Why Small Groups Are Important For Your Growth in Christ?

Jesus had twelve disciples, but I find it interesting that He only took a small group with Him to one of the biggest events in the Bible, The Transfiguration (Matthew 17).

The Transfiguration was a pivotal moment in the Bible where three disciples had the opportunity to get a glimpse of heavenly radiance and glory during Jesus’ appearance transformation. Peter, John, and James were all present during the Transfiguration.

I do not believe it was a coincidence Peter, John, and James were present at this monumental moment considering they had walked with Jesus the longest.

Although it was not said, the stories in the New Testament alluded to the three men being a part of Jesus’ “inner circle.” The Transfiguration and the events leading up to the event gives us a great bit of insight into the necessity of having an “inner circle” or better yet a small group.

First, small groups provide an environment for intimacy, meaning true friendship and closeness with those in the group. Peter, John, and James were the first of the disciples to drop everything and follow Jesus. The time they spent as a small group cultivated a deep level of trust and faith over time.

Often when reading the Bible, people tend to forget how human the people were in the stories. The disciples probably had an array of feelings and thoughts going through their heads. The beautiful part of the story is that as much as Jesus was their Savior, He was also a friend.

Jesus showed us true friendship and the great returns of walking with Him faithfully. Peter, John, and James had no idea what was in store for them. Their long time devotion to Jesus and the group led them to an unimaginable showcase of God’s glory.

Small groups bring a level of intimacy not just for people in the group, but God as well. It gives believers a greater revelation of the nature of God’s glory and it comes in the most unexpected ways.

Second, there is no better embodiment of the scripture, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20, NIV) than having a small group that centers around Christ.

There is something that is powerful about community and harmony. Jesus was actually explaining how to handle conflicts with other believers before this Scripture about gathering in His name.

Jesus knew that being a believer would involve a level of conflict (we’re human), and I believe he was stressing the importance of agreement especially in prayer. Matthew 18:19 states, “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”

It is no secret that being a believer in Christ involves trials and tribulations. It can often being hard to overcome it ourselves. Jesus was saying that if you just get one or two more people to stand in agreement with you about request you want to submit to Him, it will be done by the Father in heaven.

The hardship of disunity was highlighted in Amos 3:3 (NLT) which stated, “Can two people walk together, without agreeing on the direction?” Now, apply that to prayer then apply it to every other part of life.

Small groups give you a place to share your prayer request, pray together in agreement, and watch God work miracles.

The third reason why small groups are important for your growth in Christ is discipleship and leadership training.

Jesus was preparing all the disciples to do some heavy work spreading the Gospel. Peter, John, and James were prominent leaders in the early Church.

God planned out every moment of their walk with Christ. There were significant lessons that each disciple needed to learn before the resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus allowed the disciples to mistakes and corrected them as needed. As a result, all the men were well prepared to do the work necessary to spread the Gospel and fulfill the Great Commission.

If growth is desired in Christ, being a part of a small group is instrumental in discipleship and leadership training. There are vital lessons that needed to be learned in a safe place before taking the Good News to those out in the world.

Just as Christ groomed the disciples in the Bible, He also preparing you to do mighty works on the account of His name.