What does the Bible say about small groups?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that Christians are to grow in faith together through regular fellowship, worship, instruction, prayer, mutual encouragement, confession, and practical care. Acts 2:42 and Acts 2:46 portray believers devoted to the apostles' teaching, shared life, breaking bread, and prayer. Hebrews 10:24-25 urges Christians not to neglect meeting together, but to stir one another toward love and good works. In such fellowship, believers speak truth in love and build one another up into maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11). They also bear burdens, pray for one another, and sharpen each other through wise, loving accountability (Galatians 6:2; James 5:16; Proverbs 27:17).

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Hebrews 10:24-25

    [24] Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, [25] not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.

  • Matthew 18:20

    For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them."

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:11

    Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.

  • Proverbs 27:17

    Iron sharpens iron; So a man sharpens his friend's countenance.

  • Acts 2:46

    Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,

  • Acts 2:42

    They continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

  • Ephesians 4:15-16

    [15] but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ; [16] from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

  • Acts 5:42

    Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.

  • James 5:16

    Confess your offenses to one another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effective, earnest prayer of a righteous man is powerfully effective.

  • Galatians 6:2

    Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

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