Reforming Groups for 2026
The What, Why and Who of small groups of Reforming
From February we’ll see Reforming Groups start up across our region, and so this makes for an opportunity to highlight the how and why of small group ministry at Reforming. Our biblical vision for small groups is that they a are wonderful way for people to apply those beautiful words from 1 Thessalonians 2:8, where we get to share the gospel and share our lives.
Over the years we have thoughtfully applied different names for our small groups, as names carry meaning and share vision. This is why over recent years we have settled on ‘Reforming Groups’, which teaches what church small groups are about. For ‘Reforming Groups’ defines what small groups are and what they are not.
What are Reforming Groups?
Firstly, we don’t see small groups as Community Groups. There are church contexts where this may work, but we don’t think of them in this way as it loads up groups (and group leaders) with way too many expectations that don’t belong to a group.
We cannot and should not expect a small group to be our main place of community within a church, or the place of where our mercy ministry needs are met, or where all our pastoral care comes from. I know of many group leaders and groups who have burnt out because of unrealistisc expectations.
We also don’t see small groups as Growth Groups or Grow Groups either. For the implication is that this is where Christians grow, and that is not what the Bible teaches.
We grow in the community of the whole church, as Christ is preached to our hearts and we learn to love Jesus and his diverse community of people that exists in the whole church and not just in a one small group. We also don’t see Reforming Groups as Discipleship Groups, for the same reasons. Discipleship (learning Christ) happens in wider church life.
Likewise, we don’t call them Gospel Groups, as if we get the gospel in Groups and not in church life. Actually I think that the gospel is best displayed in us from the whole of church life and not in segmented small groups - but this is an article for another day.
The Why of Reforming Groups
So why do we call them Reforming Groups? Because our ecclesiology (theology of church) drives all our ministries, including groups. We see Groups as part of the church family, and so we name them with meaning as Reforming Groups.
You won’t find a Bible verse that says, “You shall have small groups, and you shall be part of a small group”. The way the Bible teaches on the church shows us that small groups are not essential, yet we know that ‘from good and necessary consequence’ that the value of small groups can be ‘deduced from Scripture’ (Westminster Confession of Faith, 1.6).
We know from the way that members of the early church gathered in homes and shared the gospel and shared their lives (Acts 2:46) that small groups ministry is part of church life and adds value to the whole of church life.
This brings us to talk through “the who” of small groups.
The Who of Reforming Groups
From what we see from our biblical undertaking of groups, now we can see why Reforming Groups are for Members of Reforming, and those committed to look into membership of Reforming Church.
Now we know people can find this different, especially in a culture of individualism and consumerism this idea that small groups of the church are for Members of the church can feel a little jarring. Yet here is a wonderful opportunity to think theologically and pastorally about small groups.
If Groups are part of the Church, then they ought to be made up of Members of the church. This has powerful pastoral help for people - and I have seen it in real-time.
I have seen people float in and out of the church, not commit too being members of the church, yet also wish to attend a small group. This makes the life of that group a difficult place though. I have seen this dynamic make things difficult for members to share, and show care in prayer, if they are not sure of other people’s committment to them and their church. I have watched how consumerism changes the dynamics of group life.
So yes, Reforming Groups are generally open to all being welcome if you’re looking into membership at Reforming. But if a person just wishes to attend a group for their own personal benefit and misses the biblical point of sharing the gospel and sharing our lives - then we’d encourage them to see again how Jesus loves his church.
Look at Jesus in the Bible, hear what he says in the Scriptures, and learn from Christ in how loving and committed He is to the church. When people do this they see the beauty of belong in membership of the church. We encourage every Christian to find a church where they can enjoy meaningful membership. This will not only make your group life intentional, but your Christian life meaningful.
If you’d like to look into why membership matters, then we have a great starting Group for you where you can see from the Scriptures the beauty of belonging in Membership. You’re warmly invited to our next Membership Meal.
Or, if you’re first looking into life with Jesus then you’re very welcome at our Discover Dinners where you can discover truth, hope and life in Jesus Christ.
Reforming Groups for 2026
In 2026 we are planting new Groups with new Group Leaders. It’s an exciting season with opportunities for current Members of Reforming, for those of us looking into belonging as a Member of Reforming. These groups will get-together throughout the week in different rhythms and places that will suit different people of Reforming, and people looking into Reforming life.
So to help the Session (the group of Elders) help you into Group life, you can fill out the form on our Groups page so that you can share in the gospel and share in the life of church-life in a Reforming Group.
