In recent decades the traditional Sunday morning church service has been complemented—and in some cases replaced—by more intimate and relational gatherings. For a growing number of Christians, the most meaningful expressions of faith, worship, and community are not experienced in a sanctuary, but in homes, living rooms, and coffee shops. The primary small group has increasingly become the spiritual centerpiece of their Christian life, even to the point where it is regarded as their “church.”
This shift raises important questions about what it means to “be the church” and how local congregations can both support and integrate the rise of relational discipleship models. Why are more people identifying their small group as their main church experience? And what are the implications for church leaders, communities, and the body of Christ at large?
Why the Primary Small Group Is Becoming the Main Spiritual Home for Many Believers
The Appeal of Deep Community
At the heart of the shift toward making the primary small group the central experience of church life is the desire for genuine, deep relationships. In many congregations, Sunday services are large, structured, and sometimes impersonal. Worship and teaching can be powerful, but they often don’t leave much space for personal engagement, vulnerability, or discipleship.
By contrast, a small group offers a space for believers to know and be known. Within these smaller gatherings, individuals are more likely to be prayed for by name, challenged personally in their spiritual growth, and engaged in mutual accountability. People often experience a stronger sense of belonging in a group of 6 to 12 than in a crowd of hundreds.
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Flexible Models of Faithfulness
The traditional church service follows a model that works well for many, but it can also present obstacles for others. Families with young children, shift workers, those with disabilities, or people who live far from their church buildings often find it more sustainable to plug into a home-based or midweek small group. The flexibility of time, place, and format allows these gatherings to meet real-life needs in a way that Sunday morning might not.
Moreover, in an age of growing digital engagement and hybrid church expressions, the traditional model is no longer the only pathway to faith formation. A person who listens to a sermon podcast, worships online, and then engages deeply in weekly fellowship with their primary small group may feel fully connected to a spiritual body—even if they rarely attend the institutional church setting.
