Long ago, at many times and in many ways, churches built their discipleship around Sunday School, evening services, and midweek Bible studies and prayer groups. But in these last days, it is more common to find small groups at the center of a church’s ministry philosophy.
Local churches are free to organize additional assemblies outside of the main Lord’s Day gathering, but it’s important to consider how they can either foster church unity or fracture it. The apostle Paul exhorted the Ephesians to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). Small groups have the potential to be a tool for maintaining church unity—when they are led wisely.
HOW SMALL GROUPS CAN FOSTER CHURCH UNITY
1. When they offer another context to spend time in the Word and prayer.
At their best, small groups help members to live out the principles of your church covenant. My local church’s small group ministry aims at building up members through studying the Bible, discussing the sermon, or reading a Christian book.
Furthermore, the gatherings allow members to pray with one another about personal needs and the ministry of the church. Unity is strengthened as members pray
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