Holistic small groups

       The idea of a growing church is appealing and gives us at the same time a great desire to be thought of as a successful church, yet may also create the thought, “Why isn’t my church growing?”

     Experts have surveyed many thousands of church and have found 8 common characteristics of healthy growing churches. One of the characteristics of a healthy growing church is that it has holistic small groups.

     Note the qualifying word, ‘holistic’. Simply having small groups does not determine the health of the church. The groups need to have a holistic quality.

     Two definitions attend this word. A holistic small group is one where Christians within the group learn to serve each other. More than that, they serve each other with their spiritual gifts.

     An extension to this is the intentional design of the group to develop people from within the group as the future leaders of the group. People are equipped and nurtured as they go.

     This extends to a holistic small group as a place where people learn how to live the Christian life by observing other Christians living their own lives in a Christ-like way.

    It may be that you wonder if your church has got a holistic small group.

    There may be a Sabbath School class where the leader is intentionally trying to nurture a new leader for the future and where that class learns about being Christians because they are able to share each others burdens and sets out to serve each other in need.

    It may be that your church has a women’s ministry team who are being trained to serve each other and where a young person is being looked to as a future leader.

   This is, of course, perfectly Biblical. How did Jesus expect to pass on His message? He chose a small team of people, trained them to perform tasks and also equipped them with the skills to become the leaders of the church for the future.

   In short, Jesus gave away His ministry so that other small groups might develop.

   Ellen White follows the theme as she encourages the church to look upon itself as an organism designed for activity and growth.

     “The strength of an army is measured largely by the efficiency of the men in the ranks. A wise general instructs his officers to train every soldier for active service. He seeks to develop the highest efficiency possible on the part of all. If he were to depend upon his officers alone, he could never expect to conduct a successful campaign. He counts on loyal, untiring service from every man in his army. The responsibility rests largely upon the men in the ranks.

     And so it is in the army of Prince Emmanuel. Our General, who has never lost a battle, expects willing service from every one who has enlisted under his banner. In the closing controversy now waging between the forces for good and the hosts of evil, he expects all, laymen as well as ministers, to take part. All who have enlisted as soldiers of his, are to render faithful service as minutemen, with a keen sense of the responsibility resting upon them individually.

     Those who have the spiritual oversight of the church should devise ways and means by which an opportunity may be given to every member of the church to act some part in God’s work. This has not always been done in the past.”

         Atlantic Union Gleaner, November 4, 1908

   Newark Seventh-day Adventist Church needs to develop holistic small groups. We have our first small group that meets on a Monday evening. We could do with going a little further.