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We’re talking about how churches can transform members into disciples, and yesterday we mentioned the analogy by Ron Bennett about golf clubs. It takes a variety of clubs to get the ball in the hole. The driver (compare the Sunday morning large gathering) is only one. Then we have the long irons (mid-sized groups such as Sunday School classes), short irons (small groups), and the putter (one-to-one). 

Today, let’s talk about small groups. Most churches have some kind of small group program available with varying degrees of success, both in getting folks to participate and in what happens when they do.

A content-rich definition of effective small groups was shared with me years ago by one of my Navigator mentors, the late Dick Miller.

We believe in small groups in which people can grow into Christ-likeness and spiritual maturity through time and exposure to the Word of God and the people of God in a grace-filled environment of accountability, transparency, and vulnerability.

I said it was content-rich! According to Dick, growth in Christ-likeness and spiritual maturity (can we say “discipleship”?) occurs through:

• Exposure to God’s Word
• Exposure to God’s people
• Environments of grace featuring
  • Accountability: allowing you to check on me
  • Transparency: revealing my issues
  • Vulnerability: allowing you to speak into my issues

If Dick is right, groups that are purely social, as important as they are, will be less effective. In addition, groups that are primarily knowledge-based Bible study with no personal application and without transparent, vulnerable interaction will be less effective, also.

In short, small groups don’t make disciples any more than any other program. Small groups is a method, and an important method, to be sure. But people make disciples, and the right kind of small group can help. I have a list of disciple-making tools here. (Scroll down…)

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3.13, NIV)

Knowledge puffs up while love builds up. (1 Corinthians 8.1, NIV)