Back in the 1960s, when I first became acquainted with Christian communities that gathered at least once a week in a private home to worship God, most of them were found in the inner city. A relatively small proportion were located in rural communities
I hear it everywhere. I read it in almost every church publication I see. "Denominations are declining”...”Denominational officials are worried”....”Worship attendance in established mainline congregations is dropping”...”and what are all those ‘small groups’ which are forming around us?"
Many have suggested that 12 members is the the optimum size for a small group to maximize its interaction and build community. After all, Jesus chose 12 followers initially
When you hear the word ‘church,’ what comes to mind? Due to the twistings and turnings of 1700 years of history, we usually picture a building in which people gather on a Sunday morning to hear a message from a clergyman or partake of a ritual.
In the fall of 2003, Greg Bowman from the small groups staff at Willow Creek Community Church introduced us to “Supergroups,” a small group growth concept that has helped us answer, “How big can a small group be?”
