n o t neglecting to meet together

In the church, there have been ministry practices that have been long standing for many years. I think people in the congregation are not told enough of the need and value these practices have. Then as these people fail to see the need of certain ministries, they are often not as involved in them. One of these ministries is small groups. At any age, small groups are a place to be known and to know others. Peer to peer and mentor to peer relationships can take place which gives opportunities for discipleship relationships to flourish. The church needs these small groups so that people are being taken care of within the larger congregation.

A main component of these small groups is the discipleship factor of them, and this is where I think people fail to understand the reason why small groups are essential. In Hebrews 10:24-25, there is an expectation that people in the church will be with each other to “stir up one another to love and good works.” Before this can happen, it seems that it is implied that the people would be gathering regularly. In regular gatherings, people would have more opportunities to get to know other family members on a smaller scale, which can sometimes seem daunting or unrealistic in the bigger context of the whole church congregation. The point of stirring up one another and encouraging one another is to push each other to grow in each other’s faith and to seek Jesus more. In the same passage in Hebrews 10, it is says “not neglecting to meet together,” really putting emphasis on that this is an essential part of being a family. This also affirms the expectations of regular meetings. Discipleship in these groups will really happen when people are committed to showing up each week and even day by day for the other family members in their group. This foundational understanding of what it looks like to be in a small group sets the expectations for people to begin the sacrifice of being part of a family and community to grow personally, emotionally, and spiritually.

When people are made known of the importance and need for small groups, I think they will be more inclined to partake in the ministry. Many of the excused I often hear from people is that they are too busy to meet once a week with a group of people. Small groups are not just a place to have a Bible study with other people, but is a place to really be poured into, challenged, and loved by people in the church. This is where I think people may go wrong when thinking about joining a small group. Some may think that it is just a Bible study, but in reality it is a commitment to other people in love that they will uphold them in morality and integrity before the Lord. This can seem scary for some, but I think it would really help in explaining to people the necessity of small group discipleship for their spiritual formation.