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Book Review: Growth Groups ::
Here is a book that may change the way you view your Bible Study groups or Home Groups. Phil Campbell gives us a review.
Source: Perspective Vo4 No1 © Perspective 1999
Author: Col Marshall
Published: Matthias Media
Reviewer: Phil Campbell
Small groups, says Colin Marshall, have a power all of their own. It doesn’t matter whether it is a Weight Watchers group or a Bible Study group, there is something about getting together in intimate clusters that creates energy for change. And in that, lies both the greatest strength and the greatest danger of small groups in the church.
Both the strengths and the dangers are well covered in Colin Marshall’s new book Growth Groups, published by Matthias Media – and, of course, the benefits he promotes clearly outweigh the snares. The book is designed as a training manual for small group leaders, and I’ve been road testing it with my leaders for the last few months. It’s easy to read, it’s practical, and there’s even a section with a step-by-step guide to each training session.
Some of Col’s comments may seem provocative. For example, one of the greatest dangers he perceives is in the constant pressure to lose sight of proper growth group goals – goals which must always be focussed on producing growth in understanding of the Lord Jesus, and godliness. That’s why they’re called Growth Groups – and in spite of the “felt needs” of many who may attend, groups like these are not designed to be support groups, nor “sharing” groups. Rather, the groups this manual sets out to encourage are groups designed to create an environment where the bible can be openly discussed in a way that leads to understanding and obedience. In Colin’s own words, “We want members to grow in maturity in Christ, which means they will grow in knowledge of God and his will, and godly living. More than that, we want to see gospel growth – through Growth Groups, we want the gospel to grow and bear fruit.”
I know plenty of people who’d find that a bitter pill to swallow… they’re in my congregation, and they’re probably in yours. They’re the “felt-needs junkies,” who are looking for a diet of “warm fuzzies” and “acceptance”. Their buzz-words are “fellowship” and “encouragement”. But the fact is, fellowship and encouragement are never simply activities for their own sake – Colin rightly points out that fellowship and encouragement are always centred on the goals of gospel growth. More than that, they’re an inevitable by-product of a well functioning group – but they should never be the goal.
One other issue for the average small church pastor – there’s a clear thrust in the book towards the idea that all small group leaders should have the skills to prepare their own bible study material. In fact, considerable space both in the text itself and the training course agenda is devoted to this goal. I wonder, though, whether it’s realistic for a small church like mine? There’s certainly no harm in building up these skills, but I’m certainly not going to have the same expectations of my group leaders as Col Marshall has of his in this department.
That said, it’s a stimulating and well written manual, and well worth a read. Leadership training has always been an area I’ve found hard, and this material has offered a practical way forward that’s working very well.
Best of all, there’s a small Trainers Handbook (purchased separately) that takes most of the pain out of preparing the sessions.
Phil Campbell