HISTORY OF SMALL GROUPS
Did you know that the Prayer Breakfast movement is changing lives all over the planet? In most of the U.S. state, hundreds of cities and dozens of countries around the world, prayer breakfast gatherings are touching leaders, healing communities and unifying people of all walks of life to be in prayer for their places.
Over the last century, the prayer breakfast movement rose out of three small groups. A women’s Bible study in Oregon that prayed Jesus’ prayer “to raise up workers for his harvest field. City leaders in Seattle during the Depression who had no place left to turn when they faced massive unemployment and poverty. And a few U.S. Senators who asked for God’s help as they planned the U.S. war effort in World War II. The merging of those three efforts began our National Prayer Breakfast 60 years ago and that effort has spread around the world.
And if you look at the Scriptures, small groups have always been a part of what God is doing. Jesus had the Twelve. Paul has Timothy and Silas and the rest of his team. Daniel had Shardrach, Meshack and Abednego. Moses had Aaron and Joshua. Esther had her prayerful maidens. And so on and so on.
Dr. King had his small group. So did Mother Theresa and William Wilberforce and John Wesley.
You get the picture. If we want to follow in the footsteps of those who changed the history of the world, perhaps the best place to start is where they did: by being part of a committed small group.
WHERE DO I START?
Don’t make this too complicated.
- To start a small group what you need is:
- A group of friends, preferably more than three and less than 12.
- A private place to meet each week.
- A commitment to be together, to be open and to be confidential with each other.
And something to study.
- The life and principles of Jesus recorded in the Gospels.
- Avoid talking about money, politics and projects and just focus on Jesus.
- Discuss what he said and did and talk about how you can incorporate those ideas into you own life.
- Remember the goal is building your relationship, not your reputations as Biblical scholars.
MORE QUESTIONS?
The Minnesota Prayer Breakfast has a team of folks who lives have been nurtured and blessed by the small group experience. Click on the CONTACT US button and give a chance to come along side and help make your small group a success.
