Discipleship and the people called Methodists - BEH District

Methodist rules permit very small Methodist congregations to become ‘classes’
of a larger nearby Methodist church, but this is often in name only. Small groups
of new or established disciples that behave like small groups rather than as very
small congregations, open up all sorts of possibilities for better discipleship.
Does your local church focus on congregation or cell/small group? What do
you think each contributes best to deepening discipleship? What are the key
differences between a congregation and a small group? Which do you feel you
need most in terms of your discipleship, and why?
Small groups come in many kinds and with various aims and purposes. Some
focus on worship, others prayer; often intercessions for the world and for each
other. Others focus on personal sharing and are vitally important because they are
‘safe places’ where we can be ourselves in confidence and with confidence. Such
places are precious, and laden with possibilities for Christian growth. Many groups
concentrate on learning and study, and often follow a particular course, like the
lengthy but rewarding Disciple courses or the hugely popular Alpha course.
What might enable your church and circuit to better engage with Christian
discipleship? How are you going to bring that about?
All sorts of other factors influence group dynamics and determine the extent to
which small groups can provide the environment for becoming better disciples.
Where should it meet? Sometimes a home is best, sometimes it isn’t. Localities,
churches and people are all different, so working out where something takes place
deserves more serious thought than it often receives. The wrong location can
thwart many a potentially good occasion.
Is it permanent or seasonal? This is often determined by what the aim and
purpose is. A study course is often undertaken in a set number of weeks, then
finishes, with perhaps another course beginning some time later. But a ‘personal
sharing’ group environment usually needs greater permanence to work well. I say
‘usually’, because the downside of a well-established group is that it’s sometimes
very difficult for newcomers to get into. So groups designed for personal sharing
must, for their own sake, regularly check whether they are open or closed to those
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