new church life: jan uary/february 2016
In a large worship service a pastor seeks to meet the needs of everyone in
the congregation as much as possible, but it is hard to accommodate to specific
people when speaking to the whole congregation. Some people are welleducated in church teachings, while others are not. Some are going through
difficult times. Some are distracted with worldly interests. Some are stuck with
misunderstandings and false beliefs. Some are just lonely. Some are eager to do
something to help others.
The Ancient Church distinguished the neighbor to whom kindness was to be done
into many separate groups. Some they called the poor, some the wretched and
afflicted, some the bound and in prison, some the blind and the lame, and others
strangers, orphans, and widows. The church performed different works of goodwill,
whichever were appropriate to the character each group possessed. The teachings
of that church showed them what those works were, for that church had no other
teachings than these. (Secrets of Heaven 4844.3)
A pastor can try to include a little bit for each of these groups of people, and
a small group can focus in on the specific need that a person has. One group
might focus on sharing and building community, while another group wants
to dig deeply into the Lord’s teachings. Another group might prefer the path
of spiritual growth and repentance, or perhaps reaching out to those outside
the community. By having a variety of small groups there can be a variety of
ways that people can love and be loved, understand and be understood, serve
and be served.
The Place of Small Groups
I am very interested in promoting small groups in the church because I see
people who really need what small groups can offer. Like the person who
comes to church and leaves immediately afterward because it is painful to
stand in a corner and wonder how to break the ice. Or the person who has
come to church for three years but still doesn’t understand the basic teachings,
never having been in a comfortable situation for asking questions. Or the
person who is having trouble with parenting and needs to connect with other
parents who can help them parent in a spiritual way. Or the person who wants
to cooperate with others in the work of the church and doesn’t know how or
whom to serve.
There are important elements of the church that we can receive by
reading, reflecting and praying at home alone, and important things that we
can receive from a large group, such as heightened sense of identity, belonging
and celebration. And there are things we can especially get from a small group,
such as a meaningful discussion, support in our spiritual trials, close friendship
and opportunities to help meet others’ specific needs in specific ways.
Small groups are not a cure for the ills of society or the church. Starting
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