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Home > Articles > The Micro Church
The Micro Church
Should small groups be smaller?
Church Central

Topics:Accountability, Christian life, Growth, Small groups, Transformation
Filters:Discipleship, Shepherd, Small group leader, Small groups
Purpose:Discipleship
References:None
Date Added:January 20, 2009

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How big should a church group be? Church growth specialist C. Peter Wagner used to talk about the three "C"s of Celebration—unlimited size; Congregation—up to 100 or so; and Cell—small group, fewer than 20.

Church planter, author and consultant, Neil Cole, has a different answer: three.

He calls this small, small group a Life Transformation Group (LTG) and has written a brand new book on it: Search and Rescue. Great read.

What is a Life Transformation Group?

A life transformation group is a simple but powerful concept. It is a group of two or three people (when it gets to four, it divides into two groups of two) that agrees to read approximately 30 chapters of Scripture a week, and meet weekly for

  • Confession of sin

  • Accountability around Scripture reading

  • Prayer for the lost

The group can meet any time, anywhere—most commonly in a restaurant. The groups are not coed. There is no book or curriculum; they just read and discuss the Bible. (Pretty far out, I know!) There is a pretty healthy intake of Scripture. If everybody does not do the reading agreed upon, they agree to read it again. There is no leader needed in the group.

What are the accountability questions?

Groups can adapt or substitute on this, but here are the suggested questions used for discussion:

  1. Have you been a testimony this week to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both your words and actions?

  2. Have you been exposed to sexually alluring material or allowed your mind to entertain inappropriate thoughts about someone who is not your spouse this week?

  3. Have you lacked any integrity in your financial dealings this week, or coveted something that does not belong to you?

  4. Have you been honoring, understanding, and generous in your important relationships this past week?

  5. Have you damaged another person by your words, either behind their back or face-to-face?

  6. Have you given in to an addictive behavior this week? Explain.

  7. Have you continued to remain angry toward another?

  8. Have you secretly wished for another's misfortune so that you might excel?

  9. Did you finish your reading this week and hear from the Lord? What are you going to do about it?

  10. Have you been completely honest with me?

Cole has been doing LTGs for a long time. He has experimented with and collected quite a number of alternate lists of questions. Consider John Wesley's questions from more than two centuries ago:

  1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

  2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?

  3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told me in confidence?

  4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?

  5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?

  6. Did the Bible live in me today?

  7. Do I give it time to speak to me every day?

  8. Am I enjoying prayer?