Gathered Together For A Mission

Many churches approach small group ministry as the way to keep the people connected to each other so that they won't leave the church. The philosophy is that if we gather the people together and teach them enough about the Bible, they will become disciples and stay in church, our church. So relationships are built up and knowledge among the believers are increased, but some how thing is missing....

The missing element is what I call the "missional effect." Discipleship requires three important elements. First is relationship. Jesus calls each of his disciples to follow him, to enter into a relationship with Him. Second, is knowledge. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is teaching his disciples through sermons and parables. And the third element is mission. When Jesus called Simon and Andrew, it was so that they will become fisher of men. (Mark 1:7). There was no hiding of this fact.

Unfortunately, as a church, we sometimes forget about this fact. We build up disciples that are full of knowledge but have no experience or opportunity to do anything with their knowledge. However, when we are on Christ's mission together, we have fellowship that can't be explained. When we are on Christ's mission together, the things we've learned from his Word become more meaningful. When we are on Christ's mission together, our actions make a difference.

Therefore if we truly desire life-transforming small groups, we must include mission into very core of the existence of small groups. It is a non-negotiable. It is not something we do if we like it or its convenient. No, we do it because it is the only way to grow, to be transformed, and to participate in Christ' mission.