When it comes to small home groups, it is not unusual to have someone say" . . . But why not use our building?" They might be relating to where groups might meet or the way children could be taken care of during the group meeting. Consider for a second why small groups should meet away from the building . . .

#1 -- It helps decentralize ministry.

This may sound strange to some, but ministry to many is often considered possible only by coming to the building. Caring, outreach, teaching, etc. is so often done at the building such that it's not carried on into everyday life. By encouraging groups to meet away from the building, it has helped people realize that their Christian walk is not "building centered."

This is especially true with children, who may invite their neighbors to their home for a Bible study group that meets during an adult small group meeting. It helps children to experience Bible stories and practical involvement away from the traditional Sunday/Wednesday class settings.

#2 -- It gives more possibilities for ministry.

As people are pulled away from the "building centered" mentality, they begin to realize that there are more possibilities for ministry. It is no longer necessary to consider access to the building or regular schedules.

There have been several small group leaders who have noted that teaching a class at the building was too risky for them. But now, ministering to a smaller group of people and doing it when their schedule allows, frees them up in a way never before experienced in the church. Add to this the reality that everyone in a group is encouraged to minister to each other, and you have a release of a tremendous force of minister-servants-not confined by the traditional time/space restrictions.

#3 -- It allows for a more relaxed and personal setting.

This is an obvious advantage, as most people would rather meet in a living room with a fire place than in a cold classroom with metal chairs. But the setting also allows for openness, personal examination and challenge, and a closeness that only comes over a time of relaxed sharing.

#4 -- It allows for natural outreach.

Since people are able to see their personal ministry as non-building centered and as an everyday adventure, and since they are personally experiencing a wonderful and relaxed atmosphere that encourages spiritual growth, inviting their friends and neighbors is a natural. Many non-Christians or people who have not been to a church building in years are more likely to come first to a home to study God's Word than to a church building.

#5 -- It allows the church to grow without building new buildings.

One of the major reasons we decided to go to small groups that meet away from the building was our space limitations. The economics of today, and possibly even a reconsidering of our own financial stewardship, made the leadership realize that options other than a building program needed to be considered.

While everyone loves to see a new building, and it would expand possibilities for ministry, any congregation is still faced with the reality that one could only grow in comparison to the size of their facility -- especially Bible class space. By allowing small groups to develop away from the building, these restrictions are lifted. As long as there are homes, there are facilities for expansion. It really helps us realize that imaginative and practical alternatives for teaching larger numbers are possible if we do not try to fit everything into the building.

#6 -- It allows us to get away from the "one size fits all" mentality.

The small groups that meet away from the building offer another alternative for involvement that was not previously available. The groups meet at different times of the day, on different days, with a different make-up of people, and may even talk about different subjects. Some groups are heavier on Bible study, others on sharing. Other groups meet as a ministry to singles, single parents, or remarried families. While they all strive to keep a balance of sharing, Bible study, prayer and ministry, they all have different personalities.

This customization is necessary to meet the varied interests and needs of our world. The days of isolation and, "Here is our box, fit in it!" must change. Small groups help meet this challenge.

We have a great blessing in our facility. We need to use it as much as possible. However, it should never be our only weapon in our arsenal against Satan -- nor our fortress in which to hide. To do so limits us, and God's use of us, in ways that we should seriously challenge. Let's use our building more and better than ever before.

Let's also expand the possibilities as we REACH OUT AND MINISTER to a larger population than only those who enter our building.