Strange things can happen to small groups when they step outside of our normal surroundings. Jesus and his small group had their first recorded gathering in Mark 1 and it was in a strange place. They met in one of the most public venues they could find: The Synagogue. Because of meeting in this public place, Jesus encountered an exciting ministry opportunity.
Jesus’ small group first met in this public place and it attracted attention. It’s doubtful that Jesus and his group would have found an exciting ministry opportunity if they were meeting in a home or in a back room of the Synagogue (Sunday school class). Yet because they met in plain view of the public, they encountered an opportunity to minister to an individual in great need. The result: Jesus’ reputation exploded.
What is your small group doing to have an exploding reputation in the community? Are you meeting safely inside a home or church building, insulated from the rest of the world? Or are you doing life together in public, so that evangelistic ministry opportunities can be seized? Does your small group look look like Jesus’ small group, or does it look like something different? I’m just asking.
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching–and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.~Mark 1:21-28 (NIV)
Alan,
Please leave me alone. I want to remain comfortable.
(j/k…thanks for the kick in the pants!)
Great post, Alan (and I love the reply by Ben!) I’ve been talking about this lately with my leadership team, and it’s going to be a goal for 2011 to begin moving our small groups out of their living rooms and into the community. They already do a good job of serving every so often together, but, as you state here and as Brian Jones has been saying, I believe the discipleship model should be more like that of Jesus and the disciples and less like our Americanized version … sitting around in circles doing Bible studies (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). What if a small group focused on making disciples as they go into their communites, and then, like Jesus and his group, debrief during or afterwards, taking advantage of the teachable moments to look at Scripture and learn together.
Would love to see more discussion on this!
You made me laugh Ben!!!
We’re on the same wavelength Mike! I’m actually writing a curriculum for Lifeway/Serendipity right now about Jesus the small group leader. It’s a study of the book of Mark. The working title is “Action Jesus” and it explores the fact that Jesus’ discipleship strategy was one of action, not merely talk.