Comments on: So Much For Big Church And Friends

By: Kacie

Kacie — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:16:17 +0000

My church requires two forms of involvement for someone to be a member. One is to be in a small group, and the second is to be in some form of service. Some people don’t like this, but in a church of four to five thousand, it’s an attempt to prevent the church from just revolving around teh Sunday show and never being discipled and growing within the church.

Personally, I LOVE the small group thing but I do struggle with what Anne jackson mentioned above – the times when it feels contrived. I am an introvert I and need TIME to feel like there is real intimacy… but you do have to start somewhere! Is big church necessary? Well, not if your small groups involves teaching and the sacraments – then you’re a church! However, I think small groups are a great way for the church to attempt to connect their memebers in a way that it’s difficult for large churches to do.

By: Three views of worship

Three views of worship — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:12:16 +0000

[...] of the questions I’ve been asking internally (and externally) lately is “What is the point of [...]

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:26:08 +0000

I am a traditional Southern Baptist who still likes the term “Sunday School” over “community group”. I think corporate worship or “big church” (which is what I have called it my whole life) is important for that reason – preaching and worship. It is also important as a CHURCH to evangalize and to meet the needs of the community. There are so many things that a CHURCH as a whole can do that “small groups” can’t.
But a small group is the place you can get plugged in at church and get to know other members on an individual basis – not just a surface “shake your hands at the greeting” level. They are your friends, the ones who bring you meals when you are sick or have a baby, the ones who pray for you and help you move.
Personally – I think both are important and I would have the thought of ever losing either one.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:41:48 +0000

If we go to the Bible to get our example, I believe the apostles did both. For example, look at Acts 5:42. It says “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”
The Temple Courts – big church.
House to house – house church or small group.

I don’t think we can really disregard either.
Both have their place.

By: Lindsay @ Not2Us

Lindsay @ Not2Us — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:02:27 +0000

I need a Facebook “Like” option for this response.

By: Lindsay @ Not2Us

Lindsay @ Not2Us — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:58:09 +0000

How are house churches that gather regularly as a large group different from large corporate churches who gather regulalry as smaller, more intimate groups?

By: holly Panter

holly Panter — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:56:18 +0000

going back to Acts – we need both, right?
Jesus example was about 12 people and I’m thinkin’ He’s ok to copy?
If you need a church sponsored one because you don’t have one, so be it, use their guidance!
If you have a group of Christ-centered friends that hold you accountable, challenge you, refresh you and pray for you, then why on earth would you need to ‘label’ it a small group?
you need both, no matter how you go about it.
(provided you live in a country where this is even possible)

By: Cindi

Cindi — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:40:28 +0000

I go to bible study group meetings twice a week in other peoples homes because I love the interaction, the questions I can get answered and the fellowship. I go to church on Sunday because I NEED to hear my pastor preach. He has been blessed with a gift – he has the knowledge of the Bible – and I need to hear it!
Both are vital to me.

By: Stretch Mark Mama

Stretch Mark Mama — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:17:14 +0000

My beef with big church AND small groups is when they start to serve only themselves–when the Sunday morning gig is little more than a show and the small group times are ingrown-eyeball navel-gazing get-togethers. I mean, someday I’ll tell you what I really think, but that will do for now.

I did some training last week for the small groups in our church (a plant), and my big message was that the leaders and members have to PLAN to think outwardly. Otherwise entropy will result and the group will quickly focus inward again.

By: Mamasboy

Mamasboy — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:00:51 +0000

We live in a very individualistic culture, where our own opinion on what the Bible says is often considered the most important.

Small groups help to tame the ignorant/odd interpretations of Scripture that individuals have.

Larger churches help to tame the ignorant/odd interpretations of Scripture that small groups have.

Regional denominations help to tame the ignorant/odd interpretations of Scripture that individual churches have.

Worldwide denominations help to tame the cultural hangups that regional denominations have.

A deep appreciation for church history helps to tame the cultural/Scriptural interpretation hangups that people in a given epoch have. This last one is what Chesterton referred to as the “democracy of the dead” which helps us all to “refuse to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about.”