How to Build Community in Your Small Group

Often, when a group is new people show up, do the study and watch the DVD or talk about a lesson. They bring their Bibles and make small talk. But, even though people are meeting and sharing this is not a real community.

One of the biggest challenges of leading a small group is getting people to feel comfortable being their authentic self.

In community, there is a sense of safety and vulnerability, where people show up and are their “real” selves. They also start to meet the real needs of their fellow group members and they do it for the right reasons, which is to honor and love God.

The best understanding of real community comes out of Romans 12:9-13

Love in Action

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Once we commit to Paul’s Idea in Romans we can practice being real and growing our small groups through the teachings in Acts 2: 42-47

The Fellowship of the Believers

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

 They were committed to the Word, committed to prayer, and committed to celebrating the Lord’s Supper and keeping Christ as their central focus. In the early church everyone had a great sense of unity and they shared many things in common. Basically, they did life together and supported each other in times of concern.

It doesn’t happen overnight. So now you’re wondering, “OK, I want authentic community, but I’m not sure if I can meet all these people’s ‘real’ needs, especially when I have my life, family, job, etc. What can I do?”

One way is to start by creating partners. Have families or people partner up with another group member and then start combining groups every couple of weeks until everyone is feeling safe, included and part of the community.