Small Groups, Huge GrowthSample

Your Heritage Is Rich

Imagine if Paul, Peter, or another early Christian time-traveled into your church today. Peter might sit down in your weekend service and remember fondly the day he spoke to the multitudes. Maybe Paul would wander into your youth area and, despite scaring the kids, he’d be reminded of his letters to Timothy and the wisdom of pouring into the minds and spirits of young believers. Still another early Christian might taste a doughnut in your lobby and wonder if they’d entered heaven. But, where would they find what they considered to be “church” gatherings? We’re betting it would be in a small group like yours.

Andy Stanley, who leads one of America’s most successful churches, says it like this, “Life change happens in circles, not rows.”

From the beginning, the early Church was built around the idea of small gatherings of believers. The Apostle Paul mentioned several house churches in the Epistles he wrote. Luke, the author of the book of Acts, also mentioned the early Church met in homes.

Despite their small size, these house churches were powerful. Lives were being changed daily because of the impact these groups were having in their communities. People were healed, the Spirit was at work, and thousands were added to the faith daily.

Bill Hybels, who pastors another one of America’s largest churches, often says, “The local church is the hope of the world.” If that’s true, then small groups are the hope of the Church. They are how we become one with God and each other.

Craig Groeschel, pastor of Life.Church, calls LifeGroup leaders “the heroes of our mission.” Why? Because these groups are how God’s love and power become evident in our churches, to our neighbors, co-workers, families, and friends. Without healthy small groups, our churches become large, yet divided and powerless. Instead of evidencing Christ, they might leave a bad, religious taste in the world’s mouth.

Reflect: People spend uncounted hours and money researching their ancestry to connect with their heritage. Here’s a time saver: as a small group leader, your heritage is the early Church! How are you making Church history as a small group leader? How is your group contributing to the health and life of your church? Of your community?