--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Bible tells us that the small groups…" description: "\"“The Bible tells us that the small groups in New Testament times pursued the biblical purposes of fellowship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism, and w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/steve-gladen-55524_bible_the-bible-tells-us-that-the-small-groups_267188.jpg" --- # The Bible tells us that the small groups in New Testament… ![“The Bible tells us that the small groups in New Testament times pursued the biblical purposes of fellowship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism, and worship.” quote by Steve Gladen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/steve-gladen-55524_bible_the-bible-tells-us-that-the-small-groups_267188.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/steve-gladen-55524_bible_the-bible-tells-us-that-the-small-groups_267188.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/steve-gladen-55524_bible_the-bible-tells-us-that-the-small-groups_267188.jpg) > ““The Bible tells us that the small groups in New Testament times pursued the biblical purposes of fellowship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism, and worship.”” [Steve Gladen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-gladen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early Christian small groups focused on fellowship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism, and worship to fulfill biblical purposes. **In simple terms:** Small groups pursued core Christian duties. Key Takeaway Engage in community for spiritual growth. Themes faith community discipleship ministry evangelism worship Mood reverent thoughtful encouraging Type theological practical When to use this quote - church planting - small group leadership - spiritual formation Key Concepts biblical purpose group dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can these purposes be applied today? - What challenges face small groups now? A Different Perspective Modern contexts may differ from ancient practices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Discipleship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship/) [New testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-testament/) [Small groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-groups/) ## Related quotes > [The Bible never tells us to take a blind leap of faith into the darkness and hope that there's somebody out there. The Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-bible-never-tells-us-to-take-a-blind-leap-of-faith-into-the/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Contrary to Western evangelicalism’s obsession with the individual, discipleship is and always was a group project. No one in the New Testament followed independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-stetzer/contrary-to-western-evangelicalism-s-obsession-with-the-individual/) [Ed Stetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-stetzer/) > [“Fellowship: “They joined in the fellowship . . . and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” That’s important in the body of Christ—recognizing that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gladen/fellowship-they-joined-in-the-fellowship-and-ate-together-with-glad/) [Steve Gladen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-gladen/) > [The Bible tells me that every life is holy; the Bible tells me that every life is loved; the Bible tells me that every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-bible-tells-me-that-every-life-is-holy-the-bible-tells-me-that/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The sum and substance of the preparation needed for a coming eternity is that you believe what the Bible tells you, and do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/the-sum-and-substance-of-the-preparation-needed-for-a-coming-eternity/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-bible-tells-us-to-love-our-neighbors-and-also-to-love-our-enemies/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The battle going on over gay marriage in America reveals an awful lot. The Bible belt - people hate gay people. Because the Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-battle-going-on-over-gay-marriage-in-america-reveals-an-awful-lot/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [The Bible tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Surely part of loving in this way is trying to understand what another person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/the-bible-tells-us-to-love-our-neighbors-as-ourselves-surely-part-of/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [My faith in God is a huge part of my life, and yeah He has blessed me with an amazing family, and group of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-hamilton/my-faith-in-god-is-a-huge-part-of-my-life-and-yeah-he-has-blessed-me/) [Bethany Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-hamilton/) > [The Bible tells us that God will meet all our needs. He feeds the birds of the air and clothes the grass with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/the-bible-tells-us-that-god-will-meet-all-our-needs-he-feeds-the/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) > [The Bible tells us to be perfect. This is likely a scary thought for many people. It used to scare me. I didn't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/the-bible-tells-us-to-be-perfect-this-is-likely-a-scary-thought-for/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“The Bible tells the story of the Hebrew prophet Daniel, who was able to read mysterious words that appeared on the wall of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-clarke/the-bible-tells-the-story-of-the-hebrew-prophet-daniel-who-was-able/) [Richard A. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-clarke/) > [“But if there is an ongoing, nagging disconnect between, on the one hand, what I can and must affirm to be true and good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-knitter/but-if-there-is-an-ongoing-nagging-disconnect-between-on-the-one-hand/) [Paul F. Knitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-knitter/) > [My Bible tells me that if we train a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/my-bible-tells-me-that-if-we-train-a-child-in-the-way-he-should-go/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, they are weak, but he is strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reba-mcentire/jesus-loves-me-this-i-know-for-the-bible-tells-me-so-little-ones-to/) [Reba McEntire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reba-mcentire/) ## More by Steve Gladen > [“Satan doesn’t want you applying the principles in this book. He will do all he can to make you feel insecure and fearful, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gladen/satan-doesn-t-want-you-applying-the-principles-in-this-book-he-will/) [Steve Gladen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-gladen/) > [“The Bible tells us that suffering is the product of a broken and fallen world. But as believers, we are blessed to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gladen/the-bible-tells-us-that-suffering-is-the-product-of-a-broken-and/) [Steve Gladen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-gladen/) > [“Fellowship: “They joined in the fellowship . . . and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” That’s important in the body of Christ—recognizing that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gladen/fellowship-they-joined-in-the-fellowship-and-ate-together-with-glad/) [Steve Gladen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-gladen/) > [“Be comfortable with silence. Fifteen seconds of silence in group life can seem like an eternity—especially when you are the leader. But realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gladen/be-comfortable-with-silence-fifteen-seconds-of-silence-in-group-life/) [Steve Gladen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-gladen/) > [“Your role as a small group leader is not one of a teacher or sage: “I am up here and you are down there.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gladen/your-role-as-a-small-group-leader-is-not-one-of-a-teacher-or-sage-i/) [Steve Gladen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-gladen/) [Explore all 6 Steve Gladen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-gladen/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) Robert A. Peterson > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) Stephen Taylor > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) Walsham How > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The Bible tells us that the small groups in New Testament times pursued the biblical purposes of fellowship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism, and worship.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Gladen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gladen/the-bible-tells-us-that-the-small-groups-in-new-testament-times/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bible" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gladen/the-bible-tells-us-that-the-small-groups-in-new-testament-times/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/steve-gladen-55524_bible_the-bible-tells-us-that-the-small-groups_267188.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/steve-gladen-55524_bible_the-bible-tells-us-that-the-small-groups_267188.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/steve-gladen-55524_bible_the-bible-tells-us-that-the-small-groups_267188.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Bible tells us that the small groups in New Testament times pursued the biblical purposes of fellowship…” — Steve Gladen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Steve Gladen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-gladen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The Bible tells us that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gladen/the-bible-tells-us-that-the-small-groups-in-new-testament-times/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gladen/the-bible-tells-us-that-the-small-groups-in-new-testament-times/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```