Published by There is a powerful movement gaining momentum across our country for an excellent Christian opportunity for fellowship called life groups. However, if not carefully monitored, sheep can get lost and fall away. Furthermore, some sheep will never get hooked into a life group. Who will go after them? Is anyone going after the one?
What is the mission of the church?
I have enjoyed a lively and satisfying life group over the past two years. We meet once a week, and we share each other’s burdens. We laugh, study the Bible, and pray. Outside of this weekly time, we go out to dinner, have game nights, and go on short get-a-ways 4 to 6 times a year. Our life group leaders and hosts have roles and responsibilities. One of them is to contact people who stop coming. We found that sometimes people wanted a pastor to contact them or they didn’t want to be contacted at all. Also, some people never even join a life group, and they are in the most danger of becoming lost. In short, life groups do not touch everyone. Life groups are not the answer for the call to save the lost. They are simply a component of good church practices. I do not think that God intended life groups to be the total focus. We are admonished to go after the lost and those that wander. Isn’t that the mission of the church?
Who goes after the one, and when does one stop going after the one?
Often it is left up to the hosts to look after the sheep. They may be successful in reconnecting some. However, they cannot reach them all. It is my strong opinion that there has to be a lost sheep report to the pastor and some action taken outside of the life group circle. After all, Jesus came for the lost. This is the mission of the church. There is also a movement to give more responsibly in the hands of lay pastors and volunteers; however, it is still the pastor’s responsibility to watch over his flock. Proverbs 27:23 says, “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks and give careful attention to your herds.” The word cautions us not forget about the one. Matthew 18: 12-13 says, “If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.”
Sure every Christian has a responsibility to go after people that they know are lost. However, pastors and leaders answer to the Lord regarding the stewardship of their flock.
Do churches need a life group paradigm shift?
Let’s face it. The current buzz word on the horizon for the houses of God lately is life groups and or cell groups. This takes care of the ninety-nine. What are we doing for the one? What are doing for the ones that are not plugged into a life group or circle of people? Everyone knows that not every person will get involved in a life group. Does this negate our responsibility to go after the one? Unfortunately and each time “one” roams, you can add “one” to that “one” and so on. The number keeps growing. How many that wander off and find a new church? How does one know, unless they go over after the one?
Will you answer the call to go after the one?
You don’t have to be a pastor to go after the lost. You can take stock at work and church and see how people are doing. Make it your responsibility to see who is connected to the Body of Christ and who is not. Tell your pastor who is wondering off. If you do not have a lost sheep ministry, show your pastor this article. It may be a gentle enough nudge to get him or her to go after the ones!
