Life Groups, Cell Groups, Small Groups, House Church….There are many names for them. Recently, I have been asked several times “are we doing church right?” “Is this the way the first century church did it?” These are great questions, but unfortunately many think too hard or too religiously on answering them. The danger of returning to the structure of the first century church is that many do so with a plan or outline. The number one thing to remember while desiring to return to the structure of the church that Jesus intended, is to not return in thought or mind, but in heart. The reason the church is where it is today is not only because we have drifted, but because many are attempting to restore spiritual power with physical strength!
In order to return to the church that Jesus intended it to be is to not do so through physical strength. The way the church operated immediately after Pentecost was with Power. The way many churches operate today is with words. Little by little there have been signs of a hunger within God’s people to return to something real! We see this with the ever-increasing movement of Life Groups, Small Groups, or Cell Groups. The desire to meet in homes of other believers and to experience fellowship as a family has been growing more and more. There are still several problems with the way these groups operate, but many are starving and thirsting for more of these groups than they are a church service; why is that?
As I have written several times the structure and operation of a church service as well as the church universal is widely different from churches around the world, as well as the church of Jesus’ day. People are flocking to such groups because there is a desire to be apart of a family. The two-hour event on sunday mornings is not cutting it. The openness, realness and truth from these groups is what pushes people toward faith and trust not only in God but in bond with other believers. It is important, these groups, because it gives people the opportunity to not go “by the rules” so to say. Like I said above, these groups are not perfect, in fact many operate just like a church service, which kind of beats the purpose of a Life Group. But those that operate differently find members enjoying it and opening up a lot more.
Let’s take a look at what a small group looks like and compare it to a regular church service:
Small Group:
Everyone plays a part
Open Discussion
Listen to the prayers and needs of members
Help, encourage and uplift one another
In-depth study of God’s word
Church service:
Only preacher and worship team have a part
Listen quietly to the preacher
Pray corporately and out by noon
Greet one another with smiling faces, but nothing more
10-point outline of God’s word
And the list goes on…….
As you can tell there is more of a fellowship, discussion, prayer, connection, and understanding on a small group level. But as the church meets on sunday’s it is more of a broadway show to entertain the members than it is to connect with them and understand what they are going through. This is dangerous because many who are claiming to know God, and hear from Him are walking right by those who are screaming and crying out for someone to listen. In order for the church to operate with God’s power DAILY, more than just for a 30 minute prayer service or a two-hour worship service, in order for the church to KNOW God, we must not be blinded nor hindered by the failing structure and tactics of a church organization. A recent study, as I saw on the news, indicates that many are leaving churches and the newer generation is desiring never to attend church. Why is that? Because the church offers no life, no hope, no meaning.
This is not a ministry sermon to pump you up to start a ministry to reach the lost, heal the sick, or begin something new. Rather it is a call of reflection, people are flocking to life groups today because they offer more of sincerity than churches.
Why is it important to return to the church the way Jesus intended it? Because by doing so we are able to step into the promises, power and relationship that he prepared for us from the beginning!
