It All Began with a Small Group

When Was It Written
LifeGroups - small group Bible studies for adults are vitally important to the life of our faith family. This article simply points out the fact that when Jesus came to earth his priority was not to attract and train the masses. His priority was to disciple 12 men in a community of learning and living.  It was a small group.

Who Wrote It
Kevin Wood, Pastor


IT ALL BEGAN WITH A SMALL GROUP
Over 2,000 years ago God showed up on our planet in the person of Jesus Christ. For his first 30 years, Jesus spent his time in relative obscurity. But when he turned 30, Jesus began to implement the master plan for global transformation. And do you know what he did? Well, first let’s notice what he did NOT do. He didn’t plant a megachurch. He didn’t take off on a 40 cities in 40 nights crusade. He didn’t develop a marketing plan or a strategic kingdom expansion initiative. What did Jesus do? He put together a small group. He looked twelve men straight in the eye and he said, “You, follow me.” And for the next three years, those twelve men learned life lessons together while they walked in the dust of their rabbi, their personal LifeGroup leader. When Jesus wanted to change the world, he began with a LifeGroup.

Now the temptation for us today is to think that the strategy has changed. Today we have the advantage of massive church buildings that can seat hundreds, even thousands. Why would we need a small group when we can all just cram into our worship rooms and get it all done in an hour long worship service? Why not just make it easier on everyone? Let’s forget about meeting in small groups and just have one huge Jesus party every week.

The problem with that thought is this: that’s not what Jesus did. Plus, it isn’t what Jesus commanded. The Great Commission does not read, “Go therefore and hold massive weekly worship services that run one hour on the dot…” No, he simply said, “Make disciples.” The early church picked up on this. They followed his instructions and example. When we read Acts 2:42-47 we see the church meeting in each other’s homes to pray together, eat together, learn together, and grow together. It sounds just like a LifeGroup. As a matter of fact, meeting in people’s homes was the plan. For ancient Christians, home groups weren’t an option – home groups were the church.

So what does this 1st Century truth mean for us living in the 21st Century world? Well, if you’re missing out on a LifeGroup, you’re missing out on life. Plain and simple. If it is Jesus’ plan for us to do life with other people in community, if that experience stands at the heart of the Christian life, then there is only one thing we can do: get a LifeGroup. Do I want you to be here for worship as a faith family each Sunday? Yes. But I want you to be in a LifeGroup as well. Why? Because it is right where God wants you to be.

Get in a LifeGroup and Get into Life!

Kevin