Finding Healing Together
With Church Small Groups
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
How Do Small Groups Help?
Small groups are successful at connecting people to each other and God: like support groups for our pain, and clubs for our hobbies, but built with a focus on growing spiritually through those activities.
Church small groups aren't always small but can be flexible in size, length, meeting times, leadership, and activities.
How To Start
Find A Passionate Leader
Small groups work best when they have a leader who's passionate in what they do. You might have a staff liaison or pastor who identifies and equips leaders. This is often found in someone who is a long-time attendee and already expresses interest in leadership and community at your church.
Many larger groups, or ministries, have multiple leaders, co-leaders, and helpers to keep the conversation going.
Know What You're Passionate About
The foundation of every group and ministry is scripture and is made better when paired with research. Decide what your small group will be based on. It could be a hobby or an experience, just something others can relate to.
A great place to find already planned and written study guides is RightNowMedia.
Who Is This For?
Before you start a small group, you need to know who your group is for because that shapes how you talk about God and the Bible. You need to be aware of the world these people are coming from, that understanding really helps us build connections and create a welcoming space. More on that below.
Timing
Depending on your small group, its length can take a few weeks, months, a year, or even be continuous. If you're using RightNowMedia, they'll have a structure for time. What's most important is choosing a time to meet. You can never fit everyone's schedule, but having a consistent time every or every other week makes it easier for people who need to change their work hours.
The Numbers
It all depends on what your vision for your small group is. Generally, they're small because it's more personal. Some topics are great for larger groups, and I would recommend if it exceeds 20 people, subdivide into smaller groups for discussions.
Group Time
Group isn't just reading scripture relevant to the topic, but growing closer to others in Christ. It's inviting to start your time together with a group activity or in an open space where people are free to chill and chat for a bit. You might also share a meal and sing to worship before or after your group's teaching, discussing, and praying together.
How Can We Approach Scripture?
My friend, Dawn, head of groups and a pastor at my local Eagle Brook Church, has some advice for how we read the Bible together:
"We should read the Bible with patience, a humble and prayerful heart, and within its cultural context in order to best interpret and apply its message.
Main idea: Reading the Bible in its proper context and with a discerning, prayerful heart will enhance our ability to understand God’s unique message to us through His Word."
Some Vocabulary
Descriptive– Solely for the original audience.
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Prescriptive- Has a general principle you can apply.
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Context– Is any surrounding information that helps us understand a Bible passage.
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Hermeneutics- The science or process of interpreting Scripture.
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Exegesis- Then we draw out meaning from the Bible rather than inserting our own ideas, opinions, or thoughts on the Bible.
