Ineffective small groups …

Over the years we’ve seen a shift away from Sunday School and toward small groups studying the Bible together in homes. Personally I love home groups. Not only are they an opportunity to study together, but also a chance for more intimate fellowship than is available on a Sunday morning “at church.”

However, we’ve also seen a shift from mature Christians teaching in small groups to “group facilitators,” where someone doesn’t necessarily teach, but “facilitates” discussion among the group. This can be interesting in a group of more mature Christians. And I do think the facilitation process can have its benefits, but I think there are some inherent weaknesses we see fairly consistently in home groups that tend to result in ineffective Bible study groups.

The first issue is that many groups have become “feelings” based rather than effective in building a person’s knowledge and understanding of scripture and developing disciples. What I mean by that is, have you noticed that often the pattern you see in Bible studies today is that a Bible passage is read, or a question is posed about a passage, and then those participating in the study are asked, “What do you feel about what we just read?” Such questioning has turned study groups more into “feelings” groups, with everyone sharing their “feelings” regardless of how biblically inaccurate those feelings may be. The leader or facilitator then often finds themselves in a predicament of having to steer people back to sound biblical teaching.

When we study scripture, the issue is NOT how we feel about what we read! While that at times may have some importance, God did not give us the Bible to render our opinions about. We have scripture to have a revelation of God to us, so that we can understand Him, learn of Him, and serve Him.

Our “feelings” do not matter a single iota if they go against the Word of God … what matters is what God says!

Instead of asking what we “feel,” leaders or facilitators would better serve group participants by asking questions like, “What’s your understanding of what God is saying to us in that passage?” and “How can we apply to our lives what God is saying to us in the passage we just read?”

“Feelings”-oriented groups lead to the next issue, which is that while they may even be rather theological in nature, they often tend to be theoretical. They may study a passage upside down, sideways, and every which way you can, glean everything you possibly can theoretically, feel good about the experience and then go home … completely leaving out personal application. I am all for deep, sound study of scripture. Personally, I’m a proponent of seeing people mature to scholarly study of God’s Word, but not everyone is a scholar. But all of us are called to apply God’s Word to our lives. We have to get beyond just the theological discussions and theoretical possibilities, to practical application.

Which is the next point: the study of God’s Word needs to have direct application in our lives to have its effect. Whether it is changing our thinking, cleaning up our words, dealing with desires, or directly impacting our actions, the Word of God is a key tool to mold and shape us into the image of His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. While study can be scholarly, it should always bring us to response … how do we respond to the Word of God? How do we take what we have studied and actualize it as a real part of our own lives?

Another reason why some groups are anemic regarding the outcome of their studies is because they lack prayer. The Holy Spirit of God has the job of illuminating scripture to us, of helping us to understand God’s Word. So we should seek the guiding of the Holy Spirit to guide us each time we delve into the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 2:9-11 says, “9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.”

Finally, let me bring up one more point why too many small group Bible studies are ineffective: they miss focused, directed purpose.

As I said previously, I enjoy the fellowship that small group settings provide. But small groups have a greater purpose than fellowship. They are the key opportunity to build mature disciples. It’s not about fellowship alone, or making friends. It’s not about “feelings.” It’s not about theological exercises or theoretical rhetoric. It’s about learning what God has to say to us, learning how to apply God’s Word to our lives directly and personally, and then supporting one another in doing just that … the living out, as God’s local family in this place, His Word that is actualized in our own lives.

If all we’re doing each week is gathering together and enjoying each other’s company and having great biblical discussion, but not gaining biblical understanding, and then directly applying it to our lives so that we are growing into the mature Christians God wants us to be, then we are missing the primary purpose of our gathering together. Sadly, in too many groups, we continue to return, week after week, and year after year, very much the same person who first showed up.

Too many small groups have become too much like the “water cooler” groups at work … you hear about the same thing in the small groups as you would on a break around the water cooler at work. Too often when we come together as God’s children, we talk about problems and what’s wrong, or politics, or every other thing. And we spend very little time sharing with each other about the exciting opportunity we had last week to share about Jesus Christ with a co-worker … “… and could you please join me in praying for John, and that God would continue to provide me with opportunity to be a witness to him …” We don’t discuss our personal ministries, and what is going on in God’s shaping of our lives nearly as much as we do the weather, politics, and our children.

However, when you look at dynamic churches that are making dramatic impacts for the kingdom of God, you will see dynamic small groups that study, apply, pray, grow, and serve together. Oh … and occasionally they will talk about their feelings! But that is far from what is on their minds and hearts.

What’s going on in your small group? Are you seeing people maturing in Christ, growing in the Word of God and actualizing it into their lives? Are you seeing people stepping out in service?

Look closely at the early church as described in the book of Acts. Do you really think they spent much time talking about half of the things so common among our small groups today? How were these early home groups different from the one you’re a part of? See any things about them that perhaps your group would be wise to adopt?

Let’s look closely at our small groups. If they are not producing maturing disciples of Jesus Christ, then it’s likely there’s something that needs to change in that group. Let’s re-fcous on our purpose and let’s see people grow up in Jesus Christ and impact the world around them for His sake.

Scotty