Taking Small Groups to a Higher Level

By Greg Marksberry

Most newer and larger churches believe small groups are a leading contributor to their growth. This strategy for building community has emerged as the most effective way to connect people within the body of Christ. But are we using small groups as well as we could to produce fully devoted Christ-followers?

A recent Barna Research Group survey indicates small group participation has doubled over the last decade, with nearly a quarter of churchgoers attending weekly small group meetings. But while participation is up, discipleship is not. When asked to identify their most important goal in life, not one adult believer said it was to be a committed follower of Christ. Barna notes,

Few believers said that their church lacked programs, but most Christians complained that little is done to effectively motivate and facilitate their development as genuine, fervent followers of Christ. Our surveys among pastors showed that they dismissed such views as excuses and as inaccurate, but the bottom line remains unchanged: most Christians are simply not making progress in their personal spiritual development.

Can small group ministry offer more to believers than caring fellowship? What would happen if we adjusted the scope of small groups to include disciple-making as well as community-building? Upon remembering the partnership he shared with the believers in Philippi, Paul pointed to the ultimate goal of their fellowship in Philippians 1:6: “that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” Think about the impact of a small group committed to developing people who are radically changed, not merely radically churched. This slight recalibration in focus could drastically improve the landscape of spiritual growth in America.

Jesus did this in his own ministry. Luke 6″“9 describes how Jesus took a small group from fellowship to discipleship. You might think of these steps as five rungs on a ladder leading to a higher level of discipleship among believers. After spending the night in prayer, Jesus chose twelve of his followers to be apostles. Into these men he would pour his love and leadership for three years. The dividend of his investment was the transformation of a common fraternity into an extraordinary community of contributors to God”s kingdom.

Identify

Luke 6:17 indicates the first rung on this ladder: “He went down with them and stood on a level place.” Jesus identified and interacted with the twelve and connected with them on their level. He didn”t start so far ahead of them that they would struggle to follow. The rest of Luke 6 records the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew”s account, Jesus begins each teaching segment, “You heard it has been said, but I tell you . . .” He started with what they knew before taking them to a deeper understanding of God”s will.

To effectively take small groups to a higher level of discipleship, groups must start on level ground by accepting individuals where they are in their spiritual journey.

Stretch

The second rung on the discipleship ladder is found in Luke 8:22, “One day Jesus said to his disciples, “˜Let”s go over to the other side of the lake.”” Jesus led his group to higher commitment by stretching them beyond their comfort level. They went from the familiarity of their homeland to the ungodly “region of the Gerasenes.” En route they encountered a storm so fierce seasoned fishermen feared for their lives. And finally reaching shore they met a crazed man filled with demons! This trip to the other side of the lake stretched the twelve well beyond their comfort zone and taught them a great deal about God”s power.

Small groups build community by helping people open up about the “storms” they face. They also can build discipleship by helping people describe the “demons” they face in life. Once people discover they can share their fears in a safe environment they are willing to stretch beyond their comfort level and share their struggles too. This level of sharing brings opportunity for people to find the support and accountability needed for spiritual growth.

Act

Jesus took his small group to a higher level of discipleship by starting on their level, stretching them beyond their comfort level, and then sending them to the next level. Luke 9:1 says Jesus equipped his small group to help others and then sent them out to do something significant for God. Small groups don”t have to settle for building community alone; these environments are suited for putting faith into action. Serving others as a small group can help participants get to the next level as disciples of Christ.

When my kids put away their training wheels for the first time, they suffered a few scrapes and bruises. But now they ride like the wind. When small groups are harnessed as equipping centers for service, they help people put away their “training wheels” and serve God with confidence and enthusiasm. Serving together in groups provides the relational affirmation we need to reach our potential.

Serve

The fourth rung in Jesus” strategy to take the disciples to a higher level is found in Luke 9:12, 13, “Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “˜Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” He replied, “˜You give them something to eat.””

Can you see the disciple”s jaws drop after Jesus instructed them to feed this crowd of 5,000 men? But after witnessing Jesus miraculously feed the throng with only a few fish and barley loaves, they discovered going to a higher level requires serving at the lowest level.

A small group working together to serve basic needs keeps motives in check and the servant spirit alive. Serving in a soup kitchen, mowing lawns, and babysitting the children of young couples in church helps teach and embed the spirit of servanthood characteristic of genuine discipleship.

Share

Jesus climbs to the fifth rung of the ladder in Luke 9:20 as he shares with his small group at the heart level. Helping people get to the highest level of discipleship requires leaders to get to the heart level in their groups. Jesus asked the twelve, “Who do you say that I am?” What a beautiful moment of vulnerability in the life of the Lord. After praying privately with his disciples, Jesus seizes this intimate moment to find out who they think he is.

Can you sense his open heart with the twelve? Small groups that build true disciples always have leaders who are willing to open up their own hearts, dreams, and lives. I”m always amazed at how positively people respond to appropriate levels of vulnerability shared by their leaders. Peter”s response to Jesus” “hearting it” with his disciples is the Great Confession, “The Christ of God.” Imagine the power of that moment as the disciples embrace Jesus as God.

“God moments” like these are not uncommon when environments of openness are being cultivated. Small groups never go beyond the level of trust and intimacy demonstrated by their leaders. This doesn”t mean every leader has to be the most gifted or scholarly. It does mean that churches must train small group leaders to share at the heart level with their groups.

The Highest Rung

The dividend of Jesus” investment in these twelve common men””fishermen, tax collectors, and the rest””according to the book of Acts, was a group that turned the world upside down for Christ. If the current small-group paradigm of community-building was shifted to include disciple-building as the ultimate goal, there is no limit to the life transformation that could result.

Perhaps we should begin the way Jesus did, which is actually beneath the first rung of the ladder. Luke 6:12 tells us that before Jesus chose his small group, he spent the night praying to God. The highest rung in taking small groups to a new level of discipleship may be as our knees hit the floor in prayer to God. I wonder if our discipleship results might look a bit more like those of Jesus if, like him, we were leaders from the knees up.

 

 

Greg Marksberry ministers with Heritage Christian Church, Peachtree City, Georgia.