Often when I travel these days I am asked this question: What do you think about the results of the Reveal survey? The hidden question for most is the misconception that small groups or group life have been diminished in their importance as a church-wide strategy by the survey results.

There’s a fair amount of ranting and bashing in the blogosphere – just Google Reveal and you’ll see. Can't think of another resource from the Willow Creek Association that's created this much of a stir in the church. So I have taken a few weeks to mull this over – and calm down. I re-read Reveal. And here’s my takeaway.

While the group life movement is as old as the early church, it is still a fairly new strategy in the history of the church in America. Some would say it’s in a mid-life crisis, trying to decide what it wants to be and where it needs to grow next. I learned the ropes from Lyman Coleman in the 80’s and have watched the movement grow and change for more than 20 years.

I think there is much to be learned from a healthy examination of the right data. And we are at a point in the group life movement where this is necessary. Tough questions should be asked. Are we as a movement helping people grow spiritually or are we kidding ourselves? Are people closer to God as a result of small groups or just closer to each other? And are we as church leaders clear in our vision for what group life can and cannot do?

Hawkins has this to say in Reveal (page 66) – and it mirrors the findings on group life:

Weekend services are an important element in the spiritual growth of people in the early stages of the spiritual journey, but they have less value for those farther along the spiritual continuum. One of our initiatives is to extend the impact of the weekend service to meet the needs of those who are farther along the journey.

Churches should not consider giving up on group life any more than they would consider canceling their weekend services. The data calls us to grow and expand their influence - not surrender.

So the real question for me is how can we extend the impact of group life to people farther along the spiritual journey? What expression of group life will help them? How do we need to change my strategies and tactics? Where do we grow from here?

Would be curious to hear what you are doing for the people further along in the journey…what’s working for you?