Are Growth Groups Essential?
It was 8:15 and we heard the door open and saw someone from our small group walk in. He was over an hour late! Why would he show up to small group? He sat down and said, “it’s been a rough day. I gave my wife divorce papers.” We all sat there shocked. We knew he and his wife were struggling but not to that level. We sat there and listened as he shared what was going on in his life. After he was done talking, we all prayed for him.
I have been wrestling with the question “are growth groups essential?” The church I was a member of said all people should be in a growth group because they are vital for the Christian life. I am going to ask you the same question. Are small groups essential for your life?
Growth groups are not essential for your Christian faith, but the elements of growth groups are essential. There is no verse in the Bible that commands you to be in a growth group. Instead, I will use wisdom principles to show you that you should be a in a growth group.
What is a growth group? I define it as a small subset of the local church living out the “one another” passages in the Bible through the application of God’s word, prayer, encouragement, and accountability.
These elements are vital for your Christian faith. I am fine if you say, “I don’t need to be in a growth group”, but I will ask you questions. How are you living out the “one another” passages in scripture? When you sin do you confess it to someone? How are you intentional about fellowship?
Growth groups become a rhythm and routine in your weekly schedule. You can’t go too long without someone asking yourself about your walk with Christ. It is hard to live out “one another” passages without creating space for them in our busy lives.
Corporate application of God’s word
Colossian 3:16 says, “let the word of Christ dwell in you, teaching and admonishing one another.” We are told to teach each other and learn from one another. We are also to warn each other of dangers. All this comes from the word of God. When talking through scripture, we can’t help but be convicted. Scripture reminds us of how far we have fallen and how much we need a Savior. Your growth group gives you an opportunity to move from what the passage of scripture says to how that text affects your day-to-day life.
Prayer
I love when people pray for me and ask me for personal prayer requests. James 5:15 tells us to confess to each other and pray for one another because the prayers of the righteous bring healing! We are a church that believes in the power of prayer and that God hears us. He knows and He sees what is going on in our lives. Now we can recruit others to pray for us. This doesn’t have to take place in small groups but it an easy outlet to spend time praying for one another.
Encouragement
Multiple times the scriptures tell us to encourage one another. Hebrews 3:13 tells us to encourage one another to protect us from the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 10:24-25 tell us to encourage one another to do good works. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 and 5:11 tells us to comfort each other with the promise that God is coming back for His people. We encourage each other with the promises of God! We are often downcast, but God’s people and God’s word can give us the energy we need to keep going.
Accountability
James 5:16 tells us to confess sins to one another and then pray for one another. Galatians 6:1 says that we should restore people with gentleness. We need people who will not let us get away with sin and will help to restore us. We need people whom we trust so we can confess our sins to them.
I saw the beauty of small groups that night when one of our members came in and said he filed for divorce. I saw real, honest, and raw emotion. I saw a man become vulnerable with other men. This isn’t stereotypical manhood, but I think it is biblical manhood. This concept of mutual ministry and vulnerability is not what society historically thinks of being a man. Being a man is being able to pick yourself up by the bootstraps and when life gets tough, you rub some dirt on it and keep going. The Bible paints manhood in a different lens. It is putting to death sin and growing in godliness. I am calling out men because we need to take leadership in this area. God calls us to lead our families and the church. The qualification for eldership is mostly a set of character qualities.
How many sins would be prevented if we would confess our sin to one another? How much embarrassment can be spared if we nip the sin in the bud before it grows out of control. Accountability is what God can use to keep us on the straight and narrow and weed the sin out of our lives.
Therefore, I think growth groups are essential because they create the rhythms and routine of living out the “one another” passages in the Bible which help us grow in godliness.