The small group or home group as spiritual discipline. To seek the presence of God with other.

In recent times small group meetings or home/cell groups are playing a seminal role in the church and in the life of believers. It happens in a time that there are huge “mega”-churches where thousands of people gather for worship service – even in one building and thus experience their religion on a massive scale. Impressive buildings, huge bands, organs, choirs and other mega-events enthrall people in such massive gatherings.

A small or home group, we understand now, can be an important way of experiencing spiritual growth next to these massive meetings. It is a group meeting which seeks to move away from loose, general talk. Of that we experience too much every moment of the day. This meeting, this discussion, is a spiritual discipline which seeks to focus on important spiritual material.

In spirituality traditions this type of discussions was regarded as a necessary and important spiritual discipline: communities gathered to speak about spiritual matters which they share on their spiritual journey with a clear spiritual aim and intention. They desire to experience a deepening of their faith, a clearer understanding and stronger commitment, but they also want to live this faith concretely and ask how their faith sends them out in this world and transforms them. Such discussions must bring the participants to live their faith.

Bit more is at stake than a growth in faith. In book 1.10.12 of his Imitation of Christ, Thomas a Kempis speaks about this discussion as spiritual discipline when he writes that such intimate gathering can be very important in the spiritual journey, especially where people who share a common faith in God are one in heart and mind.

It is the common faith in God which is seminal to remember here. For Thomas such a discussion about spiritual matters reflects an intimate connection between the participants and has nothing to do with informal, relaxed chatting. But even more so, the intimacy they share, is ultimately based on their being in the presence of God. In being together in such unity and focussing on spiritual matters, one is actually moving into the presence of God.

Though the small group meeting has tremendous social value and helps to overcome the alienation of people in our wide, harsh world, it is the religious value which really counts. Or, more precisely, its spiritual value is the significant factor.

The group meeting as spiritual discipline binds people together before God. It is the community with God which refreshes. It is a holy event which binds everyone in an intimate manner together before God.

This spiritual discipline need not be heavy and over-pious. It is not about our own self-righteous zeal to impress others and God.

It is a time and a meeting in which the faithful yearn to experience the words which give true life and which refreshes one to face new challenges on the spiritual journey. It is a time of concentration, a time in which to seek a recommitment, but most of all it is a time to be in the presence of God.