Small Groups: a Key to Evangelism.
In a previous post about Small Groups I mentioned that they can (and should) be evangelistic in nature, as it is often easier to invite someone to a small group of friends that are gathering than it is to church on Sunday.
Dr. Paul Yonggi Cho author of Successful Home Cell Groups writes “The human body needs to renew and replenish itself constantly or it will die. That requirement is just as true for the Church, the body of Christ. Therefore, one of the needs of a dynamic and growing church life is evangelism. If a church is not involved in serious evangelism, it will either remain stagnant or it will begin to die.”
He came to recognise that each Home Cell Group (small group, life group, house church etc.) can become a nucleus of revival in it’s neighbourhood. Because the group is where real life is to be found.
Dave Mann in his book ‘Because We Care! A practical and motivational guide to evangelism in the new world‘ identifies that “we cannot rely on bringing people to a programme“, and I would add church service, ministry or event and hope that they may come to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Oftentimes I’d imagine that this is because we don’t even “do the ask” in these settings. Admittedly when we invite people into a relationships with Christ it may still happen in these contexts, but the methods that we are familiar with are becoming increasingly insufficient.
I believe that we need to embrace the challenge of evangelism in a different way to what we have been accustomed to and be a lot more intentional around holistic small groups and inviting people to a longer journey of faith, through both one‐on‐one relationships and through reigniting the evangelistic essence of small groups.
Dr. Paul writes; “When a home cell meeting is full of life, and when the people are happy and sharing their faith and witnessing to what the Lord has done in their lives, other people are drawn to them.”
Much like the early community of believers found in Acts 2:42-47, “they shared meals together with joyful hearts and tender humility. They were continually filled with praises to God.” (The Passion Translation)
But to attract the unbelievers within their neighbourhoods Dr. Paul goes on to unpack that those members within the groups needed to be intentional about inviting others to become a part of what they are enjoying.
The members of the group identified fully with the words of the Apostle Paul when he writes to the church of Corinth;
“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:14 (New Living Translation)
Someone needs to tell them about Him – Will it be You?
Dave Mann identifies that in our post-Christian culture today we need to recognise that “there are various layers of belief and scepticism that hinder people from considering faith in Jesus – let alone doubt, hurt and confusion” especially when it comes to Christians and the church.
So we need to acknowledge that “sometimes it takes a person many years to journey in their beliefs to a place of readiness to follow Christ. We need to persevere not only in our prayers, but also in our efforts” especially when it comes to intentionally inviting people join us on a journey of life let alone faith.
Many people will need time and conversations to think through ideas and assumptions that they hold to before they are able to fully understand the message, let alone accept it. And they’ll need to be intentionally invited to discuss / share them on multiple occasions as they may not want to the first or second time around. So, what better way to do this than in small groups?
As people journey with us unpacking some of the faith questions and issues they will become like family, our brothers and sisters, who we care about and want to support and encourage in life.
One way to impact our community is by “speaking encouraging words to one another. Building up hope so that we’ll all be together in this.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (The Message)
That can be served best by journeying alongside people and inviting them to groups that you are a part of.
You see, Small Groups are a key to Evangelism and life change can happen within Small Groups in our communities. Be that the one’s and/or two’s, or even in slightly larger groups. And one of the greatest needs in the church is to evangelise our local communities, be that within a village, town or city.
To do that we need to invite people into our sphere and be open about who we are and who God is, sharing what He has and is doing in our lives and how they too can come to experience that for themselves. When the time is right we can then invite them into the larger church.
When we come together to worship and praise God in larger settings we need to celebrate what God is doing in our lives, the lives that He is influencing through us and the hearts and minds that are turning towards Him.
So in the first instance if you are not a part of a small group yourself – why not?
And if you are may you be used by Him to impact the hearts and minds of a neighbour, family member, friend or colleague and may you be intentional in reaching out to them just to build a kingdom focussed relationship.
Here are some resources that you may find helpful:
- Because We Care: Equipping Video Series available from the All Together NZ Website.
- I also created an 8 Week Life Group Study based around the book and video series here.
- Imagine the impact if every Christian had one person they prayed for and shared the gospel with – Who’s Your One?
Today I want to share aspects of a devotion that I’ve been working through on the 
When I look back at that journey there were a few things that needed to happen within the group to get the injured person to the other end of trek.
Pausing, looking back, and seeing just how far you’ve come can give you a boost to continue and not give up. But how often do we allow ourselves the time and space needed to reflect on the journey that we’ve been on? Let alone plotting a course or path for our next steps? 
Through it all God has and continues to be with us! 
Today’s word of encouragement comes from Joy Cowley’s book Psalms Down-Under.
You are the Way.
You are the life
Don’t Be Afraid!
John Roedel is a comic, husband and father of three boys based in Wyoming who began talking with “God” in 2015 on Facebook about his ongoing faith crisis.
Over the past couple of weeks we’ve been looking at the 
You know sometimes I find it extremely hard to ‘be still’! Even on those days when my mental fortitude is ebbing, my body aches and the energy it takes just to get out of bed is tough to muster. It is hard to be still.
For the past few weeks as part of my daily devotionals I have been reading through the Psalms. Poetic songs and prayers that were written many many years ago sharing all sorts of feelings, thoughts, concerns & celebrations.
And yet my mind races on though my body remains relaxed.
The life and times of Perry... 