Small Circles

Over the past couple of decades much has been made about the science of proxemics, the study of how humans use space in interactions.  Joseph Myers in his book, A Search to Belong, was one of the first people I heard discuss this.  He explored this idea about how we communicate and what can be communicated based upon how close or far apart we are from each other. This was a helpful resource when thinking about church ministries, especially church programs like small groups.

I recall Andy Stanley had a statement that spoke to this a bit.  He has said (I cannot remember specifically where or when) that circles are better than rows.  This is a way to reinforce that people find belonging and formation in a circle (small group) rather than simply sitting in a row of a worship service.

These two things have come to mind for me as I have been reflecting on discipleship, which is perhaps better understood as apprenticeship to Jesus.  Culturally speaking, we tend to think of discipleship as a formation process that is heavily informational.  We read books, watch videos, listen to podcasts, sit in classes, and hear lectures/presentations.  When we do this, it feels like discipleship.  It might actually be discipleship, but in my experience, it isn’t.

The best definition of discipleship that I have ever heard and that I have incorporated into my life is that a disciple is an apprentice to Jesus Christ.  While this has been used by different teachers, the idea of apprenticeship is actually correlated with the formation and development of a rabbi from Jesus’ time.  

In the days of Jesus, the local synagogue had an elementary school called bet sefer, where all kids at the age of five came to learn.  They were taught to memorize the Torah.  The top performing students went on to bet midrash (midrash is basically the process of interpreting) and continued to memorize the prophets as well.  Then the best of the best went on to bet talmud.  In bet talmud, the student would seek out a rabbi whom he would follow to learn how to be exactly as that rabbi is-eat, sleep, study, and teach exactly as the rabbi does.  The talmidim (student of the rabbi) were essentially an apprentice to the rabbi.

A talmid or an apprentice was drawn in close, to truly learn to be a disciple.

We often talk about how Jesus’ disciples, the twelve, were not good enough , especially because they obviously didn’t make the cut to be a rabbi’s student in school.  They were not the brightest of the bright, and so we like to use that as a starting point for ourselves.  No one is disqualified from being a disciple unless one disqualifies himself or herself.  Because Jesus offers everyone the opportunity, but he also says that there is a high bar.  It's a narrow way, not simply a wide one.

I think it is narrow, in large part, because it is nearly impossible to bring a large group through. To be an apprentice you have to be within a close proximity, and that isn’t really possible with a large group on a narrow way.

Sometimes as a pastor, I sense the tension here-attempting to get everyone who is in a row formed up to make a journey along the narrow way.  Then keep space and accommodation for new people to join this journey.  But not everyone in a row will commit to a circle.  Not everyone in the crowd took Jesus up on his offer to deny themselves and follow him.  

I often think Jesus wanted to extend the opportunity but knew that people would take him up on it.  I bet Jesus was pretty smart and knew that the crowds can’t travel the narrow way.

That is why we need small circles.  Small groups of people who are intent on becoming as the Master. We might find that we are inspired in our worship services, but we are shaped and formed in the image of Jesus through close, personal apprenticeship of Jesus.  

I also believe that while Jesus can certainly be in the masses, I believe that we will find him better in the small circles.  In the 2’s and 3’s, there he is.  A modern challenge is that most of our people aren't in the small circles where they can experience time with the Master.