The Purpose of Small Groups is to . . .

“EQUIP” and “ENCOURAGE” one another in accordance with the ministry objectives of Nor'wood Bible Church. The primary elements, therefore, are practical biblical instruction, fellowship, and prayer through loving, interdependent relationships.

As the Small Group Ministry matures and God permits, outreach activities are anticipated and new leaders will be identified and mentored for spawning new small groups.

As they begin, small groups will move through two stages.
 

The Developing Stage (typically first 6 months)

Practical, Biblical Instruction: Learning Scripture and applying it to everyday circumstances so members increasingly think and act “biblically” in all of life. This activity primarily involves the systematic exploration and explanation of God’s truth in the context of teaching and open discussion. A group may study a book in the Bible or a book that unpacks and supports biblical principles. Each group should be cautious about books that emphasize man-centered themes. Just because they are popular doesn’t mean they are biblical. Each group should be careful about using instructional video lessons. Most of these lessons last about one hour and leave little time for group interaction. Some guidelines for teaching and open discussion are:

• Sharing passages that speak to the situation; i.e. minimize opinions and maximize truth (Cf. Exodus 18:13-23—What Moses was doing was good, but it needed to be delegated to others; Hebrews 4:12)
• Teaching and admonishing one another without displacing our Wonderful Counselor and Paraclete
• Encouraging obedience to the clear teaching of God's Word (James 1:22-25)
• Respectfully disagreeing with others and/or requesting one-on-one discussions for further clarification

Fellowship: Sharing how God is uniquely moving in us as we experience His progress in our personal lives, our church, and our world. Useful guidelines for Fellowship are:

• Attending small group meetings regularly (Hebrews 10:24-25)
• Reflecting carefully upon God’s activity in ourselves and others so we come prepared to minister our spiritual gifts as we serve one another and speak to one another in love (Romans 12:3-8, 14:19; 1 Corinthians 12, 13, & 14; 1 Peter 4:10-11)
• Sympathizing with others, learning to be an active listener, bearing with one another, and helping one another shoulder the burdens of difficult times (Proverbs 10:19; 17:27; Galatians 6:2)

Prayer/Praise: Expressing our gratitude and needs to God in the company of other group members. This activity entails bringing our requests to God with thanksgiving as we anxiously await His response (Daniel 9:17-19; Philippians 4:6; James 1:5-6). Guidelines for Prayer/Praise include:

• Being honest and transparent with group members without compromising our personal intimacy or confidentiality with God, spouse, or others
• Seeking God’s answers with a biblical expectancy (Mark 11:24; Luke 11:9-10; John 16:23)

Loving, Interdependent Relationships: Commitment to practicing the “one another” principles found in Scripture (e.g. John 13:34-35; Romans 12:10; 14:13; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:2, 32; 5:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; James 4:11; 1 Peter 1:22; 5:5; 1 John 1:7). In the spirit of NBC's “every-member ministry,” additional guidelines for building relationships with group members include:

• Growing in love for other members by meeting individual/group needs where possible (Galatians 6:10; 1 Peter 1:22)
• Sustaining a healthy, biblical dependence upon others yet taking responsibility for our personal growth
• Extending grace to all by allowing every member the necessary space to grow; i.e. no unbiblical demands or ideals imposed upon other members (James 2:13)

 

The Maturing Stage (typically after 6 months)

The Maturing Stage is built upon the core elements of the Developing Stage. A group in the Maturing Stage will typically experience a sequence of six phases that will cultivate spiritual and relational depth that culminates in the fulfillment of NBC's ministry objectives as stated above. A small group in the Maturing Stage will encounter:

1. Change in Overall Dynamics: Intimacy is enriched, authentic worship is realized, and accountability is increased.
2. Level of Commitment: Members experience the personal value of their small group so that dedication grows accordingly.
3. Sense of Ownership: Not only are others’ needs identified, but members actively and spontaneously meet those needs.
4. Ministry in Outreach: Taking the form of servant-evangelism or servant-discipleship, the will and the skill of the group work to meet the needs of those outside the group and/or the church.
5. Potential for Growth: Leaders are identified and mentored for establishing new small groups (populated by a few existing group members and those not yet involved).
6. Scope of Impact: As members socialize their small group experiences within NBC, awareness and demand for more small groups will increase resulting in the Small Group Ministry celebrating the fulfillment of NBC's ministry objectives.