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erry's mission trip to Africa was a life-changing event. He was not just awakened to a global world, experiencing a different culture and poverty first hand, but he also came face-to-face with God and himself.

Although Jerry was a regular church-goer, he had a conversion experience in Africa in which he recognized the need for a turn around that would produce changes in his life. In that small group on a new continent, Jerry's world view broadened. He began to sense God's power and possibility in new ways.

It wasn't that Jerry didn't have faith or that his faith wasn't meaningful; he just had more growing to do. Africa awakened him, but it was the small group he traveled with that triggered the thoughts about growing his faith and life.

People of faith have a variety of experiences but it is when they get smaller that they grow. That may seem to be a contradiction but it is one of the rich learnings in life – less is more, smaller is deeper, pruning produces growth.

Jesus told a parable about a gardener who pruned the vines and in the pruning process, more fruit grew. Jesus set an example of focusing on a few, the disciples, to create a world-changing movement.
Today, we are often about BIG – big TVs, big SUVs, big homes. But the largest churches are about small. Large churches have networks of small groups studying or serving together or providing support for people's pain and addictions.

These congregations understand that people grow as the church provides an atmosphere for their faith development through small groups. As people grow in these small groups, the congregation grows in maturity and size.

In small groups:
We bond – Growing disciples grow in their relationship with other believers. Bonding is the art of creating friendships or camaraderie that becomes the glue to hold people together. People find friends in churches, but without healthy small groups that are focused on maturing and developing believers, friendships turn into cliques that can actually work against the congregation's faith development and growth. Small groups, focused on maturing disciples, set a positive tone and create a culture focused on the good of the whole.

We support – As people bond, they develop greater care for one another. This care grows into support. Growth occurs when people are supported. In his mission group in Africa, Jerry found support to grow his faith. He also found support and encouragement to engage in service and to challenges at his workplace.

We trust – Trust is pivotal in the development of faith. As we develop greater trust in God and other believers we more readily take risks. Risk taking is the life blood of a maturing faith. As one steps out in faith, one grows in faith.

We ask questions – Recently, my daughter Becca engaged in two small groups. She began first with a small group Bible study at a Korean Church, which she was introduced to by a friend from work. In this group she gained new friends and began studying the Bible. This led her to questions, which, in turn, led her to begin meeting one-to-one with a Bible teacher. Last night as I was getting ready to go to bed, Becca was sitting at the kitchen table, Bible opened and writing on a note pad. She was studying 1 Kings. I continue to be amazed at how God is at work in the world. Becca now regularly asks questions about God, the Bible and life in the world.

We wrestle – Maturing faith occurs in the wrestling. It happened for Jacob, it happened for Moses, it happened for the woman at the well – when they wrestled with questions, they not only gained insight but they deepened their faith. Asking questions is a good first step; wrestling with the questions is a sign of maturity. So when Becca said she really didn't agree with something she read in the Bible, I knew it was the healthy doubt she needed to get her faith active, growing and pursuing the hard questions. Small groups provide the opportunity for wrestling with the Scriptures in our life.

We challenge – As people bond, support and trust, they engage in questions and wrestling, but until we are ready to be challenged or challenge our faith can get stuck. There are a lot of believers with a fourth-grade Sunday-school kind of faith because they do not want to be challenged or are not ready to challenge. Small groups offer safe spaces for challenging ideas and actions.

We pray – A healthy prayer life is essential for a growing faith. A good prayer life matures when we participate with others in prayer. I have seen prayer leaders developed through small groups.
We account – John Wesley wanted all of those in his Methodist societies to be in small groups, or "holiness clubs," as he described them, because it was a means of being accountable for daily living. Believers mature as they account for their life as parents, students, co-workers, servants, worshipers and followers of Jesus Christ.

All of these actions are instrumental for our growth and development as disciples. Notice that the first few are about developing relationships and connections. The Christian faith is built on developing relationships. Deep faith grows in community with other believers.

The second part of the list is where we grow deeper in our faith. It is where the hard work of growth comes in and requires great risk. It is where discipleship begins to flourish.
Be adventurous, grow smaller!

Love, learn, serve, reach

mall groups come in all different sizes and flavors.

At Willow Creek Church, in Chicago, where small groups are considered the lifeblood of the congregation, these groups are divided in five major types: community, serving, disciple-making, international ministries and seeker groups.

Each of these groups, if they are successful, share four common components. They are:

• Love – Love for God and each other makes these groups distinct.
• Learn – Learning to live as Christ as members learn about each other and themselves is an essential part of small groups.
• Serve – Expressing faith in one's action is a part of vibrant groups.
• Reach – Group members should live and meet together, reaching out to others for Christ.

Tips for effective small groups:

e clear about your intentions. Don't focus on more than two key topics each session.
• Be creative – very creative.
• Always start and end on time.
• Seek feedback from group members.
• Regularly assess if the group is being transformational, as well as relational, personal and applicable to daily life.
• Recognize the gifts of each member and put them to use.
• Establish group ground rules, including understandings about confidentiality.
• Covenant to pray for one another outside of the group.
• Don't let the curriculum drive the group. Allow the Holy Spirit to set the agenda.