Small Groups, Do They Work?

I've been working and praying through our discipleship plan for Ridgepoint and have been wrestling through small groups. Do they work as they are intended to work? I've been looking at typical small group models and talking with people that attend a small group currently.

Questions I've asked: Why? Why go to a small group? Does your small group have community? What are things you've done as a group?

With these questions I got the expected answers. To learn and fellowship with other believers. Yeah, we all have a good time. We usually have a time to catch up on the week, prayer and bible study.

Here is my question...is this a new testament model? They meet in homes in small groups, but are they really as Act 2 describes? Shouldn't there be more to them? Shouldn't they be on a different level?

I asked these questions, next: Can you say that you are are completely open and vulnerable with individuals in that group? Maybe not the whole group or the members of the opposite sex, but are you open? Has there been a crisis in your group that brought your group together or have you been in a group where the group fell apart in a crisis? Do you hang out with those members of your group on a regular basis? Go to them when you're in need? Do you seek out the members of the group during the week to just be yourself? Do you go out as families and enjoy life and ministry?

Answers looked a little different then the first round of questions: When I pushed the community aspect of their group I was surprised at the lack of true community. Looking at the models, I understand, but still kind of surprised. Vulnerable, not so much. Outside of the specific group time, groups really don't see each other. "Thinking about it, I would call them friends, but not close friends. We have a great time every Tuesday, but I wouldn't call _______ up and ask if he wanted to go golfing this weekend. We're bible study friends..." That gentleman's group has been together for over a year. Groups that have pushed through crisis. Seemed to be, at least in a small degree, do-life-together. Weekend trips, kids hang out together, etc. Vulnerability isn't something you find in most small groups. Don't get me wrong there are a lot of groups out there that really do model the new testament church, but they are they exception, not the norm. I don't believe that you can have a life transforming group environment without authenticity and we don't have true community without vulnerability.

As I journey through this I'll keep you updated, but those are my findings and thoughts. My next post will be some ideas Ridgepoint is moving forward with.

Love to hear your thoughts.