Leading a Missional Group

At NCC, we want our small groups to be relational and transformational. We want people within them to experience community and to be discipled – to be transformed into the image of Christ.

But that’s not all. We also want them to be missional.

Jesus came to earth with a mission – to reconcile us to God. He did that in part by caring about the spiritual and physical needs of the people He encountered.

Whether it was comforting and challenging the woman at the well, feeding the 5,000, or healing the blind, Jesus met the tangible needs that were right in front of Him.

In a parable in Matthew 25, Jesus declared:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (vv. 34-40)

Jesus didn’t tell us to write a check, He told us to get involved in the grit and grime of people’s daily lives. We’re called to invite the poor wanderer into our homes, not to keep them at arm’s length and serve them “out there.” We’re called to invite others into our lives and enter into theirs.

So what does this mean for small groups? Is it just another thing to add to our busy schedules?

Ultimately, this is not about a service project once a month – it’s about living missionally. It’s a lifestyle of intentionally loving those around us and helping them know who Jesus is through our actions. As the A18 team would put it, we’re called to be on mission every day.

Discipling others and having influence in their lives gives us the responsibility to help them understand the mission Jesus calls us to. They need to catch the vision to love and serve others.

So while living missionally isn’t about just doing a service project, practically speaking it may very well begin there. Often service projects can open your group members’ eyes to needs they’ve never seen before, enabling them to enter into others’ lives in new ways.

In terms of first steps, this may mean taking your group to a Second Saturday Serve or to InService together. It could be joining a missions team as a group.

Ask yourself: What is Christ calling you to do considering the passions you have and the people He’s called you to and placed around you? And how can you get your group involved in that?

Some Things to Consider:

What are some experiences you’ve had with living missionally – loving and serving others – as an individual?

What are some experiences you’ve had with living missionally as part of a group?

Where do you personally feel called to serve? Are there ways your group can come alongside you in that?

Brainstorm: What are some ways our groups can be missional?