LESSON THREE

Healthy Churches Create Small Group Relationships

10 Common Qualities of Healthy Churches

Volume 1:1. Offer Consistent Bible Truth2. Offer Loving Fellowship3. Make Prayer the Priority 4. Trust God to Do Supernatural Things5. Maintain Unity

10 Common Qualities of Healthy Churches

Volume 2:1. Develop a Culture of Generosity2. Offer Excellent Large Group Worship3. Create Small Group Relationships4. Impact Their Community in Positive Ways5. Welcome New People into Their Church Family

Key Truth: Small groups provide the context for learning the Bible (discipleship) and loving one another.

“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere

hearts.” Acts 2:46

Exploring the Principle:

Small Group Basics

Small Group Basics

1. There must be a LEADER

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some

to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers…”

Ephesians 4:11

Small Group Basics

2. The members must be COMMITTED to the group.

 

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another

above yourselves.” Romans 12:10

Small Group Basics

3. The group must have a PURPOSE

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it:

‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two

commandments.’” Matthew 22:37-40

5 Purposes of a Small Group

1. RELATIONSHIPS: Know people by NAME

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his

love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:11-12

5 Purposes of a Small Group

2. INTERACTION: Study the BIBLE

“The Bereans were of more noble character…for they received the

message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to

see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17:11

In Large Groups = the Bible’s teachings

are PROCLAIMED

“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you,

whether by word of mouth or by letter.”

2 Thessalonians 2:15

In Small Groups = the Bible’s teachings

are APPLIED

“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you,

whether by word of mouth or by letter.”

2 Thessalonians 2:15

5 Purposes of a Small Group

3. FELLOWSHIP: Share FOOD and FUN together

“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere

hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Acts 2:46-47

5 Purposes of a Small Group

4. CARE: Receive SUPPORT in times of

CRISIS“It was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me

with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as

if I were Christ Jesus himself. Galatians 4:13-14

5 Purposes of a Small Group

5. MINISTRY: Minister to others’

NEEDS“Carry each other’s burdens, and in

this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2

Care through PRAYER

Care through SERVICE

The easiest way for a church body to GROW is to keep starting new

SMALL GROUPS