Small Groups

[subllibrm]

Why or why not?

 

[BALAAM]

Why or why not?

Because I said so! That's why!

 

[Ransom]

Why or why not?

Beneficial - because, particularly in a large church, they are possibly the best opportunity to experience true Christian fellowship and deeper relationships. Even in a church of a few hundred people - let alone the 2,500 at my own - you're never going to get to know everybody particularly well.

Mid-week prayer meetings and Bible studies, as well as Sunday school classes, are also beneficial and good. However, they're not mutually exclusive, either.

Our groups are typically of 8-12 people, and meet weekly or bi-weekly in homes organized by neighbourhood around the city. One of our pastors is in charge of overseeing small groups, and he and his assistant send out study questions every week based on that Sunday's sermon. There are also regular information/training meetings for small group leaders.  In my experience on the FFF, there seems to be a certain small-group-o-phobia amongst the Hylesite, pastor-centric churches, as if they expect the small-group leaders to lead their minions into some sort of mutiny. (Which says more about the politics of those churches than it does about the effectiveness of small groups!)

Besides, they're biblical. The early church met in homes, and they certainly didn't cram all 3,000+ of the Jerusalem Christians into one living room! Purpose-built church buildings didn't come around for a couple more centuries, and so what the early church did was very much like a modern cell group: they met to hear teaching, break bread, sing, and pray together, under the oversight of pastors and elders who cared for the church in their city.

 

[BALAAM]

Why or why not?

Beneficial - because, particularly in a large church, they are possibly the best opportunity to experience true Christian fellowship and deeper relationships. Even in a church of a few hundred people - let alone the 2,500 at my own - you're never going to get to know everybody particularly well.

Mid-week prayer meetings and Bible studies, as well as Sunday school classes, are also beneficial and good. However, they're not mutually exclusive, either.

Our groups are typically of 8-12 people, and meet weekly or bi-weekly in homes organized by neighbourhood around the city. One of our pastors is in charge of overseeing small groups, and he and his assistant send out study questions every week based on that Sunday's sermon. There are also regular information/training meetings for small group leaders.  In my experience on the FFF, there seems to be a certain small-group-o-phobia amongst the Hylesite, pastor-centric churches, as if they expect the small-group leaders to lead their minions into some sort of mutiny. (Which says more about the politics of those churches than it does about the effectiveness of small groups!)

Besides, they're biblical. The early church met in homes, and they certainly didn't cram all 3,000+ of the Jerusalem Christians into one living room! Purpose-built church buildings didn't come around for a couple more centuries, and so what the early church did was very much like a modern cell group: they met to hear teaching, break bread, sing, and pray together, under the oversight of pastors and elders who cared for the church in their city.

If they are all in small groups then how did they all get to hear the 'man of God' preach and be influenced by him? (sarcasm intended)

 

[HeDied4U]

Why or why not?

Beneficial - because, particularly in a large church, they are possibly the best opportunity to experience true Christian fellowship and deeper relationships. Even in a church of a few hundred people - let alone the 2,500 at my own - you're never going to get to know everybody particularly well.

Mid-week prayer meetings and Bible studies, as well as Sunday school classes, are also beneficial and good. However, they're not mutually exclusive, either.

Our groups are typically of 8-12 people, and meet weekly or bi-weekly in homes organized by neighbourhood around the city. One of our pastors is in charge of overseeing small groups, and he and his assistant send out study questions every week based on that Sunday's sermon. There are also regular information/training meetings for small group leaders.  In my experience on the FFF, there seems to be a certain small-group-o-phobia amongst the Hylesite, pastor-centric churches, as if they expect the small-group leaders to lead their minions into some sort of mutiny. (Which says more about the politics of those churches than it does about the effectiveness of small groups!)

Besides, they're biblical. The early church met in homes, and they certainly didn't cram all 3,000+ of the Jerusalem Christians into one living room! Purpose-built church buildings didn't come around for a couple more centuries, and so what the early church did was very much like a modern cell group: they met to hear teaching, break bread, sing, and pray together, under the oversight of pastors and elders who cared for the church in their city.

Well said Scott!

 

[subllibrm]

Just wondered because more than once the term has been used here with some seriously dripping sarcasm and cyber sneering. Wasn't sure why they would cause such reactions.

 

[Citadel of Truth]

Mid-week prayer meetings and Bible studies, as well as Sunday school classes, are also beneficial and good.

These are my thoughts as well. Every church has small groups to some degree.

 

[Frag]

They are called SS classes. 

All you need. 

 

[fishinnut]

There are many activities (bass fishing comes to mind) that you could say the following about..... Unless you have experienced the blessings of being a part of small groups you are talking about something you know nothing about at all.

IMO...many pastors are afraid to get too close to their members for fear of being open to criticism if others really get to know them. So they shy away from small groups in their church.

There is something special about someone opening their heart to others in a small group & those believers stopping the mad & busy rush of life to spend time praying over their burden with extended hands on their shoulder as a group.

 

[subllibrm]

They are called SS classes. 

All you need.

Sort of the same yet can be altogether different.

Why would you limit it to SS?

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=subllibrm]Why would you limit it to SS?[/quote]

Control.

 

[subllibrm]

[quote author=subllibrm]Why would you limit it to SS?

Control.
[/quote]

Pretty much. It takes a lot of confidence in mere people for a pastor and board to let them meet on their own. 

 

[Bob H]

[quote author=subllibrm]Why would you limit it to SS?

Control.

Pretty much. It takes a lot of confidence in mere people for a pastor and board to let them meet on their own. 
[/quote]


I'm not against small groups and AGAIN  my experience limited to my home church. And my home church is a Wesley/Arminian church so I don't want to hear about this "B" x'er garbage either. There, the prospective leaders of the small groups had to go to a class taught by the preacher and use only the materials given them by the Church contrary to us who teach SS class who can teach what we want. Control can go both ways.................As far as adults go I've never heard of a SS teacher who couldn't teach what he wanted to.

 

[Frag]

[quote author=subllibrm]Why would you limit it to SS?

Control.
[/quote]

Wrong, as usual. 

Balance.

SS, Sunday Morning, Sunday Evening, and Wed night.... and hopefully involvement in at least one outreach ministry..... that is a LOT of time out of a person's weekly schedule.  And then you want to guilt trip people into finding time to meet at someone's house for "small group". 

People are busy.  They have lives.  Most don't need small group therapy sessions where people all sit around and give their opinions about what the Bible says about this verse or that.  I don't see anywhere in the  Bible that commands us to "discuss the Word".  I do find a command to "Preach the word...."

 

[Frag]

Hell might actually be sitting in circle, eating crumpets and drinking coffee, listening to Ransom lead a small group discussion....

 

[FSSL]

Hell might actually be sitting in circle, eating crumpets and drinking coffee, listening to Ransom lead a small group discussion....

So are you suggesting that your weekly church schedule, compared to Ransom's small group is worse than Hell?

That is what we have to conclude logically

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

I don't know why some of you think that, because a few of us see the modern theater church as a flawed model, we are jealous and want to be in the role of the pastor.  God forbid.  If I wanted to be a pastor, I would have pursued it and I'm certain I could have done it.  I'm a skilled speaker and have had the honor of of being a keynote speaker at very large events in my former roles. 

But I don't even want to be a leader of a small group, let alone a pastor.  I don't even speak up at the small church I attend, where anyone is free to speak. 

 

[FSSL]

Like Rogue, I have speaking skills. I fill in from time-to-time.
Older men and Older women are instructed to have small groups of Younger men and Younger women.

Great men in Church History had small groups.
--St Augustine
--Martin Luther had his Table Talks
--Anne Askew, Katherine Parr, Jane Grey, and Catherine Willoughby got together with their friends which ended up contributing to the English Reformation
--Early founders of Baptists

Pastors who are against small groups are either spooked by that which they do not know or are control-freaks who have to always be the teacher.

 

[subllibrm]

Pastors who are against small groups are either spooked by that which they do not know or are control-freaks who have to always be the teacher.

Frag's response seems to show this to be true.

 

[FSSL]

...... they just don;t see the reason to abandon one for the other when both have their useful purpose.......

We have both small groups and Sunday School. There is a completely different dynamic.