How to "Small Groups"
The Practice of Community Groups
This week on The Shock Absorber, Joey Cheng, Joel McMaster and I finish up our mini-series on Community Groups.
Part One: The Theology of Community Groups
Part Two: The Strategy of Community Groups
This week, we delved into the practice of community groups, how we each approach it, what elements they include (meals, kids, Bible study, prayer), and how different life stages and leaders bring richness to groups. These variations are made possible by being anchored in a strong theology and strategy that gives flexibility to the form.
Returning to Colossians 2, we discuss the connection between spiritual growth and mission. When the gospel remains central, it naturally overflows into everyday life—equipping us to live as lights in the world and ambassadors for Christ. Small groups become places where people can share their joys and struggles, pray for friends who don’t yet know Jesus, and encourage each other to keep living out their faith in practical ways.
We also tackle an important question: can mission happen within groups? While most groups are designed to help believers go deeper, what’s the best way to love and welcome those who are still exploring faith?
Finally, they explore the idea of missional communities—groups with a more outward-facing focus, designed to create neutral spaces where non-Christians can spend time with believers, build trust, and explore faith in a relational way. Joey shares the story of how Grace's missional efforts with friends eventually led to the Ryde church plant—an example of how mission and community can go hand-in-hand.
The episode wraps up with a key insight: when you’re clear on the why (theology) and the how (strategy), the what (practice) can be both adaptable and impactful, shaped to fit the people and the moment while remaining grounded in gospel truth.
Also this episode:
The importance of family in The Fantastic Four
What Joel learn’t from his latest read, The Death and Life of Australian Soccer by Joe Gorman. Including the longstanding tension between preserving the foundational ethnic identities of Australian clubs and the commercial push to "de-ethnicise" the sport.
How the ethnic identity formed through football clubs might reflect our church gatherings and community groups as they become expressions of who we are in Christ.
Listen along to The Shock Absorber on your favourite podcast platform or watch the conversation on the YouTube link below.