It sounds simple, but since organized small groups hit the church scene they have gotten more and more complicated. Are they intense bible studies for the truly devoted? Are they support groups for the broken? Are they accountability groups for the addicted? Are they dinner clubs for the socially challenged? Are they outreach groups for the spiritual seeker? It seems that small groups, like politics have gotten bogged down in philosophies and people have chosen positions like they choose political parties.
Simple small groups is an attempt to clarify what makes a group healthy. The way I see it, there are three biblical patterns of a healthy group. The relational pattern [CONNECT] is about how group members relate to one another. The growth pattern [CHANGE] is about how group members help each other become more like Christ. The missional pattern [CULTIVATE] is about how a group impacts others for God. It’s not a matter of choosing one pattern over another, but rather coordinating all three in a way that results in a healthy, growing community.
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