More and more, people talk about spirituality in the workplace. Traditionally, the church has also offered opportunities for faith formation through small groups for Bible study, prayer, and Christian education. However, it seems as if most of the church's resources and energy have been devoted to preparing for large congregational gatherings. If we take seriously the church's primary task of sharing the Good News, inviting people and encouraging them to make a commitment to Christ, equipping them for Christian discipleship, and sending them out into the world for ministry in daily life, then we need to provide and create settings to enable people to grow in their faith and discipleship, in both large and small-group gatherings. While corporate worship can draw people closer to God, entering the place of worship alone can be daunting to those who are new to that experience.
Small groups offer another alternative for welcoming peoples outside the community of faith.
As these people feel the warm welcome, witness the loving relationship among members and hear their faith stories, and begin to build a bond with the rest of the group, they are likely to be encouraged to return and claim the group as part of their extended family. Christian faith formation and discipleship should take place within the context of a faith community. Small groups, by their size and informal nature, have unique opportunities for leading peopleto commit their lives to Christ and to grow in their faith and discipleship. Often, large groups are more conducive to one-way communication for teaching and instruction. In small groups, participants enjoy increased direct, personal interaction among members as they study the Scriptures and other resources that help them build faith, seek God's will, share faith-forming experiences, learn, and discuss ideas related to their spiritual growth.