Small Groups Not Going Away
The Northern Light, Jan/Feb 2008

By Rev. Dan Gilbert, District President

Over 80 congregations in the Northern Illinois District have been identified as having small groups as part of their congregation’s ministry. In all, over 6,600 people are involved in these groups!

While it might be tempting to think of small groups as a recent fad, they have, in fact, been integral to the church from the beginning. There is a district-wide introduction to small groups coming up on Feb. 2 at Word of Life Lutheran Church in Naperville. Here are a few things to think about as you consider your congregation’s involvement with small groups.

Scripture in Support of Small Groups

Jesus promised to be among us, even when the group is small.

Matthew 18:20 – "For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them."

Jesus chose to work in a small group of 12 disciples.

Mark 3:13-14 – "Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. Then he selected twelve of them to be his regular companions, calling them apostles…"

The early Christian church modeled small group ministry as evidenced in any number of passages.

Acts 2:46-47 – Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bead in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 5:42 – Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Luther in Support of Small Groups

"… those who want to be Christians in earnest and who profess the Gospel with hand and mouth should sign their names and meet alone in a house somewhere …" vol. 53, p. 63-64.

By the way, it’s pretty interesting to read this whole section from this father of the Reformation, Martin Luther.

Walther in Support of Small Groups

When I entered the university I did not know the Ten Commandments by heart and could not recite the list of the books in the Bible. My knowledge of the Bible was pitiful, and I had not an inkling of faith.

However, I had an older brother, who had entered the university before me. Not long before my arrival he had joined a society of converted people. Upon my arrival he introduced me to this circle of Christian students.

I had no premonition of the fate I was approaching, but I had great respect for m brother, who invited me to come with him. At first, I was attracted merely by the friendly and kind manner in which these students treated me. I liked the manner of these students exceedingly well.

At first, then, it was not the Word of God that attracted me. But I began to like the company of these Christian students so much that I gladly attended even their prayer meetings – for they conducted such meetings.

Lo and behold! It was there that God began to work on my soul by means of His Word. In a short time I had really become a child of God, a believer, who trusted in His grace." The Proper Distinction of Law and Gospel by C.F.W. Walther, p. 141

C.F. W. Walther was the first president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and a great thinker and prolific writer on what the Synod believed.

NID in Support of Small Groups

The 2006 convention of the Northern Illinois District adopted Resolution 2-03A to "Encourage Congregations to Maintain / Institute Small Group Ministries."

While convention resolutions are surely not the "end all" it is significant that the delegates voted to affirm the importance of small group ministry.

And we remember that faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. This happens in many venues always with, as our Lutheran Confessions say, "The mutual conversation and consolation of the brothers and sisters" (SA III.4).

It's also imperative that small group Bible studies be under the care and supervision of a pastor, and that all material used be truly biblical and Lutheran.