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| Drs. Cloud and Townsend in
their book Making Small Groups Work emphasize the importance of
small support groups to individual change and growth to maturity. Dr. Cloud
wrote, “Small groups are not an add-on, secondary concern, or fad. What
happens in a good small group is part of the very work of the church itself.
It is primary, and should be seen that way.” He quotes Ephesians 4:16 as
biblical instruction for people helping people to grow up. “From him
[Christ] the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
The authors, Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, wrote, “We designed this book with one end in mind: how do you do small groups that change lives?” They also said, “…there is no one right way to do small groups.” Their principles are flexible and can be used with many different kinds of groups who form for often very different reasons: Some of which are Bible study, parenting, addictions. They emphasize the importance of six aspects of reconciliation to the growth process which are “matters of the heart, not knowledge.” They assert, “…the Bible shows that God uses faithful people, not perfect people. If you faithfully practice these areas [of reconciliation] God will make you fruitful.” They show how grace, truth, and time are all essential to the process of growing in spiritual maturity. Anyone involved in a small group as a leader
or member can benefit by applying principles from this book Making Small
Groups work.
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