In the post-pandemic era, many believe that churches must adopt a small group structure. In recent years, a church in a southern city has explored this approach, using their small group model for three years with very good results.
Pastor Gao, a senior pastor of this city church, explained that all their small groups do not learn "New Life, New Living" or other small group courses that are introduced from Hong Kong or overseas, but are centered around Sunday sermons. For example, on Monday or Tuesday evenings, members of each small group gather to share and discuss the Sunday service message, as well as discuss its application, practice, and assignments.
Since pastors also convey the church's goals and vision in the service, focusing on Sunday sermons can ensure consistency of targets and vision for small groups, preventing deviation or division. It also improves the church’s relationships with small groups and group members.
For instance, in one Sunday service, the pastor talked about Jesus and his disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee and experiencing a storm. Initially, the disciples tried human methods such as frantic rowing and adjusting the sails to stabilize the boat, but their efforts came to nothing. Then they anxiously woke Jesus up, who completely calmed the storm. During the small group discussion, each person shared storms in their lives, such as mental health issues and academic pressures in children, adults’ endless tasks, and anxiety in the workplace and family. The pastor reminded believers to awaken Jesus in their lives, and that if they did, Jesus would calm all their storms.
"In our church, small group leaders don't need to prepare lessons or search for materials. They just need to guide Christians in sharing their insights on Sunday sermons. Therefore, in our church, small group leaders have a relatively easy role," said Pastor Gao. However, he also advocates for reducing the burden on them. Pastors and some church staff serve full-time, but small group leaders must balance work and serving the group. Additionally, many tasks previously handled by pastors or pastoral staff have shifted to small group leaders, who may feel overwhelmed. Therefore, the church provides monthly training sessions for the small group leaders who report on their group's status, with pastors offering guidance on effectively leading small groups.
"Sunday sermons can provide you with some insights, but we get more inspiration when all group members share their gains." After sharing and discussing the Sunday service message, they can also engage in other knowledge-sharing and life-related activities, such as playing badminton or working out together. Pastor Gao said, "These kinds of sharing and activities make everyone very happy." Since they create a relaxing atmosphere, newcomers can be brought into the small groups.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
在后疫情时代的今天，很多人认为教会必须要小组化。近几年来南方某城市教会进行了探索, 他们的小组模式已经使用了三年了，效果还是非常好的。
高牧师是一间城市教会的主任牧师，他说他们教会所有小组的学习内容并不是《新生命、新生活》或者其他各种小组的课程，而是都是以主日礼拜的信息为主。比如周一或者周二晚上各个小组组员一起分享和讨论主日礼拜的话语，以及执行、实践还有作业情况。因礼拜中也会传达教会的目标和异象，所以以主日的话语为中心进行分享，可以保证小组和教会在异象、目标上的一致，不至于出现偏差甚至“分道扬镳”；也维持了小组、组员跟教会之间的关系，。
比如一次主日礼拜中，牧师讲了耶稣带着门徒们渡过加利利海，经历风浪的时候，门徒们起先想要用人为的方式，比如拼命摇橹、撑帆等让船安稳下来。但是后来他们叫醒了耶稣，然后耶稣彻底解决了风浪的问题。等到小组分享的时候每个人就会分享自己现实生活的风浪，包括孩子们的心理问题、学习压力问题，成年人的职场焦虑、家庭焦虑问题、还有忙不完的事情。牧师提醒信徒有没有叫醒耶稣，如果叫醒了的话，耶稣一定会平息所有风浪。
“在我们教会，组长不需要成天急着备课、到处找资料，只需要围绕着主日信息引导大家分享。所以，在我们教会组长其实是比较轻松的”，高牧师如此说，但是他也提倡给小组长减负。因为牧师和传道人很多都是全职的，但是组长需要一边工作，一边服事；并且以前由牧师和传道人所承担的工作很多都转移到了组长的头上。甚至一个小组就成为了一所微型教会，组长“压力山大”、苦不堪言。所以教会每个月都会做组长培训，组长报告一下自己小组的情况，然后牧者会教导带小组的一些技巧。
“可能一场主日礼拜下来，话语当中也能够有一些亮光；但是我们常常发现信徒在分享的时候所产生的亮光组合、聚集起来要比牧者讲道给人的启发更多。”完成话语的分享、讨论以后，小组就可以安排其他知识性、生活性的交流；或者是打羽毛球、一起健身的活动。高牧师说；“这样分享和活动的时候每一个人都会非常开心。”因为小组氛围很好，也比较容易带新人进来，大家也愿意邀请新人来。
一所教会小组活动围绕主日证道进行分享
In the post-pandemic era, many believe that churches must adopt a small group structure. In recent years, a church in a southern city has explored this approach, using their small group model for three years with very good results.
Pastor Gao, a senior pastor of this city church, explained that all their small groups do not learn "New Life, New Living" or other small group courses that are introduced from Hong Kong or overseas, but are centered around Sunday sermons. For example, on Monday or Tuesday evenings, members of each small group gather to share and discuss the Sunday service message, as well as discuss its application, practice, and assignments.
Since pastors also convey the church's goals and vision in the service, focusing on Sunday sermons can ensure consistency of targets and vision for small groups, preventing deviation or division. It also improves the church’s relationships with small groups and group members.
For instance, in one Sunday service, the pastor talked about Jesus and his disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee and experiencing a storm. Initially, the disciples tried human methods such as frantic rowing and adjusting the sails to stabilize the boat, but their efforts came to nothing. Then they anxiously woke Jesus up, who completely calmed the storm. During the small group discussion, each person shared storms in their lives, such as mental health issues and academic pressures in children, adults’ endless tasks, and anxiety in the workplace and family. The pastor reminded believers to awaken Jesus in their lives, and that if they did, Jesus would calm all their storms.
"In our church, small group leaders don't need to prepare lessons or search for materials. They just need to guide Christians in sharing their insights on Sunday sermons. Therefore, in our church, small group leaders have a relatively easy role," said Pastor Gao. However, he also advocates for reducing the burden on them. Pastors and some church staff serve full-time, but small group leaders must balance work and serving the group. Additionally, many tasks previously handled by pastors or pastoral staff have shifted to small group leaders, who may feel overwhelmed. Therefore, the church provides monthly training sessions for the small group leaders who report on their group's status, with pastors offering guidance on effectively leading small groups.
"Sunday sermons can provide you with some insights, but we get more inspiration when all group members share their gains." After sharing and discussing the Sunday service message, they can also engage in other knowledge-sharing and life-related activities, such as playing badminton or working out together. Pastor Gao said, "These kinds of sharing and activities make everyone very happy." Since they create a relaxing atmosphere, newcomers can be brought into the small groups.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Small Groups Share Insights From Sunday Sermons
