group thinking
As thrilling as my Labor Day activities are (a long nap on the couch and vacuuming up wallpaper scraps from a weekend extravaganza of DIY), I keep thinking about a Facebook conversation last week. On Friday, I realized it had been several years since I’d participated in a small group and I didn’t miss it at all. I posted this thought on Facebook and Twitter to see if others agreed or if I was a spiritual leper, and got a mixture of responses.
One insightfully pointed out that introverts like me don’t feel the need for this kind of enforced togetherness as much as more extroverted temperaments do, but it’s still important.
Another agreed that if you have a healthy support system of friends and read the Bible on your own, a group’s not necessary.
Others said perhaps we should focus on what we bring to a group rather than what we get from it; one lamented this perspective as the churchy argument of small group gurus, another kindly defended it.
I’ve written about this issue before; when I joined a group in California a few years ago it struck me I already had a small group of close friends to “do life with” and wasn’t likely to build similar relationships with a gaggle of acquaintances over discussions of John Ortberg books and lukewarm soda.
I still feel that way, but last week’s FB conversation showed I am not just pragmatic, I’m selfish—because I don’t want to give up 2-4 hours a week to “be a blessing” in a group I get nothing from. I’m not interested in praying for your son’s friend’s mother’s job, or hearing you tell a group member every week that they need to “just trust God,” or listening as someone pontificates her opinions about the assigned chapter she didn’t read.
“The bottom line for me is that, as Christians, we are all part of the body of Christ,” wrote the small groups supporter on Facebook. “No matter how flawed we may be, we need to stick together and find some way to be connected with other Christians…it doesn’t have to be the same for everyone…it might be a small group, a Sunday school class, a service group, the list goes on…but we shouldn’t be out there all by ourselves, even if we think we are fine.”
I can’t argue with that, but I also refuse to spend another night of my life forcing artificial community with strangers. I think the solution is LTGs.
Neil Cole, author of Organic Church, Search and Rescue and Organic Leadership, has built a church planting movement around these Life Transformation Groups. Each group has just two or three members of the same gender, and each member reads lots of scripture (around 30 chapters each week), confesses his sins to the others, and prays with them for others who need Christ.
Like so many other things, this idea’s simplicity is its effectiveness. A focus on Scripture—not study guides or “Christian living” books—can challenge anyone from day-old believers to lifetime Christians. Very small groups force authenticity and provide accountability. Confession and prayer cut through Christian cliche and forge the “bonding” small group pastors long for.
It’s a back to basics approach that allows people of every spiritual maturity level to grow deeper, and to do it in community. It’s also the only type of group I’ll consider participating in. Now that I’ve alienated every publisher of small group material, I’ll go back to my Labor Day.
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Jennifer Taylor
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Jen, I love the LTG idea. Scary, but wonderful. My son-in-law is part of a group with this kind of transparency. And my group of seven women has come close to this over time, but not fully. We have used just the Bible for our studies (as you know), reading through the Word each year in one fashion or another, and I think that close encounter with Scripture each week is a big part of what has helped us develop openness toward each other. We’ve seen some definite life transformation too. But I can see how with just two or three others the impact would be much greater. So, one of us should move and start a group together!
I would love to be in a group with you! I agree, and I think it’s the simple focus on Scripture and prayer that made our Bible-in-a-year group the only “small group” so far that I consider a really great experience.
Do you think church leaders are reticent to let people just dig into the Word? And if so, why?
There are probably some who feel that way, but my hunch is the majority would LOVE to see more of their flock devouring whole books of the Bible but don’t think people will do it–so they ease them in with Max Lucado or a bite-sized curriculum.
Perhaps they are underestimating their members, and many would rise to the challenge of an LTG (or whatever). Or perhaps they are right, and our churches are full of milk Christians who really aren’t ready for the meat. Perhaps both. I think it’s complicated.
I just keep wrestling with Ed Young Jr.’s response when Neil Cole told him about the commitment of the LTG members and how they read 30 chapters a week: “Thirty?? That’s incredible.”
It makes me sad that a gigachurch pastor (or any pastor of any size church) finds it “incredible” that people will spend roughly 20-30 minutes a day reading scripture. But notice he didn’t say “That’s risky” or “That’s brave”–he said it was amazing. Thus, my hunch.
What do you think?
(read the whole Young/Cole interview here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2008/fall/11.34.html)
Thanks for the article link!
I’m sure the answer IS complicated, as you say. But I think expectations are a big part of the answer. I’m quite sure that if I had not been offered the opportunity to read through the Bible in a year with our group, I wouldn’t have done it on my own.
For so long I thought the Bible was a book that had to be studied to be understood. Now I realize that study can increase understanding, and we should study the Bible too, but first, we should read it, a lot! And ordinary people CAN. That’s the thing.
Excellent thoughts, Jen. Much of what you wrote resonates w/ me and I passed them along to my elders and staff. I would like to be in a group such as you described and might start one. I’m also going to read the “organic” books.
Blessings!
I still think that a group of supportive christian friends is the key. It may not be as organized as a “small group”, but is just as effective. As you live life together, you naturally discuss what you are reading (Bible, christian books etc…), discuss your trials and pray for one another. No doubt each person is a blessing to the others in the circle if friendship. Perhaps some people need something organized and church promoted. Certainly there is nothing wrong with that. It may be a matter of learning styles or growth styles. There is no room to for anyone to feel guilty about where someone feels comfortable leading, growing or getting needs met. This has been a great discussion. Well done Jen!