Comments on: Naming Your Small Group Ministry

By: Oak

Oak — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:38:30 +0000

Commenting months later….

Ethos…yet another buzzword used by churches.

"They need to be close-knit groups so there needs to be a focus on fellowship (true koinonia), but in addition to going deeper relationally, we need to go deeper Biblically."
I think "true koinonia" is the effect of growing deeper in the knowledge of Scripture. It cannot happen apart from it, otherwise it would not be called "koinonia." Fellowship and deeper Scripture knowledge ought not to be separated.

How about a name like Shepherd Groups?

Thanks for posting this subject.

By: Brian Barela

Brian Barela — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:34:49 +0000

nice. i'll look for the book. thanks!

By: Nathan Creitz

Nathan Creitz — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:25:39 +0000

Thanks for dropping in Brian – yeah, but Ben really gets around as you must know. He came up here to Boston last year and I was pastoring a church plant that was reaching college students. So, he and I got to know each other a little bit. I've read his new book that will be coming out in a few days (20th) and will hopefully provide a link on ChurchETHOS when it comes out. I highly recommend it. Plus it's free!

By: Brian Barela

Brian Barela — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:03:37 +0000

hey nathan just wanted to say hi. i follow you on twitter and just saw this link from benson hines' blog to yours.

he participated in our cccblogference this year and it was great getting to know his heart and work in college ministry. it surprised me to see that he was connected to you.

the christian minister's blog world is truly small.

i just added your blog to my rss reader so i can stay up to date! take care!

By: Nathan Creitz

Nathan Creitz — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:28:18 +0000

Jon – Thanks for the comment. I absolutely agree…which is why I don't like coming up with names. It's not that important. I think the main reason I'm trying to come up with something is because currently our bulletin and our announcements to new people in our church is all over the map. Do we invite them to our home group on Wednesday, our Bible study fellowship on Sunday night, our women's Bible study or our ladies' Bible study? It's too confusing when they are all virtually the same thing with a little nuance here or there. I consider the small groups of our church to be the main process by which we make disciples. They need to be close-knit groups so there needs to be a focus on fellowship (true koinonia), but in addition to going deeper relationally, we need to go deeper Biblically. For too long, prayer and Bible study were the only things you did in a group, but if you don't know the people you are spending time with then it's not as rich and transformaitonal.

So, all that to say, absolutely the focus needs to be on content, on what is the purpose of the group. Only then do we wrestle with the mundane task of coming up with a name that helps describe to other people what it's all about.

By: Jon Reid

Jon Reid — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:14:20 +0000

I'd say the name is less important than the role and function of such groups in a church: What are they? Are they inward or outward focused? Are the groups considered full "members" of the church in the sense of accomplishing the mission of the church? Are they considered less/as/more important than the large gathering?

You're right, none of this is conveyed by calling something a "small group." Creating an ethos, a common understanding of purpose, is harder than coming up with a name. Conversely, once you have a clear purpose, the name (almost) doesn't matter!