Circles

How would you characterize your church?  Is it your priority to get people to gather in rows or in circles?  With all the restrictions and lockdowns mandated by the government in response to the COVID realities, you might say that your priority is to get people to gather in rows.   You desire that people come to public worship on Sundays, sit in pews, participate in worship, and listen to sermons preached.  And such gatherings are important.   In my most recent article I wrote about the reasons behind public gatherings of worship, and how such gatherings can influence people's lives for the better.   One way Sunday gatherings can influence people for the better is to move people from coming together in rows and move them to gather in circles.

We have been looking at the eight quality characteristics of healthy churches identified by NCD (Natural Church Development).¹   In this article I want to look at the quality characteristic of 'holistic small groups'.  From the research done by NCD, if you want your church to be healthy, then you need to have thriving holistic small groups.   Small groups is all about moving people from rows into circles, from meeting in sanctuaries to meeting together in homes and other smaller settings, from the larger to the smaller, from a focus to what is happening up front to creating community with those around you.

You might wonder, what is meant by 'holistic small groups'?  You might be part of a small group that studies the Bible.  It is great to be part of such a group, but if you only study the Bible, that group is not a holistic small group.   You might be part of a small group of people who serve in a ministry in the church, on a worship team, on a welcoming team, on the audio-visual team, that as essential these team ministries might be, these teams are not necessarily holistic small groups.   The size of your church might fall into the category of a small group, but when you gather in rows for Sunday worship, this is not the same as a holistic small group.   So then, what is a 'holistic small group'?

You need to remember that with each of the quality characteristics of a healthy church identified by NCD, the key operative word is not the noun but the adjective.   The key operative word in 'holistic small groups' is 'holistic'.   There are lots of small groups that meet together, but healthy churches ensure that these small group are and remain holistic.  Fundamentally 'holistic small groups' is all about doing life together.   

Think of the things you ought to do when you gather in circles, in small groups, to really do the Christian life together.   How many parts might there be?   Holistic has to do with the 'whole' and not just one or more of the parts.   When it comes to the things we as Christians ought to be doing together, it can broken down into five parts.   (1)  It is about CONNECTING with God's family through FELLOWSHIP.   You share your personal stories with each other, have a sense of belonging, and build trust.  (2)  It is about GROWING to be like Christ through DISCIPLESHIP.   You study one or more core passages from the Bible.  You focus on how those truths from God's Word will make a difference in your life.   (3)  It is about SERVING others through MINISTRY.   You take practical steps to develop who God made you to be in order to serve him and others better.   (4)  It is about SHARING your faith with others through EVANGELISM.   You reach out to others who don't know Jesus, and invite them to become part of God's family.   And, (5) it is about SURRENDERING your life to God through WORSHIP.   You spend time in prayer, singing, listening to or reading psalms, hymns, and other spiritual songs.  You surrender all that you are and are going through to God in mutual prayer for one another. 

Holistic small groups are small groups that do all five things that are part of the normal Christian life.  We see this modelled so clearly in Acts 2:42-47 where we read that the early church "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching" (v. 42; DISCIPLESHIP), and to the "FELLOWSHIP".  "They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts." (vv. 42, 46).  "All the believers were together and had everything in common ... they gave to anyone as he had need." (vv. 44-45; MINISTRY)  "...praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people." (v. 47; WORSHIP)   "And the Lord added to their number daily those who being saved." (v. 47; EVANGELISM)   If you read through the rest of the New Testament, you find these five aspects of the Christian life lived out in and through the church.  

Do you desire to move your church into increased health?   Then move your people out of rows into circles where they can live out the holistic Christian life with one another in small groups.   It is great to gather in rows, but real spiritual growth will only happen when you move people from rows to circles.  

 ¹ Check out the previous articles on: empowering leadership, gift-based ministry, passionate spirituality, effective structures, and inspiring worship services.