Gospel-focused small groups
Like I said in the last post, I fully believe in our system of creating followers of Christ. However, I would be ready to throw it out today if the system were the problem. I never want to be so connected to community groups, and the way that we do them at Grace Community Church, that I am unwilling to abandon them in favor of true discipleship. My goal in ministry, in a broad stroke, is to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) My goal is not to start 5,000 community groups and train 10,000 leaders to host a group in their home. I want to make passionate disciples of Christ! Right now, the way that I do that is to start new community groups, shepherd our current community group leaders, and recruit new leaders. Though these activities may seem mundane, I believe that true growth in godliness happens best in the context of community. So, I willfully and joyfully take on the administrative burden and the difficulties that go along with assimilating people into group life at Grace.
Why are we not making disciples more quickly at Grace? There are a variety of reason. Here are five:
1. Not everybody who hears the Gospel becomes a disciple the first time they hear it. I know that I sure didn’t! Did you? Then why should I expect vastly different results from those in our community groups? God didn’t give up on me when I rejected His call. Instead, He continue to pursue me.
2. The devil is real! “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Satan loves to distort the Gospel, remind us that it’s not relevant to us today, and snatch it from our hearts before it has the chance to take root. In short, he’s vying for the worship of our hearts, and this is true whether the Truth is coming from the pulpit or from a couch in somebody’s living room in a small group setting.
3. I need to take it upon myself to apply the Gospel to my life every day. CJ Mahaney, in The Cross Centered Life, says it well,”If there’s anything in life we should be passionate about, it’s the gospel. And I don’t mean passionate only about sharing it with others; I mean passionate in thinking about the gospel, reflecting upon it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look at the world and all of life” (15).
4. Our group leaders need to take it upon themselves to ask difficult questions that drive their group back to the Gospel. “How are you living out the Gospel today? How are you more like Christ today than you were 12 months ago? What part does the Gospel play in your everyday life? What is the Gospel? Why did Jesus have to die? How is the truth that you are a sinner saved by grace affecting the way you parent your children, or love your spouse, or work at your job, or serve in your church?”
5. Group leaders need to be reminded that they are the shepherd leaders of their group, and as such, should concern themselves greatly with the eternal state of the souls in their group.
Based on that, here are 5 things I resolve to do:
1. I will not give up on people.
2. I will create an atmosphere of openness and vulnerability in our groups. It is only when group leaders, and group members, are open and honest about their struggles, that the more reluctant folks will feel the freedom to open up their lives, and the struggles they are facing.
3. I will apply the Gospel to my life every day. I need to preach to myself, reminding myself that I am a sinner saved by grace, that Christ died to free me from my sin, and that Satan wants to destroy the Gospel in my life.
4. I will develop Gospel questions to put into group leaders hands that help them have intentional, Gospel-focused discussions that are laid back enough that everybody feels comfortable asking even the most “simple” questions (though these tend to turn out to be some of the most profound questions).
5. I will pray for all of my group leaders, that they will shepherd their group in a way that honors God and holds high the banner of the Gospel.
Are your groups structured so that basic Gospel questions and concerns can be brought to the table? Or are you so laid back that the Gospel is never discussed? Or are you so “holy” that you jump to “deeper” questions (as if there is anything more life-changing and “deeper” than the Gospel!) Are you group leaders ready and willing to ask these questions?
Do you or your group leaders make the mistake of assuming that, just because a person is attending your church and frequents your small groups, he or she is saved? How are you giving your group members the freedom to explore faith?
How are you living out the Gospel today?
wow…great insight for small groups. I think so often, we get in the mindset that we have to adapt the current system or try some new thing, or hold a rally for some program when in reality, we need to kill the program. Unfortunately, programs and a tradition that has been in a church can be held on the infallible and holy level. What we need to hold high, as you so perfectly put it, is the Gospel! Lets be champions of making much of the Gospel and Scripture and not our programs. If it doesn’t work, KILL IT! I think that you clarified that a balance in programs and not becoming pragmatic when you said that we must make small groups about discipleship and the Gospel.
Great post Ben! Thanks for the help with thinking through small groups. You are a great resource for other pastors and small group leaders as to what small groups are and should be.
awesome!! thanks!
my hubby & I are part of a church plant starting up soon here in North carolina…. and we are the ‘directors of connections’ / small group/ discipleship/mentoring. You & Jared Wilson & Ricky Cook are actually the 3 I had wanted to get in touch with to pick your brain and ask questions — but your blogs have done it for me! 
Thanks for sharing! I want so deeply to be all about the gospel, discipleship, mentorship, serving the community around us. 
take care
Thanks for the post – this really had me thinking many things… here are a few:
(1) “What is the Gospel?” As a teacher of mine once said, “Words do not have meanings, people have meanings for words.” I bet if you asked 10 people what it means for them to live out the Gospel you would get an array of answers. When it comes down to living out the Gospel it means different things to different people – based on their religious upbringing/experience, life experience, talents etc. It is important to note that the core truth of the Gospel remains – we just live it out differently. The unique creations we are allow us to live it out in our own unique way. So how am I living out the Gospel? I’d like to think I am using everything God’s given me but I know I fall short. To die daily to myself and take up the cross daily is a challenge but that is part of the process in my growth and striving to live out the Gospel.
(2)”Why are we not making disciples more quickly at Grace?” I like your first reason the best – it is our responsibility to share the message of Christ but that seed falls on different types of soil. Sometimes the seed will take right away and sometimes it will need constant care and still not take. Sometimes another farmer may succeed where we were unable. It would be great to see it happen quickly but sometimes I think that if it happens slowly the plant may grow with a stronger foundation…
(3) Thanks for the reminder! (Group leaders need to be reminded that they are the shepherd leaders of their group, and as such, should concern themselves greatly with the eternal state of the souls in their group)
Just some thoughts…
Great thoughts, Matt. Thanks for the kind words. So, what are you doing in your group to make sure the Gospel is consistently before your flock, and that they have the opportunity to live it out in the way that God has uniquely created them?