Small Group Community: A History

Small Group Community: A History

by Carrie Albert

In the 17th century, a man named Philipp Jakob Spener from Frankfort, Germany set out to start a new movement. A devout Lutheran, Spener noticed a lack of moral discipline among the people and he wanted to see Christians read the Scriptures and use their spiritual gifts to instruct others how to live. He set up small assemblies where individuals would meet after the Sunday Gathering to have spiritual discussions, pray, and encourage one another. These meetings became known by the Latin phrase Ecclesiola in ecclesia, which simply means “small church within the church.” This was the start of what is now known as small group ministry.  There were also some developments of these small groups happening in England: a man named Anthony Horneck, who was a reformed Anglican minister, gave a sermon where a group of young men were convicted of their sin. Horneck put these men into small groups and set up rules for them, so they could grow in holiness and find ways to fight sin together. 

Later, John Wesley saw a group of men from the Moravian Brethren community come together on a boat that was being hit with violent storms, yet they remained calm by singing hymns and praying together. This affected Wesley, who had never seen this kind of faith. The group was devoted to Christ and met in small groups for fellowship. He took their ideas and brought them into Methodism. Together, they worked and established a society later known as the Fetter Lane Society. They began to have more groups, some that even included women. Bruce Hindmarsh wrote, “It was this Wesleyan and Moravian dynamic of evangelical conversion that turned Fetter Lane into the nerve center of spiritual awakening across London and beyond in the late 1730s and the 1740s. As the fires of evangelical revival spread, the fervor of small-group religion branched out too.” These men knew that we were made to live in community. 

Those early small groups, of course, find their source in Jesus’s earthly ministry and mission. From the outset of his earthly ministry, Jesus chose a group of twelve ordinary men. He then lived among them, shared meals, taught them, and bonded with them emotionally, spiritually, and socially. Jeremy Linneman wrote, Jesus invited his people into every area of his life. Jesus is rarely found without his friends in the Gospels. They accompany him on ministry trips, and he brings them along to family gatherings, religious events, and holiday parties. He wasn’t always teaching, but he was always training. Jesus taught and ministered to thousands of people, but he mostly explained parables, answered questions, and engaged with smaller groups or individuals. Jesus sets an example of how we should live in community with one another, growing disciples and experiencing the work of the gospel in our lives.

Today we see small groups in pretty much all churches, no matter what they are called. All share a similar goal: to bring people together, share life, and grow in holiness. What makes these groups thrive? What makes them effective? 

One thing unique about these beginning groups is that they all had a purpose and they set rules for how they were to conduct themselves. They were intentional on how they met and what they discussed. This seems to be a key principle in order to see if what you are doing is bearing fruit. 

In an article about small groups, Marshall Segal states that “Your small group is destined to die a slow, complacent, even cordial death without direction.” He talks about setting a vision statement that coincides with the church’s mission, as well as looking at the dynamics of the group itself. He recommends setting priorities and objectives to make the most out of your group. Some of those could include prayer, worship, sanctification, disciple-making, and encouragement. It is always wise for leaders to get their goals from God’s Word, because if not people can easily just meet and come up with their own agendas. In order to apply this vision or goal one must know the group. This may take time to do in our current culture. Segal suggests to “… take some time to study your group… It will take wisdom, discernment, and love to apply what you’ve learned from Scripture to your unique situation with the unique people God’s put in your life. We should not assume that one approach to small group will serve everyone everywhere as effectively.” This may be a key factor on whether your group thrives or withers. 

Jesus had a mission, a purpose to everything he did. His example of meeting with his disciples, talking with them, knowing them, asking them questions to draw them out. Meeting one on one with them to discuss their personal temptations and leading them to trust Him more. Small groups should follow this example by having a purpose and rules in which to conduct the meeting, so that the members know what to expect and (by the grace of God!) experience the work of the Holy Spirit in each other’s lives.

Maturity in Christ is more than just coming to church, sitting with the whole congregation once a week. We don’t come to church merely to be inspired, entertained, or gain biblical knowledge; we also come to church to be together. In order to grow we need to be in close relationships with other believers. Sunday morning service is the main event where all God’s people hear God speak through the preaching of His Word, but small groups are where we see how our fellow brothers and sisters are living. Small groups can help us to apply the word of God in a personal, specific way. What happens within small groups often cannot happen at the Sunday gathering.  

Small groups are a way that Christians can live out the call to make disciples. To teach, admonish, and encourage their fellow believers to run with endurance the race that is set before them, pointing them to Jesus. From the beginning, God said it was not good for man to be alone; and so in his goodness, he made us part of a family to walk with us. Oh, what a blessing it is to have those people close to us, cheering us on so that we finish well! To God be the Glory, Amen.


Carrie Albert is a member of Living Hope Church. She and her husband, Miles, have four children.

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