Though a hermeneutically responsible scriptural case cannot be made specifically for the institute of small groups, the Bible does offer examples of the need for and benefits of small units of community.
In Exodus 18, Jethro approaches Moses and says, "What you are doing is not good . . . You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out" (Ex. 18:17–18). The principle here is applicable for pastors, church leaders, and members. When people do not have small units of connection and relationship, it wears everyone out: the pastors and leaders because they are constantly working to fulfill that need for connection, and the members because they are unable to be in the nurturing relationships that they need but cannot necessarily have with pastors or leaders. Similarly, small units of community allow people to "bear one another's burdens" (Gal. 6:2) in a way that simply is impossible in large group settings. Therefore, Scripture favors small settings for accomplishing genuine community.
Though Christians experience the need for authentic community, they often need nudging to acknowledge and live in the reality of that need.
The Shift in Society
In addition to scriptural favor toward small units, the institution of small groups addresses significant cultural needs. In Bowling Alone, sociologist Robert Putnam explains the shift in our culture away from community and toward "cocooning." Think about it. People used to bowl in leagues. They'd wear funny shirts, go in groups, and bowl together. Now, leagues are a fraction of what they used to be, and people bowl alone. Similarly, while we used to have front porches, now we have back decks. We have home theaters and home gyms. As a result of this societal shift, the nuclear family is nuclearized into small units, disconnected from others along the way. However, I believe a shift back toward interpersonal relationships is taking place.
Why This Shift in the Church?
Because small groups are meeting the needs of people to grow in faith by learning in a community with some purpose. We want and need to be connected—it is not good to be alone—so that we can grow and help one another.
Most of these needs can be best met in small groups, where people are able to mature in their faith as they respect, appreciate, listen to, and hear those in community alongside them. Though Christians experience the need for authentic community, they often need nudging to acknowledge and live in the reality of that need—not unlike many of us who understand our need for exercise, but require encouragement to participate and, thus, enjoy the benefits!
"However, the significance of small groups goes beyond the
benefits of personal life change and becomes crucial for the
transformational church."
In the church setting, small groups provide an opportunity to encourage people into life-changing community. However, the significance of small groups goes beyond the benefits of personal life change and becomes crucial for the transformational church. Five important facets of small groups demonstrate their transformative nature:
1. Connectible
Small groups connect people in relationships. According to William Hendricks in Exit Interviews, one common reason given by people who leave churches is a failure to connect in relationship. Small groups provide a comfortable environment for newcomers to connect.
2. Reproducible
In human growth, multiplication allows the cell to become multiple cells, which allows change and growth to occur. Similarly, for growth to occur in the church, people groups must continuously grow and multiply. Small groups are more easily multiplied than large groups.
"Ultimately, as small groups grow and multiply, so will the church."
3. Assimilative
Just as small groups connect newcomers to the church through relationships, small groups assimilate members to ministry through service. As people in small groups grow in relationship together, they will readily serve alongside others and integrate into ministry opportunities.
4. Transformative
Small groups allow individuals to experience faster and deeper personal transformation through authentic community. For non-Christian seekers, small groups provide a safe setting to ask questions in a community of people who also wrestle and struggle. Thus, when they do come to faith in Christ, they are more likely to experience authentic life-change having been in and remaining in community.
5. Transferable
Small groups can be excellent ways to start churches. As an essential element of the transformational church, church planting generally necessitates a core group of people who are sent out to reach a new area.
Small groups provide the transformational church with an opportunity to connect members in genuine relationships. Through interpersonal relationships, small group members will experience life-change as they fulfill their need for community in an individualistic society. Ultimately, as small groups grow and multiply, so will the church.
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