Healthy Relationships by David Achata

Two and a half years ago, Pastor Andy and I attended a conference where we were able to eat lunch with Jason Jaggard and Marcus Goodloe, two pastors on staff at Mosaic [Church], Los Angeles.

We were anxious to find out how they do their small group program and so we asked. Jason’s response—“we don’t push small groups; rather, we promote the value of healthy relationships.”

It makes perfect sense. Have you ever been to a small group? Most involve sitting around with people you don’t know very well, listening to each other talk about something, praying together and then doing it all over again the next week. In a few weeks the group slowly shrinks because one group finds something better to do while the other group feels slightly hurt/frustrated, yet superior because they stuck it out and “committed.”

Doesn’t this sound wonderful?

Many of these ideas came from an article Jason wrote called The End of Small Groups. In it he writes, “I'm calling an end to small groups and crying out for a shift towards friendship. Healthy people don't need small groups- they need to bring people into their social network. People don't need groups, they need friends. Somehow the whole world has survived without the strange concoction of the 'small group' that churches readily and sincerely embraced in the 90s.”

In other words, it’s not about getting into a small group. It’s about getting some significant relationships in your life.

I had a college student tell me once that he met someone who seemed lonely, so he invited him to church. “That’s great!” I told him. “But I think you took the easy way out.” When he asked what I meant, I told him what people need isn’t solely a church service. People need each other. They need to hook up for lunch and talk.

So, “Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.” Galatians 6:2, The Message Remix

Here’s a Resource:

This weekend when the church service is over, grab the “Take Away” questions, and talk about them with some friends. Better yet—buy someone a burrito this week and be a friend.

David Achata