Christian Spiritual Formation
“As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm 42:1-2a, NRSV).

People’s spiritual yearning finds expression in many ways. Seeking to know and understand God has increasingly been the subject of books, films, and TV shows. More and more, people talk about spirituality in the workplace. Many are waking up to the reality that to address the needs of the whole person, we need to meet not only physical, mental, emotional, and material needs, but also — and more importantly — spiritual needs.

For a long time, the church has sought to help meet people’s yearning to connect with God through congregational worship; practice of spiritual disciplines; and involvement in outreach and missions. Traditionally, the church has also offered opportunities for faith formation through small groups for Bible study, prayer, and Christian education. However, it seems as if most of the church’s resources and energy have been devoted to preparing for large congregational gatherings. If we take seriously the church’s primary task of sharing the good news, inviting people and encouraging them to make a commitment to Christ, equipping them for Christian discipleship, and sending them out into the world for ministry in daily life, then we need to provide and create settings to enable people to grow in their faith and discipleship, in both large and small-group gatherings.

While corporate worship can draw people closer to God, entering the place of worship alone can be daunting to those who are new to that experience. Small groups offer another alternative for welcoming people outside the community of faith. As these people feel the warm welcome, witness the loving relationship among members and hear their faith stories, and begin to build a bond with the rest of the group, they are likely to be encouraged to return and claim the group as part of their extended family.

Nurturing Faith
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42, NRSV).

Christian faith formation and discipleship should take place within the context of a faith community. Small groups, by their size and informal nature, have unique opportunities for leading people to commit their lives to Christ and to grow in their faith and discipleship. Often, large groups are more conducive to one-way communication for teaching and instruction. In small groups, participants enjoy increased direct, personal interaction among members as they study the Scriptures and other resources that help them build faith, seek God’s will, share faith-forming experiences, learn, and discuss ideas related to their spiritual growth. In small groups, ndividuals may feel more comfortable sharing insights from their own study and reflection, and expressing doubts and questions as they struggle with faith issues.

People who have been practicing the spiritual disciplines (e.g., participating in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, fasting, tithing, studying the Bible, engaging in theological reflection and other acts of piety) may form a small group. The purpose is not only to share experiences, but to be accountable to one another, “watching over one another in love,” as expressed by Wesley. Thus, people are encouraged to grow in their love and relationship with God and one another. Comparable examples based on the principle of accountability are found in most 12-step and weight management programs. People unfamiliar with the spiritual disciplines may join a small group and be mentored by those who have more experience.

Another value of a small-group setting in nurturing faith lies in its ability to allow more people to share their faith. There may be few occasions for witnessing and faith-sharing during large congregational gatherings, and we need to hear stories that inspire, encourage, and deepen the faith of believers and open up possibilities for sharing the good news with non-believers. Small groups can be places where faith stories are shared more often and more freely among members who have built a trusting relationship with one another. Faith stories demonstrate God’s work in people’s lives. Faith stories touch and heal the spirit. As we strive to live our faith daily, we need both large and small settings to help us be faithful in our walk with Christ.

Building Christian Community
“ . . . so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another” (Romans 12:5, NRSV).

Congregational small groups and families can be places that model God’s love and abundant mercy. When they center on the life, ministry, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as on the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit, they model authentic Christian discipleship. Love of God and neighbor is a natural consequence, spilling into the way we treat others—with love, honor, and respect patterned after the Great Teacher, Jesus Christ. There will, of course, be disagreements and tensions. After all, we are individuals with varying gifts and abilities, varying strengths and weaknesses. But Christ’s love and the fruits of the Holy Spirit empower us to overcome difficult phases of our life together, bringing us to a deeper realization of God’s amazing grace.

Praying for the concerns of others, as well as knowing that we are being lifted up in prayer, can result in deep Christian bonding and love. There is also great transforming power when we pray for and listen to someone who disagrees with us, and when we give and receive forgiveness. Sitting around the table, sharing meals and breaking bread together, listening to one another even when we hold opposing views—these are but a few of the ways of building Christian community. Offering support and forgiving others are steps to restoration and wholeness. As we recognize brokenness in our relationship with God and with each other, we can claim Christ’s healing love that restores, rebuilds, and revives.

Equipping for Ministry in Daily Life
“ . . . to equip the saints for the work of ministry . . . ” (Ephesians 4:12, NRSV).

Christian discipleship is a process of daily practicing love of God and neighbor. Aside from being able to grow in love and service to God and to other people within their own circle, participants in small groups have unlimited opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those outside their group.

Every group is unique. With guidance, spiritual discernment, and some tools, group members can discover the special giftedness of both individuals and the body as a whole. They can then develop projects appropriate to their abilities, skills, and resources. They learn and work together to spread God’s love, grace, hope, justice, and mercy. Small groups enable more people to get involved in the ministries of the church. Since there are many needs in the community and the world, the more people who can work to meet those needs, the easier it is to usher in God’s reign.

As Christian disciples who are empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit, we can be channels of God’s justice: within and outside the family, the walls of the church, and our own small groups. Christ’s mission is to the “least of these” (the poor and marginalized, the lost, the disenfranchised, the widowed, orphans and children, the sick and the hungry, victims of natural disasters and institutional oppression). These are the folk for and with whom we have been called to be in ministry. Your small group’s ministry to the “stranger” may be expressed by demonstrating hospitality and inclusiveness to any of these people in order to share the good news of God’s saving grace, as well as offer healing and restoration of mind, body, and spirit. God can use a small group in a mighty and powerful way if we are willing and obedient. The stranger can also include people who are ‘different from us’ from the perspective of race, culture, religious beliefs, age, gender, socioeconomic status, education, language, and so on. Complementing our faith and beliefs with the full expression of God’s love in and through our thoughts, speech, and actions toward those who are different from us lends authenticity to our Christian discipleship. There is no greater witness than this.

Leaders of Congregational Small-Group Ministries and The General Board of Discipleship: Partners in Discipleship
Through print and audio/video resources, technology, training events, and networking, the General Board of Discipleship seeks to partner with leaders of small groups by:

  1. Developing the conceptual framework for small-group ministry,
  2. Building knowledge and skills for spiritual leadership,
  3. Helping create opportunities for spiritual formation among members of the faith community,
  4. Helping leaders practice mutual accountability in their faith formation and discipleship,
  5. Listening to the expressed needs of small-group leaders,
  6. Developing resources that meet these needs,
  7. Building support networks of small-group ministry leaders.

Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework for our work is grounded in biblical principles and models of small groups, exemplified in the Trinitarian community of the Godhead, as well as the life of Jesus Christ and his disciples. The Scriptures are replete with examples affirming the vital role of communities and personal relationships in forming faith, making disciples, and making disciples who make disciples. In addition, several practical and sociological arguments supporting the importance of small groups in congregational life are considered.

Knowledge & Skills for Spiritual Leadership
The purpose of small groups is not simply to accomplish a task, but to create settings where spiritual leadership is developed and exercised. By building knowledge and skills, leaders are equipped in their own spiritual formation and in their task of facilitating the same among group participants. By discovering the gifts of every member and allowing them to exercise those gifts within and outside the group, shared leadership is learned and enhanced. If every congregational small group is to be aligned with the primary task of the church, then all types of groups need to include elements of both loving God and loving neighbor in their life together. These groups may still need to be formed or may already exist, e.g., task groups (including committees, councils, boards), spiritual formation and study groups (including Sunday school, Bible study, book study, discussion, accountability), ministry groups (including worship, prayer, choir, evangelism, stewardship, mission and outreach, family, peace and justice, lay speaking), gender and generation groups (including children; youth; young, middle, and senior adults; singles; couples; United Methodist Women; United Methodist Men), special interest and hobby groups, multicultural ministry groups, support groups, and fellowship groups.

The following titles available from Discipleship Resources
(www.discipleshipresources.org, 800-972-0433) are suggested for use in existing and newly-formed/forming small groups. They are also available from Cokesbury, (800) 672-1789. You may also contact The Upper Room for materials for small-group study: (800) 972-0433, www.upperroom.org/bookstore. In addition, we encourage you to visit our website at www.gbod.org/smallgroup.

Starting and Sustaining Small Groups

Accountable Discipleship

Leader Development

For additional materials for small-group study, or for a free catalog:

As we support small-group ministries and the development of spiritual leaders, we continue to listen and to be attuned to the needs of the church. We seek and appreciate your input. By developing support networks for small-group leaders, we hope to share ideas, concerns, and celebration in fulfilling our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ.

Contact any of the following people for help with small-group ministries:

  • Carol F. Krau, Director, Teacher/Leader Development in Christian Education, PO Box 340003, Nashville, TN 37203-0003;
    615-340-7171, 877-899-2780, ext. 7171; ckrau@bgod.org
  • Steve Manskar, Director, Accountable Discipleship, PO Box 340003, Nashville, TN 37203-0003;
    615-340-1765; 877-899-2780, ext. 1765; smanskar@gbod.org


Judith M. Bunyi formerly served on the staff of the General Board of Discipleship, Nashville, TN. She currently serves as the president of Harris Memorial College, Manila, a United Methodist-related school in the Philippines Central Conference.

Updated June 2004

 

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