Where Do MicroGroups Fit in the Larger Picture of Church Ministry?

This could certainly be listed in the category of the top 5 questions we receive through GO MICRO Global Discipleship Initiative (GDI) outreach workshops, web, and events. The question also comes in another form: Can or should traditional small groups exist side by side with MicroGroups?

The best way to answer this question is to show how different spaces can and should coexist together. Joseph Myers first popularized the concept of making room or seeing the value of spaces in his book Search to Belong and is expounded on in Bobby Harrington’s Discipleship that Fits. I will describe the spaces in thumbnail fashion in this shorter blog.  The four spaces are public, social, personal and transparent or intimate.

Public Space (50+)

In general public space can come in a variety of forms that shares common interests, convictions, history, experience, institutional connections, and more. For example, I have a relationship with UCLA basketball as a fan, because I went there during the John Wooden glory years when they kept winning the National Basketball Championship titles.

In the church public space is usually associated with the gathered community in worship each week. If asked, “Where do you go to church or what is your church?”, a person would give a specific community, no matter the commitment level or frequency of attendance. Public space allows people to find their own level of involvement or pace of engagement. Besides showing up, little commitment is required.

Social Space (20-150)

This is the space where you can become known and find those with whom you have a natural affinity and chemistry. Often the next step beyond worship for people as they are moving into the life of the church is to find a group where they can “casually” get to know the participants.

Once people are starting to get an attraction to the community, they often want a place to "tip their toe in the water." Who are the people like us in this church? 

Chemistry comes in many forms:

• common interests,
• age and stage,
• personality,
• shared vision and mission

Usually social space comes in the form of classes, or fellowship groups where new participants can casually evaluate their "fit" with others and make connections so that people start to feel a part of the church. The level of commitment is still very much up to individual desire.  

Personal Space (6-20+)

This space provides a way for people to go deeper into the lives of a subset within the church.

We all have a desire to be known and cared for.

Will anyone care if I am not there?

In a small group people can get to know your story--your journey of faith. If you don’t show up, someone will come looking for you.

You are starting to experience church as family.

This is “small group” territory. Expectations are increasing. For example, if the group meets, you will make the effort to get there or at least let people know why you can’t. You will share your joys and concerns; reflect together on a Scripture passage or book; pray for one another; and encourage each other between meeting.

Friendships are being formed.

Transparent Space (3-4)

In transparent space, there is an exponential increase of commitment in multiple areas. This is MicroGroup territory. The purpose is to make a serious, focused commitment to be a follower of Jesus is all we are and do. In addition, the group exists to equip the members to learn to disciple others by replicating this experience. Preparation is required.

• A core biblical, disciplemaking curriculum helps to lay solid foundations and then serves as a transferable tool to use with others.
• Confidentiality is part of the covenant, because it is expected that deep personal sharing to the point of mutual confession will mark the group life.
• Leadership is shared because it is passed around. These groups can be viewed as base communities from which to be sent into our homes, church, community, and workplace.

 Healthy churches provide space and time

In sum, healthy churches can and should provide all of these spaces, though a smaller church might collapse the social and personal space into one. It is healthy to provide all four spaces.

There needs to be is a disciplemaking direction to the flow.

One of the questions we encourage people to answer is,

“What is your plan for making disciples in your church?”

These four spaces can provide a good framework to populate ministry and provide ways to connect people to go deep into each successive stage of community.