Throughout the Book of Acts the amazing growth of the First Church is recorded as, in twenty-five years, the Jerusalem church grew from 120 people to over 50,000! Where did they gather together? In small groups. “And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.”

[1] Small groups were then and remain to this day, in whatever flavor the church is offered, the strong base for growth and ministry.

 

Over eleven years ago, after retiring for a second time, I agreed to lead a small group of business men, with a variety of church backgrounds and experiences, who wanted to deep dive into living, learning and leading as followers of Jesus. Ours is now one of many such groups, known as C3 Leaders,[2] consisting of hundreds of business and professional men and women here in the Pacific Northwest.

 

Since my wife, Dixie’s death[3], I continue living in our home on the top floor of an older downtown condominium complex, with a fifteen month old, seventy pound and still growing ‘wonder dog,’ called GAGE. (We wonder how we ever happened to each other.) Our small group meets in my home every Wednesday.

 

Over the years we have grown from five to twenty active members, all business and professional leaders in their own right. Lawyers, financial consultants, a university professor, sales executives, a doctor, and various other business and professional backgrounds. Family men. Churchmen. Caregivers for older parents. Grandparents. Some active in their professions, others retired.

 

Doors open at 7 o’clock, as guys gather to drink coffee and engage in whatever conversations may ensue. Following an opening prayer, from 7:30 to 8:30 there is dialogue on topics relevant to living, learning, and leading in today’s world as followers of Jesus. Marriage and family, business issues, a variety of personal matters, all are discussed as we challenge one another to be and do better, with confidence that what is shared in the room stays in the room. The last fifteen minutes are set aside to pray with and for one another and any of our special concerns.

 

What draws men to devote themselves to a group like this? Vince Miller, founder of Resolute, outlines six key reasons[4]:

  1. A need for peer mentor ship.
  2. A process for questioning and answering.
  3. A like-minded community.
  4. A role model.
  5. A search for meaning and purpose.
  6. A desire to relate Scriptural principles to real life.

 

The guys meeting in my home are a composite of small groups the world over, meeting in church buildings, homes, offices, wherever, in order to process life together as followers of Jesus. Sometimes one on one at coffee or lunch, or a game of golf, or seats at a Mariners game help these relationships grow.

 

In the Christmas season, wives join us for dinner in one of the group member’s homes. Each of these wonderful women are vital to the personal and spiritual success of their man, and to our group’s wellbeing by encouraging their participation. Many share openly what it has meant to them in seeing their husband strengthened and growing in his relationship with Christ.

 

Does this make you want to join with us? I hope so. We will find a chair for you. But if you can’t, here is my point. Wherever you live, I hope you see how a small group of Jesus’ followers can become a transforming experience for you. If you can’t find one, start one. After all, we’re grownups. We can do this because whatever shape it may take, small groups remain God’s essential plan for effecting the purpose of and accountability for spiritual growth!

 

Who knows, maybe on an early morning somewhere in the world, you and I will meet one day and share life in Jesus together.

 

 

[1] Acts 5:42

[2] About C3 Leaders, https://subsplash.com/c3leaders/media/mi/+m37pvr5

[3] Sacred Journey by Ward Tanneberg, 2016, Hartline Literary Group

[4] https://beresolute.org/top-reasons-men-join-a-small-group/