Myth # 2:
Small groups are important. They are important to the church that wants to live out the great commission and see people transformed. I hear a lot of people talk about how they are working on small groups in their church or how they want to get groups in their church and some other program out. The key phrase to focus on here is 'some other program'. As people passionate about having something that really works in our church, we have to think bigger than designing sexy programs.
I also hear a lot of people toss around the phrase, "A church of small groups, not a church with small groups." There is a missing element here. All this talk is about small groups and they're just one part of the Community Value.
I know most people aren't like me, but I tend to get myopic about things. One of these "things" has been small groups. I have gotten so focused on small groups that I have missed what God is doing with the value of Community as a whole. Consider the other forms of community in our churches. For instance one-on-one mentoring relationships, informal gatherings, celebrations, social events, breakfasts, lunches and dinners…etc…etc. Community shows up in a lot of forms in our churches.
I believe churches need to broaden their view of community. Small groups are vital to the growth of community in a church. They're also easy to measure. Are we measuring other forms of people living out the value of community in our church?
The Truth? Small Groups aren't the only form of community in our church we need to have our eye on.
**These comments are from my personal learnings and not directed at any person or church's group strategy**
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