How to Be an Encouraging Member of a Small Group

Many small groups are meeting for the first time this week, so it would be good to discuss some expectations and the expected etiquette of small groups leaders and the rest of the members of the group. Remember, small groups are a place where we can serve one another, just as with anything else that happens in the church.

Communication. Many groups use Viber or other chats for communication. When a leader posts an announcement or asks a question, please do not be lazy and answer it. A timely answer makes planning and preparation a lot easier. If you for some reason cannot be at a group meeting, please contact your leader for the purpose of accountability and to keep up a connection with him. This can allow for him to pray for you and can simplify his planning.

Carefulness. It’s not a secret that many groups gather in the home. We are truly grateful to God that He gives many the opportunity to serve others through this; God knows the sacrifice and He will fulfill all your needs. However, we ought to mention a few things. If you come to group with your kids (which we do encourage), please give them detailed instructions on how they need to behave with food (eat in the specified locations), how they can help clean up the toys, how it’s necessary to ask for permission before grabbing or playing with something, etc. These small details help the hosting family to continue their ministry with joy.

Time. We hear that sometimes brothers and sisters lose track of time during their fellowship and do not realize that it’s time to go home, and the hosting family does not feel comfortable to invite people to “take a picture next to the garage.” Be diligent to be at group on time. If you are often late, then reconsider your schedule. Yes, there are respectable reasons for tardiness, but more often than not, it is simply a lack of planning. Your tardiness to group robs your fellow group members of fellowship.

Food. Many groups eat together, and this is a good thing. This is similar to the early apostolic church and we do encourage you to continue to treat each other. However, there are people who truly cannot afford to buy food sometimes and bring it to group, but the majority are capable and should see this as part of their ministry to others. If the sisters at the end of the group can help the hosting sister to clean up the kitchen, you will once again encourage and serve the ones who serve.

Fellowship. Yes, small groups are meant to have fellowship, prayer, and mutual edification. But oftentimes there are people among us who, either consciously or not, become a dominating voice with a microphone. Some of us want to speak so badly and well of ourselves that we don’t allow others to participate in the discussion and share their observations or worries. Be tactical.

Preparation. The atmosphere of the discussions and the success of the meeting often depend on how much each member of the group did their homework. Sometimes this is the reading of some material, but even more often it is the personal application of the Sunday sermon. Here we must also remind you to pray for people in the group, for the group meeting itself, and the leader and helper. The most important preparation is your humility. There are too many people who look at the group meeting as a time to sharpen their theological positions instead of as a time for mutual edification toward spiritual growth and transformation into the image of Christ. Prepare yourself to search for ways to apply the truths, not to debate, or even worse, to argue. Come with a heart ready and willing to change. Now for this you need to prepare.

Love. “Let love be genuine” (Rom 12:9). The small group is an opportunity to show love to one another in practice. Everything above can be carried out as a fulfillment of the law, or having been filled with love toward your neighbor, you can put their interests above your own and in this way bring glory to God. This is that attitude that brings much blessing and joy from time spent together!

• Thursday (6:30 PM) Grace Kids Bible School staff meeting, in the cafeteria
• Thursday (7:00 PM) Bible Study (Proverbs) and prayer, in the main sanctuary
• Saturday (9:00 AM) – Women’s prayer breakfast
• Sunday services:
  • Worship Service in Russian at 9:00 AM
  • Worship Service in English at 11:15 AM