Deep Dive into Growth Groups: How to Lead Disciple-Making Small Groups by Colin Marshall - Pitfalls for Growth Groups

The focus of Christian small group ministry has fundamentally shifted from seeking God and growing in Christ (the vertical axis) to seeking Christian friends and developing human relationships (the horizontal axis). This drift is exposed by the emphasis on buzz words like community and experience, and it introduces several dangers that threaten the core of the gospel and established church structures.

When community becomes the primary goal, human relationships, characterized by intimacy and vulnerability, are prized at the expense of knowing God and the salvation of Christ. This misplaced focus leads to groups becoming highly problem-centered and introverted, directing energy toward members' needs rather than the distinctly Christian element of pursuing growth in the knowledge of God and obedience to him. Because their activities are often irrelevant to faith, these groups risk losing their distinctiveness and becoming indistinguishable from secular support clubs.

Prioritizing experience is dangerous because it encourages members to determine God’s character and will from the group’s emotional climate, potentially leading to the creation of a "small group god" that is welcoming but lacks the challenging characteristics of the true God revealed in scripture. This reliance on subjective feeling moves faith from Christian revelation to mysticism and risks placing faith in the quality of the group experience, not in Jesus’ mediation. The absolute assurance of God’s favor rests solely on clinging to the cross of Christ.

These misplaced priorities can result in three negative implications, known as the "Anti's of Small Groups": Anti-preaching (where the sermon is seen as inferior to group discussion), Anti-the minister (where the laity compete with trained pastors), and Anti-the church (where the small group is prized above the total congregational life, leading to isolated, unaccountable groups). Ultimately, true Christian ministry must view the small group as a means to the end of vertical gospel growth, using horizontal intimacy to spur members toward godliness.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

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