What if we began to think of small groups outside the traditional images and definitions? A definition of small groups would still include those groups in which people pray and study together, meet as a Sunday school class, and gather to do a ministry together. What if we expanded the definition and horizon of our thinking to see each group smaller than the congregation gathered for worship as a "small group"? And what if we suggested that one of the purposes of any small-group meeting related to the local church is to provide a setting where Christian spiritual formation and growth in discipleship could happen?

Thinking of all small groups within the church as places where Christian spiritual formation could happen may mean a change in the way we do meetings. How are current ministry and administrative teams places of Christian formation and growth in discipleship? Are the decisions and tasks completed out of a purely business perspective, or are the discussions based on biblical and theological foundations and grounded in prayer? Is the goal of the meeting to complete a list of tasks, or is it to make decisions based on answering the question: "What would God have us be and do in this particular time and place?" It may mean changing the question from "What safeguards do we need to put in place to keep our newly painted walls clean?" to "What are the ways in which we can use this welcoming space with newly painted walls to meet ministry needs of the community?"

All groups of the church are for the formation of Christian disciples. People come to the church seeking places and settings where they experience God's love and grace. Choirs, Sunday school classes, traditional small groups, outreach task groups, ministry and administrative teams are also places where disciples are formed and transformed. The leader of each of these small groups is a spiritual leader who helps the group to be a place where group members love God and love neighbor.

What we do in the groups of the church models for the participants what it means to be and grow as Christian disciples. It is within the context of small groups that we model what it means to be Christian community in which we love one another, value one another's opinions, pray together, discern God's direction together, and make decisions in love. This kind of modeling can make a difference in the ways that participants learn to live out their discipleship in their homes and in the community.

For more information and help in making ministry and administrative groups places of Christian faith formation and growth in discipleship, see Staying Focused: Building Ministry Teams for Christian Formation (Discipleship Resources, 2002).

Shirley F. Clement (sclement@gbod.org) is a director of evangelism ministries for the General Board of Discipleship.

Posted 2-4-02

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