n e w c h u r c h l i f e : m ay / j u n e 2 0 1 4
Most families
simply cannot
provide the kind of
support and social
connection that
families used to,
and many people
have difficulty
putting down roots
in a community
where they can stay
for a long time.
Consequently there
is a greater need
than previously
for the Church to
provide support
for community and
connection through
small groups.
True Christianity 731)
Other examples are seven women who
met in rose gardens (Married Love 293-4),
three couples who shared one home (Ibid.
208), and a school for young men where they
broke up into small groups to discuss matters
of wisdom. (Ibid. 326)
This heavenly structure is also reflected
in Jethro’s advice to Moses, that he not try
to do everything himself, but divide the
congregation into larger and smaller groups:
And Moses chose able men out of all Israel,
and made them heads over the people: rulers of
thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and
rulers of tens. (Exodus 18:25)
In cities today, there has been decreasing
dependence on families. A few generations
ago most people lived with their extended
families, but today most people are more
mobile, families have fewer or no children,
many couples divorce, and people frequently
move to take jobs. Most families simply
cannot provide the kind of support and social
connection that families used to, and many
people have difficulty putting down roots in
a community where they can stay for a long
time. Consequently there is a greater need
than previously for the Church to provide
support for community and connection
through small groups.
The combination of larger and smaller
groups is an effective way of teaching and leading people. Imagine a school in
which all classes were taught by lectures to the whole student body, instead of
breaking the school up into classes of 15 or 25 students. Individual discussion,
questions or participation would be practically impossible. Even teaching
a class of 15 students, I find it is often helpful to divide into groups of 3-5
students.
Most schools have many small classrooms, yet still find it useful to gather
the whole school for certain events, such as performances or celebrations. It
is the same with a congregation. Celebrations and worship services can bring
the whole congregation together, while smaller groups provide for better
260