Acts 2:42-47 (NLT)
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Perhaps nothing is more healthy within a church than cohesive and consistent small groups. The church in the book of Acts began as small groups meeting in people’s homes and became the foundation of our modern church.
Please don’t misunderstand here - this isn’t a clique, a group of people with like interest who deny others the opportunity to join them, excluding them for one reason or another. Think of small groups as the individual bricks of a building, with Jesus as the foundation. After the foundation is laid upon Jesus, the small group bricks are piled on and interlocked to form the church.
A small group isn’t only the frame of the modern day church but for the original church as well. A small group of twelve were commissioned for this task. Jesus ran around and instilled the vast majority of his teaching into a small band of followers. The small group setting allows for intimacy, trust, accountability, and time management. It provides a sort of backbone for all involved, so that when the individual pieces of the group reach out to others to form new small groups, they always have the stability of their home group to fall back on. Isn’t it ironic (or rather isn’t it a God-thing) that Refuge was also started by a dozen common people with an uncommon call?
Perhaps you find yourself in a small group. A few things to consider:
1. Ensure your small group is just that, a group who loves, prays, helps, and welcomes others. Not a clique, which is just the opposite, a brood of gossips with superiority complexes.
2. Is your small group living out the commission? Are you considered a “worthy” example of a Biblical small group?
