ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you’ (Matt. 6:33). I often find church leaders seeking first the development of their church through a small group structure. They seek church growth, evangelism, church health, interpersonal connections, personal growth, and a biblical model. All good things, but the good is often the enemy of the best” (70).
At Living Word Nazarene we are beginning to develop holistic small groups. We are calling them Life Groups. What if our focus for these groups was not just to solve problems or even to meet the individualistic needs of people, but something greater? What if our focus was to enter into the Kingdom of God, a relational kingdom? I want to seek His kingdom first in my life. I am quite confident that if I did seek His kingdom first God would be faithful to take care of all these other important things for me too.
