Much has been written on this topic, but this is always a good reminder for those leading ministry and those participating in ministry.
Rows. Rows are what happen in large group settings. They are worship services and any other setting where the primary method of communication is someone up front and everyone else sitting in “rows” primarily watching the communicator. Much can be said about this environment, just like the other 2 environments, but today I am just going to be highlighting the importance of each. Rows are a great place to provide direction and vision. They help many different people have something in common and start heading in a general direction.
Circles. Circles are what happen in small group settings. A circle is a setting where the primary method of communication is everyone sitting in a circle having a discussion and there is not one primary communicator. Circles are the place to bring the large group message into your personal world. You use the direction the large group provided to talk about how the message relates to your personal life. You ask questions to others and people ask questions to you. You start to figure out just how the truths communicated in the large group setting apply to your life by the method of discussion.
1 on 1. 1 on 1 is what happens when small group settings are just not small enough. A 1 on 1 is a setting where the primary method of communication is 2 people talking about a specific subject. Often this subject was introduced in the large group setting, discussed in the small group setting, and now is being personally wrestled with and applied to their personal life. A key point to this setting is that oftentimes the real issue will not be shared in a large group environment or a small group environment, but in a 1 on 1 setting it will. This provides the opportunity for the other person to relate the truths communicated in the large group setting on a very personal and applicable level.
While each setting is very strategic and important, I am constantly reminded that if people do not gather in circles and have the opportunity and encouragement to meet 1 on 1, then we are really missing the power of ministry. More likely than not, an excellent “row” experience will not produce significant life change. Most likely, in a “row” experience, people will come in contact with a very important truth that sounds great but they will lack the ability to actually apply it to the area in their life that needs it the most. This is why “circles”, with the ability to go 1 on 1, are so important. It is in these settings where important truths no longer sound great, but they hit home into the area of life that needs it the most.
