Life is meant to be shared. We are made to be with people. We are wired for connectivity with others.
A small group fellowship should include the biblical characteristics of: unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting—all the “one-another” commands. You see, life is so much easier and meaningful with people in it. They support us, encourage us, and things that seem too hard by ourselves we can accomplish successfully with others by and on our side.
Small groups make it easier to fellowship. You can worship in a crowd, but intimate fellowship is easier in a small group. Church, the body of Christ, is really a collection of cells like the physical body. The life of the body of Christ, like your body, is contained in the small cells. “And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”
Small group fellowship is:
- Authentic — genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level. Sharing of hurts, feelings, failures, doubts, fears, weaknesses, asking for help and prayer: “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.” James 5:16
- Mutual — the art of giving and receiving, depending on each other: “The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part.” 1 Cor. 12:25
- Compassionate — entering in and sharing the pain of others; the need to be understood and the need to have your feelings validated: “as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Col. 3:12
- Merciful — a place of grace, where mistakes aren’t rubbed in but rubbed out: “judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:13
- Honest — care enough to lovingly speak the truth (do no harm!): “An honest answer is a sign of true friendship.” Prov. 24:26 TEV
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” Eph. 4:15
- Humble — self-importance, smugness and stubborn pride destroy fellowship. Pride builds walls; humility builds bridges. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Phil. 2:3-4
- Courteous — respecting our differences, being considerate of each other’s feelings, and being patient with others: “Each of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, ‘How can I help?’” Rom. 15:2 (MSG)
The Triangle Church has a number of small groups throughout the Triangle area meeting at different times during the week. Contact the church office for information on a group nearest you.