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AGCC CareGroups
A small group ministry won't ultimately be effective unless it exists to achieve biblical purposes. For lack of a biblical purpose and mandate, many small groups have floundered. Other groups have been seriously handicapped by the lack of good resources available.
We see small groups as a priority for every Christian and every church. Why? Because Scripture constantly underscores the centrality of relationships. J.I. Packer agrees, "WE should not think of our fellowship with other Christians as a spiritual luxury, an optional addition to the exercises of private devotions. Fellowship is one of the great words of the New Testament: it denotes something that is vital to a Christian's spiritual health, and central to the Church's true life…The church will flourish and Christians will be strong only when there is fellowship."
Genuine fellowship isn't practical in a crowd of 200 or 2000. That's why we feel strongly that involvement in small groups offer a context where Christians can develop intimate relationships, where they can "know and be known." We will not just "have" small groups, we do not merely "offer" small groups. Rather, we are built by small groups.
Theologian Wayne Grudem provides a fine, concise definition of this critical doctrine: "Sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives." That's the goal of the Christian life, isn't it? Increasing freedom from sin and increasing resemblance to Jesus. Small groups provide an ideal context for this to occur.
A group with an unbiblical purpose can do more harm than good. Groups which meet without the biblical purpose of pursuing character development have the tendency to reinforce, rather than confront, the sin and selfishness already present in us. None of us needs such reinforcement. Instead, we need to be provoked and challenged by others so we can change for God's Glory.
At Abundant Grace, we call our small groups "care groups." It's not a unique title, but it expresses a second primary purpose of small groups. Just as the first is to create a context where every member can pursue sanctification, the second is to create a context where every member can give and receive care. This principle comes straight out of Scripture (1 Corinthians 12:24-26).
Christians have always been characterized by their sacrificial love for each other. We are commanded to care for each other unselfishly, without favoritism.
It is important to point out that mutual care and close relationships are not dependent on the size of a church. Many assume it's impossible to form close relationships in a large church. They assume that in a small church, close relationship will automatically develop. Both assumptions are false. Relationships can flourish in a large church…and be absent in a small one.
The ability to forge strong, personal relationships does not depend on a church's size. Rather, it depends on the doctrinal understanding and practice of the people who make up the church. Relationships will flourish in any church, no matter what size, where they are stressed as a biblical necessity.
Another reason for small groups is fellowship. Many small groups use this word without understanding what it really means. As a result, they aren't experiencing one of the most vital things a group has to offer.
Fellowship means to participate together, or to communicate things we hold in common. The greatest common denominator between us as Christians is our relationship with God the Father, through God the Son, by God the Holy Spirit. This forms the content of true fellowship. Our relationship with God is the main topic of communication within our small groups as we participate together to fulfill his purpose in the local church. The depth of our personal relationship with God determines the degree of fellowship possible with each other. Thus in order to know true fellowship, one must maintain a passionate relationship with and experience of God.
God has given spiritual gifts to every Christian (1 Cor. 12:1-7). He fully expects us to use them. But in a church of any size at all, it's simply not feasible for every member to use these gifts on a Sunday morning. They can in a small group, though. In this smaller and more personal context, each one can serve according to the gifting of the Holy Spirit. This is the fourth and final reason why small groups exist. Some Christians define the Spirit's work in very narrow terms, causing a good bit of needless controversy. Pay close attention to this quote by Gordon Fee from his book God's Empowering Presence: "In Paul, power is not to be thought of merely in terms of the miraculous, the extraordinary…Paul understood the Spirit's power in the broadest possible way."
This is why we are committed to small groups. By his grace, together we are being changed into the image of Jesus Christ through progressive sanctification. Together we are experiencing mutual care, genuine fellowship, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. We no longer just see-we observe. We no longer simply attend-we participate. We no longer selfishly consume-instead we are carrying out God's purpose for our lives as we contribute to the building of the local church. |
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