What's the most basic description of a relationship? What is a relationship in its simplest form? It is talking to someone, listening to someone, and doing it repeatedly over a period of time. Most of our human relationships have this dynamic at their very core. It would be a stretch to say that if we only regularly talked to someone but never listened, that we had a true relationship with them. Likewise, if we listened to someone, but never talked, that wouldn't be a true relationship either. Or, how about if we talked and listened to someone one time, or maybe once or twice a year; would that be a relationship? I don't think so. The most basic components of a relationship require all three: talking, listening, and doing it repeatedly.
So what does this basic relationship dynamic look like in our relationship to God? It is an intimate listening (Bible reading) and talking (praying) to God, and doing it repeatedly day after day. It's really not rocket science. When average men and women, young girls and boys, take up the responsibility of talking and listening to God on a daily basis, God shows up. Miracles take place. Average people start doing above average things.
What is a church or small group community in its simplest form? It is simply the combination of one's personal relationship with God and their relationship with one another in the group—all talking, listening, repeatedly. The church or small group is just the more complex version (more people) of the simple relationship. It is a form that all can and must participate in, regardless of talents and gifts?
With that said, you know what the primary role of the small group leader or small group pastor is? You guessed it! Talking, listening, repeatedly! Specifically, making your talking, listening relationship reproducible so others in your group can do it too. And then talking and listening to your group members about how their talking, listening relationship with God is going….and doing it all routinely and repeatedly! This is actually at the core of relational discipleship. Sounds pretty simple, uh? Ought to be happening a lot, right?
Even though every person can do something like this with his or her relationship with God. Not everyone does. In fact, one recent study by Barna indicated only 3% of Christians are in an intentional discipleship relationship like this. That fact generally means true discipleship relationships aren't happening and as a result New Testament community suffers.
Despite it's simplicity, sometimes the function of relationship based discipleship needs a form to make it intentional and reproducible and sustainable over time. In our church, Harvest Community, we've landed on a form to fit the function of talking, listening, repeatedly discipleship and make it more intentional. It's called a Life Transformation Group. It's small group based, but it is not your primary small group community—it's simply a way to get relational discipleship happening within the small group.
The Life Transformation Group (LTG)* is a group of two or three who get together once a week or so (outside normal small group time) for accountability and disciple-making. Using a simple system of accountability, with intrinsic motivation, relational disciple-making can be done by all who are in the small group.
Here's how LTG's work:
- They met once a week for approximately one hour. The can meet almost anywhere. Many meet in restaurants for breakfast before work, or during the lunch hour. One hour is certainly enough time for the process, although they can go longer if the group desires.
- They are groups of only two or three. A fourth person is the beginning of the next group and multiplication is imminent.
- The groups are NOT co-ed. The need for honesty and transparency during the confession of sin requires that groups not be co-ed.
- There is no curriculum! The system is not dependent upon any curriculum. By design the LTG's force the participants to discover the Word of God by themselves, with only the Holy Spirit and one another to guide them.
- There is no leader as such—only a facilitator. Usually the one who first initiates the group facilitates it; however, that is not necessary. The system is so simple by design that it is not leader dependent. The most that a facilitator is called upon to do is choose the next book of the Bible to read.
- They read the Scripture repeatedly. The group picks a book of the Bible to read during the week. If it is a short book such as Ephesians or Jonah, they read it approximately five time during the week. If it is a longer book, such as Proverbs or Acts, they read it once during the week. In all they read about 30 chapters per week. It is good to stretch the group with the reading. No one is a failure if the reading isn't completed in a week. There is an advantage to having to read the passage more than once. When they get together after a week they ask each other if they finished the reading. If any one of them was unable to complete all the assigned reading, they all read the same Scripture again for the next week. They continue doing so until they all arrive on the same week having finished the reading. They then choose another book and start again. This keeps them reading enough Scripture to stretch them so that they keep reading it a few times. For many, this will be the first time they have really read much Scripture at all and they will be surprised at how easy it is to understand, especially when they read an entire book all the way through several times.
- When together, the men or women ask one another 10 accountability questions. In an atmosphere of confidentiality, honesty and mutual accountability, they use these accountability questions to confess any sin they have committed in the past week. The accountability questions may be read by the facilitator of the group (although it is recommended that this task be rotated). Suggestions for accountability questions can be found at CMA Resources.
- They pray for lost people within their sphere of influence. Each in the LTG is to identify two or three whom they feel led to pray for their salvation. List the names of all those identified in the group on a card so that all of you pray for each of the lost souls weekly.
A Life Transformation Group is a simple way to release the most essential elements of a vital spiritual walk to people who need Jesus to change their lives from the inside out. It incorporates the values relational discipleship. It's an effective way of intentionally getting talking, listening, repeatedly discipleship happening with those in your small group!
*For more information on Life Transformation Groups and accountability questions, see CMA Resources.
