Small Groups - Defined

“A Christian small group is a group of individuals who meet regularly for a common purpose. Small groups should be designed to help its members experience life change by providing biblical truth, accountability, and authentic relationships. Ideally, small groups meet in homes to help foster community and authentic relationships.”

Noah Mitchell

Three Key Ingredients for Small Groups

Truth
Accountability
Relationships

Biblical Truth Defined

- The Bible declares that God is true, truthful and truth (see 1 John 5:20; John 146; 17:3; Psalm 32:5; Romans 3:4) For God not to be the source of truth makes this study, and all other religious investigation, subjective at best. I firmly believe that God is true and what He has revealed to man is also true. The Bible contains God’s eternal truth for man.

Where Truth & Life Intersect, LIFE CHANGE happens.

Accountability Defined

- Accountability is “the quality or state of being accountable, liable or responsible.” For the believer there are vertical (God-ward) and horizontal (man-ward) dimensions to this element. Man is, first of all, accountable to God. Every man will stand before God, be he Christian (2 Corinthians 5:10), or non-Christian (Rev. 20:11-15). Therefore, every man is accountable to God for the conduct of his life. Believers are also accountable to one another. We are to submit to one another (Eph. 5:21) love one another (John 13:34-35), follow the direction of our church leaders (Hebrews 13:17), submit to the proper authorities (Titus 3:1) and so forth.

Relationships Defined

- Relationships are interpersonal contacts and dealings between individuals. Relationships occur at home, at work, at church, at school, at play and so forth. Man was never intended to be alone. Indeed, as the poet so rightly noted, “no man is an island.” The Scriptures also affirm the importance of man being rightly related to his fellow man. The Bible speaks of the proper attitudes and actions that characterize good relationships (note, for example, “love one another,” “serve one another,” “forgive one another,” etc…).