Jonathan, who grew up in the shadow of his family's powerful small group, and who has run a small group of his own more recently, asks a provocative question: Are small groups bad for the Christians who are in them and their children?
By and large our kids had no interest whatever in being part of the small group we were in. Possibly this was due to not wanting to be in the long shadow of the parents. However, they were typically friends with at least some of the people in it.
As for the parents--the small groups I've run across have tended to focus on study and analysis. This is good for those without much background who need to learn some basics, but perhaps it turns us into perpetual college students. Study is just one of the disciplines.
In an increasingly disaffected society where people are separated, not only by the traditional factor of actual geographical distance, but also by architecture, distraction, noise and screen addiction, small groups can offer an opportunity for real people to encounter real people.
Let's not underestimate the power of sitting with someone every week or two for a year. Our effect on each other is cumulative.
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The definitive answer is "it depends."
By and large our kids had no interest whatever in being part of the small group we were in. Possibly this was due to not wanting to be in the long shadow of the parents. However, they were typically friends with at least some of the people in it.
As for the parents--the small groups I've run across have tended to focus on study and analysis. This is good for those without much background who need to learn some basics, but perhaps it turns us into perpetual college students. Study is just one of the disciplines.
In an increasingly disaffected society where people are separated, not only by the traditional factor of actual geographical distance, but also by architecture, distraction, noise and screen addiction, small groups can offer an opportunity for real people to encounter real people.
Let's not underestimate the power of sitting with someone every week or two for a year. Our effect on each other is cumulative.
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