by Jim Heuving
About a year ago I came across a brand new idea about helping people find and form new small groups. It was based upon a social media tool called "Meetup." Well, it didn't go very far. This week I pulled down the posters and will discontinue the "Meetup" website. As social media websites go, Meetup remains one of the better things going but to make a go of it you need to go to it regularly--which I failed to do. That said, I hope you can grieve (some might chuckle) with me as I put my little experiment to rest.
Nevertheless, we should make room for small groups to happen. I am in the process of rethinking small groups and how we can create a culture that spontaneously starts small groups when attendees hospitably reach out and ask, "Are you in a small group? I'm not. Would you like to start one?"
Here are some of my growing convictions about small groups. You can comment below with your own opinions. I wouldn't mind hearing.
1. SG's are one of the optimal places for spiritual transformation. It is where trusted friends encounter Christ together.
2. Not everyone should be in a SG. There are seasons when SG activity in your life does not fit. There are other times when you won't survive without a group.
3. SG's should have a life of their own. They don't need to be controlled by a centralized program director. Perhaps if you are new to the Christian faith being part of a scheduled and facilitated group is important but for those who are mature in the faith (one year plus), small group formation should be as normal as setting a table for dinner.
4. SG's need to focus on only a few things--friendship, worship, study and mission. Different groups have different mixes but when all is said and done--we grow through fellowship, we grow through orienting our self to Christ and being encountered by Christ, we grow through study and we grow by doing something.
5. SG's don't need as much oversight as all the books tell you. My experience is that SG's rather not have supervision. Pastor's are really useful when things get a bit chaotic or when a group is struggling to make things work.
6. Every SG has a life span or should have. I like to imagine SG's like a river. If it is flowing with new life it remains fresh and full of fish. If it doesn't flow it is a swamp and it begins to smell-no new people). Some groups last a long time by having a natural life cycle of members as new people come and old people go. Other groups last just a short span of time with the same people starting and the same people ending. There are all kinds of variations but the point is...a healthy small group is very aware whether it is fresh or smelly.
7. SG's are best led by many. If you are new to the faith a strong leader led group is very worthwhile, but as groups mature and people's gifts emerge the result is a group that is owned not by the leader themselves but by the people who are members. In other words, "It is not John's group it is our group!"
What do you think?