Life in a small group community can be a
fun, challenging, growing, difficult, and learning experience. These words provide
a glimpse into the reason we keep showing up to our friend’s house on Sunday evenings,
week-after-week, month-after-month, and possibly year-after-year. We desire to
do life together with other believers.
Consistently gathering together with
others who are experiencing life at the same harried pace you are offers us
comfort, a moment to catch our breath and realize that we're not crazy, and a
place we can be known and accepted.
This is good! Yet the descriptive words
that I tossed out a moment ago may be clear indicators that your small group
experience is really, really good. Yet in the midst of something you and others
enjoy, there is the potential that your group could be missing the most
important aspect of community life—the gospel!
I’ve recently been reading through the
Book of Acts, and it’s caused me to wrestle with the question: What’s at the
heart of a small group? I’ve come to realize that most small groups fit into
one of two categories: either you’re in a gospel-centered community or you're
participating in a Christian social club.
I’m sure that may seem a bit harsh at
first, but the reality is that whenever believers gather together for a season
of time, we gravitate to one side of the fence or the other. We either drift
toward fun-loving fellowship or to gospel-centered intensity.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with
having a great group of Christ-following friends. However, hanging out with Christian
friends alone is not enough to produce consistent, fruit-bearing, spiritual
growth.
Here’s what I mean:
- Your group is either seeking God’s truth together in the Bible, or it’s not.
- Your group is either seeking to allow the person of Jesus to be at the center of your meeting, or it’s not.
- Your group is either engaging with the work of Jesus on the cross to transform your hearts and minds, or it’s not
- Your group is either inviting the Holy Spirit to work in your lives, or it’s not.
This is not some legalistic plea to make
your group more religious. Instead it is submitting everything you are,
everything you do, and everything you face—to the feet of Jesus.
A gospel-centered small group community
is centered on what the name might suggest; the intentional practice of placing
the gospel at the center of every small group gathering. It really is about
Jesus in your friendships, in your decision making, in your parenting, in the
stewardship of your talents and treasures, in your pursuit of biblical truth—in
everything! Jesus and His transforming work are brought to bear on all of
life—the good, the bad, even the seemingly indifferent.
Does this describe your typical small
group meeting? Or do chips and salsa, fantasy football teams, and creative
ideas from Pinterest take precedent? Is the gospel of Jesus Christ the reason
you meet? Is it what fuels the week ahead? Or are social interaction, casual
conversation, and friendship at the true heart of your small group?
Lest you think this some anti-friendship,
anti-laughter, or anti-fun post, rather it is a challenge to consider what is truly at the center of your small
group?
Ultimately, we all desire and need genuine
friendships and fun-loving interaction—but we need the gospel more!
