The Value of Small-Group Bible Studies by Mike Wilson
(Reprinted from the website of Focus Magazine, http://www.focusmagazine.org/)
If Christians today use only a limited number of options in which to showcase the gospel, we may not be allowing its tremendous power to be released in our respective communities. We can shout that we have the truth, but if no one hears what we have to say, what good will it do? At a time when churches should be booming, welcoming outsiders to hear the gospel, it seems that many are clueless as to how to put out the welcome mat.
The apostle Paul's method included both public and semi-private venues. He reminded the elders of the church at Ephesus: "You yourselves know... how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house" (Acts 20:20). In the New Testament period, an important cell group in many congregations was the "household," which included extended family members, slaves and even business partners. After churches had formed, such household markers continued on as sub-strata points of identification (cf. I Cor. 1:11,16; 16:15; Phil. 4:22; et al.). One can well imagine that these household groups became the hub for studies of God's word, as well as meeting places for nascent congregations (Acts 16:40; Rom. 16:23). After all, since few if any churches owned corporate property, house-to-house teaching was particularly important.
There are other factors, however, that make small group studies
vital to the Lord's work. The group dynamics are different in
a smaller, less formal setting than they are in a large crowd.
Jesus would often teach the multitudes and then reinforce a point
with His disciples in semi-privacy. Small groups offer enhanced
opportunities for social bonding in a less threatening environment.
More importantly, they enable teachers to focus more personal
attention on the needs of individuals.
Recent church growth studies have emphasized the importance of
small groups as particularly effective in our own culture. We
live in an age of alienation. People have lost their sense of
community. In such an environment, small groups serve three vital
purposes for growing congregations: 1) entry points for non-members;
2) cohesiveness-builders for new and established members; and
3) training grounds for developing teachers.
In American culture today, a small group Bible study in someone's house is probably a much more effective entry point for a typical unbeliever than a worship assembly or a traditional gospel meeting. Many outsiders who would not feel comfortable going to a church building will accept an invitation to a neighbor's home. Moreover, the setting is much more conducive to an unbeliever forming genuine relationships with a small gathering of Christians as opposed to exchanging superficial formalities with a larger number of "strangers" in an unfamiliar church environment. Unfortunately, many congregations relegate small-group home classes to peripheral or extra-curricular status. Growing churches, on the other hand, typically offer an ever-increasing number of small group classes. Instead of looking at them as a supplement to the work, they view them as central to a purpose that is strategically executed.
How do you get started? Some suggestions are in order.
1) Avoid a big program rollout. Big programs always die. Sustainable changes must be made incrementally. Start small and grow naturally. When a small class of eight or ten people grows to fifteen or sixteen regular attendees, divide into two groups, and start the process all over again. Multiplication of groups must be self-sustainable, as participants themselves see the overwhelming value of this approach and are willing to voluntarily commit to it on their own.
2) Don't over-commit key people. Hosts, teachers and others who can be counted on as regular supporters have only so much time before family life suffers or burnout takes hold. Start out modestly, perhaps once a month, with only one or two classes, and grow as momentum picks up. Evangelists, elders and qualified teachers can teach the same material to multiple groups in the same month. Another possible approach is to hold home studies in lieu of centralized midweek classes.
3) While building up members, be especially attuned to the needs of visiting unbelievers. If one of the major goals is to expose neighbors to the gospel, it is not the time to debate complex issues that would confuse them and drive them away. "Love your neighbor as yourself." Put yourself in his shoes, and try to visualize what he may be thinking about concepts that are new to him. Encourage all Christian participants to articulate their points with a great deal of sensitivity toward the needs of visitors (Col. 4:5-6).
4) Be flexible with regard to material. One advantage of the small group is that it allows for unstructured structure. One does not need to meet a tight teaching schedule. A teacher can divert somewhat, as special needs arise, so long as valuable progress is made. In fact, the less threatening nature of a small group might help some people to verbally share their faith more openly and pray more intensely than they feel comfortable doing in a more formal environment.
5) Don't lecture. The dynamics of small groups allow for more give-and-take. A certain amount of skill and solid grounding in the faith are required to lead a healthy discussion of God's truth, while avoiding a degenerative free-for-all, but this is not normally the forum for an uninterrupted lecture.
6) Finally, there must be a commitment on the part of a congregation's
leadership. Where no goals are set, no workers are trained, no
vision is shared, and no follow-up procedures are in place, failure
is guaranteed! Moreover, elders will want to make sure that truth
is taught and that spiritual progress is being made as a network
of small groups emerges. It would be wise to implement some sort
of tracking system.
If small groups are given the importance they deserve, there is
tremendous potential for good. Members will be able to bring up
pressing issues in their lives and immediate personal concerns.
Enthusiasm will mount. Believers will invite non-Christian friends.
One study found that the multiplication of small groups is without
doubt the most important indicator of church growth. Moreover,
the study's author says, "Our research confirms that the
larger a church becomes, the more decisive the small group principle
will be with respect to her further growth."
Activity or Progress? by Ken Weliever (Weliever@hotmail.com)
"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God," (Col. 1:10, NIV).
Author Donald S. Whitney tells the story of an early explorer to the North Pole who chartered his excursion hourly to safeguard his journey. At one point, as he traversed this vast white wasteland, a peculiar phenomenon began to occur. While monitoring his position, the instruments indicated that even though he had been moving north, he was actually father south than he had been the previous hour. Regardless of the speed at which he walked in the direction of the Pole, he continued to get farther from it.
How could this be? What was happening? Finally he discovered that he had ventured onto an enormous iceberg that was drifting in one direction as he was walking in the other!
The story illustrates quite vividly that it is possible to develop a intricate strategy, exert a tremendous amount of energy and equip yourself with all kinds of sophisticated equipment and great resources, yet still not be making any progress!
In the Christian's journey it is abundantly more important to be sure that we are making progress and not just exerting energy as we journey toward the Heavenly City. Just because we are involved in a lot of programs and church activities does not mean we are making progress. As church leaders, we may keep our people busy, but are they being productive? We need to evaluate our progress. We need to examine ourselves (2 Cor. 13:5).
Am I really living for the Lord? Am I seeking to please Him in every way? Am I bearing fruit? Am I growing in the knowledge of God? The answers to these questions may indicate whether or not we are just keeping busy or actually making progress.
We are called upon to bear fruit. Jesus said, "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you will be my disciples" (John 15:8). Discipleship is more than just attending church services, reading the Bible, and refraining from certain sins. It is being fruitful. It is producing something of worth and value.
I think we often confuse faithfulness for fruitfulness. Author Rick Warren wrote, "God wants your church to be faithful and fruitful. One without the other is only half the equation." Paul's prayer for the Colossians was that they might "bear fruit in every good work." While is it necessary to be doctrinally sound and know what good works are, it is not enough. The proof of discipleship is in the production, in the fruit born.
We need to examine ourselves and ask, "Am I just engaged in activities, or am I making progress?" My personal admonition to each of you would be this simple slogan: Be Faithful. Bear Fruit.
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BIBLE INSIGHT is published for the members of, and
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Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
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THE BOTTOM LINE - (Reprinted from The Beacon)
"Satan is a fisherman, too. Deceit is his bait. Suckers
get caught."