The Responsibility of small groups in the Church

Throughout the lifespan of nearly every individual there is the desired objective of finding a group of people that they can relate to and interact with. We see these instances all around the world in various schools, churches, work institutions and many other places. People are drawn to each other and in some cases forced together so that contact and interactions are inevitable. Preparation for group participation is a key part of life that we all must face and that many can grow from. The interactions and lessons that are shared amongst group members can create lasting relationships that people will hold onto for the rest of their lives and cherish. Small groups in churches can also have a key impact in shaping and impacting people in their lives and these interactions are heavily stressed. However, some people see initial socialization into a group as unessential and not particularly important. However, as interactions with small groups are becoming more and more prevalent in our day and age, how important is it to understand how these groups can affect and shape the lives of individuals in society?

Throughout our lives and in my life in particular, there are several groups that are essential to learning and applying skills and lessons with others and two of the most prominent of these are small groups that can be found in the church and school settings. Many children and young adults are brought up in some kind of church setting which involves youth programs that puts them together with their peers. For myself personally, my dad is the pastor of the church that I grew up in and in a way this affected the way that I interacted with those in my youth group and Sunday school classes. For every person there are various expectations and standards that we can and do hold ourselves to and it was the same for me in this instance. In some instances there would be those who would expect and want the best from me and on other occasions there were groups of people that accepted me for the person that I was and a friend. I think this concept is an important one to consider in the arena of small groups because everyone brings their own unique personality and story to the table. In the church setting we are called to accept and love every person despite their faults and sins but that is not always the case. So in places like youth and adult programs that we see in church where this unconditional love does not make itself evident how much of an impact does this have on a person looking for people to turn too?

The purpose of small groups in the church is to allow people to know one another intimately within the church and encourage and develop spiritual growth. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 shows us that we need to encourage one another and build each other up that is a calling card of church groups. Believers use small groups as an important part of transforming attitudes, values, and personality of those within the group by being involved in social interaction. Therefore, those who come to the church setting seeking these values and that find them lacking might just being to believe that the whole idea of social interaction is to be ignored. The arena of school is a perfect example of this rejection that people can face on a daily basis. I attended a public school during my high school years and have come face to face with misunderstanding and rejection in a group setting on numerous occasions. I myself cannot stress how hard this was to deal with at times because at that age all that I desired was to feel a part of a group of people that would have my back and respect me. Part of this was because of my background of being a part of the church and the fellowship I knew could be had there. The vast majority of the people I interacted with in church seemed to have the radiant joy of Christ in them especially in the way they treated others. But going into a public school setting that can be rough and demanding for a youthful believer in many ways can certainly have an effect on someone and teach them lessons that are unhealthy.

The same can be said on the flip side of the spectrum as well for a person who has grown up in the public school setting but then begins to experience the small group of a church. Personal growth and unity that can be developed within a youth group can become very appealing and I myself have seen many people come back for more because it is something that makes them feel wanted and loved. While kids and young adults may face rejection and scorn on a weekly basis from their peers in school, it seems that the place they come to escape can be a youth program or church service. That is why the opportunity to have an impact at such a young age can be vital in shaping and sending someone in the way they should go especially if they have no one else to guide them in that way. But for those church programs that have a negative impact on youth or adults the consequences can be severe and heartbreaking for that particular person. That is why I think it is crucial to confront and confess the issues and problems that youth programs may have and face them head on. If small groups are as important as suggested by some people, then the church itself should be prepared to make a substantial commitment to its development of these groups. While there are those in the church who make think these groups are just a time waster or passing fad, I would argue that they are essential to withhold and improve. Scripture itself seems to reinforce and uphold the importance of groups and the impact they can have as Proverbs 27:17 shows that iron sharpens iron, and people together sharpen and grow each other. Another great scriptural example is Ephesians 4:15–16 which explains that we are to grow up and meet together like Christ who represents the whole body and when each part is working properly it builds itself up in love and it’s a great structure to hold too when dealing with groups.

So for many people being put in a small group of people to learn or work together towards a common goal becomes an essential part of experiencing social unity. Having a negative experience can affect the way they handle such interactions in the future and shape the way they view communicating with others. When someone’s personality is rejected by a group of people the mindset that they will be shunned by everyone they come in contact with begins to creep in and makes it that much harder for others that care to get them out of their shell. That is why we as the believers in the church are tasked with such an important charge to love and cherish others and one of the best ways we can do this is in youth and adult groups within the church. Galatians 6:2 is a great reminder of this as we are called to bear one another’s burdens and by doing so fulfill the command that Christ has given us. Knowledge and enthusiasm are two key components in making such headway and impacting others for without them the cause can easily be lost or forgotten. In an arena where personality and truth can collide it is amazing to see how people can grow closer in a relationship regardless of different beliefs and culture. People see that there is much to be gained from entering and interacting with a group of people, especially if that group is one that is devoted to the betterment of all its members. Those groups that do not seek to unite and work together are the ones that will eventually self-destruct and turn on one another as the world has shown time and time again. Only the unity that Christ offers through His love will be the thing that will one day bring the world together and unite humanity for the greater good. The sooner that we can bring people into that understanding the more they will get out of life itself and begin impacting others in a positive way.