A matter of logistics?

Just a thought regarding churches and small groups.

For the record, I am neither pro- nor anti-house churches. I think they do so many things well that the institutional church currently is not, but I do see, from my humble perspective, many good things about the American church as it is currently organized. Often larger churches can function more efficiently financially, have better resources, and connect needs to provision more easily. And I really think it would be a waste for Britt Merrick to teach only 25 people every Sunday. And of course, it is much easier to ensure that orthodox doctrine is being preached under the prevailing system.

But at the same time, there is so much in our consumerist Christianity to hate (by the way, “consumeristic” is not a word. “ist-ic” is redundant). Mission in America is dying. Discipleship, accountability, corporate prayer, caring for other Christians, caring for non-Christians- these are all integral pieces of the Church that are falling apart here. We can see it happening around us.

The institutional church’s response: Home groups. Awesome. Except it’s so difficult to get people to go, even when pastors repeat again and again how “essential” they are. But I don’t blame the congregation for not getting the message when… it’s not really essential for being a part of the “church”. It still appears to be more of a bonus to going on Sunday. And I know some local churches have as many as 50 people in a home group! That’s simply not an ideal setting for fellowship. Again, not essential.

This almost sounds too cute, but what if the answer is somewhere between the “home group” and the “cell church”? What if we maintained much of our current church structure, but moved small groups (fellowship) to Sunday mornings? Sunday- the Christian day of rest- can return to where it began: A group of followers meeting together to worship, pray, and share communion together without all of the work and hurriedness of a typical Sunday service. But corporate teaching and worship can be maintained on Tuesday night. Or Wednesday night. Or either.

I think what matters is getting to a place where it is the fellowship groups who make up the “church”, not the “church” broken down into fellowship groups.

Seven good reasons why it’s so important that we figure out how to get Christians to meet in smaller groups.