10 Commandments of Small Groups

I've been thinking about what small group ministry should look like.  What if we applied the Ten Commandments to small groups?  I think it would look something like this:

1. You shall have no other gods.  Small groups should be focused on God.
2. You shall have no idols that distract you from God.  That includes your cell phones, televisions, and grandfather clocks.
3. You shall honor the name of God.  That includes being sincere and truthful when talking to and about God.
4. Remember the Sabbath.  Your group should have regularly scheduled time set aside to meet together.  Meeting "whenever we can" will soon translate into meeting "never."
5. Honor one another.  (Jesus said that those who do the will of God are his brother and sister and mother.  Honoring one another is to keep the commandment to honor our parents.)
6. Have an attitude of reconciliation.  (This is the opposite of murder.)
7. Nurture healthy relationships.  (This is the opposite of adultery.)
8. Allow each member of the group to share their thoughts and gifts as they are comfortable to do so.  Don't force it or try to one-up one another.  (This is the opposite of theft.)
9. Speak with love.  This means offering truth, encouragement, and confidentiality to each member of the group.  (This is the opposite of giving false witness.)
10. Appreciate and respect what each member brings to the group.  (This is the opposite of covetousness.)  

This blog may or may not include original thought. It was severely influenced by Gareth Weldon Icenogle's Biblical Foundations for Small Group Ministry: An Integrational Approach.