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The Class Meeting: Reclaiming a Forgotten (and Essential) Small Group Experience
From www.seedbed.com
In The Class Meeting, Kevin Watson pulls a play from the playbook of John Wesley and brings it to life for today’s Church.
"Because most small groups are built around curricular study resources, people rarely get down to the real substance of what small groups are all about: transformation, or becoming like Christ. Most Christians know much more than they are practicing or applying to their lives. Class meetings were essential for the first Methodists, and they are essential today, because they helped people grow in faith in Christ and learn how to follow Jesus with their lives." - Kevin Watson
The Class Meeting turns decisively to a time tested and proven method presenting a new solution. Though the early Methodists were a “people of one book,” they utilized the small group structure not to study the bible, but rather to lovingly engage one another in conversations about their souls. They developed a language and vocabulary to talk at deep levels about what the Holy Spirit was doing in their lives.
Watson's book unfolds a vision and a practical strategy for developing small groups that are much simpler than the typical group, while being more productive and with greater spiritual depth. The Class Meeting is structured into an eight-week study resource designed for a small group to work through together. Along the way, your group will be progressively equipped with a shared language to talk about the work of the Holy Spirit in the inner person and a structure for holding these kinds of meetings. After eight weeks, the book is laid aside and the class meeting is born.
In The Class Meeting, Kevin Watson pulls a play from the playbook of John Wesley and brings it to life for today’s Church.
"Because most small groups are built around curricular study resources, people rarely get down to the real substance of what small groups are all about: transformation, or becoming like Christ. Most Christians know much more than they are practicing or applying to their lives. Class meetings were essential for the first Methodists, and they are essential today, because they helped people grow in faith in Christ and learn how to follow Jesus with their lives." - Kevin Watson
The Class Meeting turns decisively to a time tested and proven method presenting a new solution. Though the early Methodists were a “people of one book,” they utilized the small group structure not to study the bible, but rather to lovingly engage one another in conversations about their souls. They developed a language and vocabulary to talk at deep levels about what the Holy Spirit was doing in their lives.
Watson's book unfolds a vision and a practical strategy for developing small groups that are much simpler than the typical group, while being more productive and with greater spiritual depth. The Class Meeting is structured into an eight-week study resource designed for a small group to work through together. Along the way, your group will be progressively equipped with a shared language to talk about the work of the Holy Spirit in the inner person and a structure for holding these kinds of meetings. After eight weeks, the book is laid aside and the class meeting is born.
153 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
7 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 21, 2024
This wonderful book describes and charts a path to personal transformation. Group transformation, and church transformation.
December 3, 2018
Disappointed. Small groups, especially those that take you to a deeper relationship with God and each other, are vital to the health of the church. The Wesley class meeting has traditionally been one of those ways. I expected to be taken into how to use class meetings effectively and a look at tradition and how to use them today. Just not there.
I found it especially frustrating that the other claims that the most important small group is the class meeting and minimizes the importance of all other groups. Then, proceeds to tell us why we should use his book to hold an informational small group.
There are some good points and ideas if you are willing to weed out the self promotion.
I found it especially frustrating that the other claims that the most important small group is the class meeting and minimizes the importance of all other groups. Then, proceeds to tell us why we should use his book to hold an informational small group.
There are some good points and ideas if you are willing to weed out the self promotion.
June 29, 2017
This book has taught me about the Methodist Class Meeting and, because I've been reading with four other people in the context of a small group meeting, has been instrumental in creating a class meeting.
When we started, we had trouble imagining what we would do, in the small group, once we finished the book. Last week, we felt eager to finish the book and get on with our Class Meeting! Mission accomplished.
When we started, we had trouble imagining what we would do, in the small group, once we finished the book. Last week, we felt eager to finish the book and get on with our Class Meeting! Mission accomplished.
January 1, 2021
I absolutely loved the concept of "The Class Meeting" from early Methodism and a challenge to return to this style of small groups. I really wish the author had covered how to make a group a safe space to share, before challenging group members to share deep and hard things. Also, a few of the chapters were a bit redundant. But, this concept is fabulous and also easily applied and duplicated in any size church. I love it!
October 21, 2022
This is an excellent book that walks through the Biblical and Historical foundations of the method of the Methodists. The great thing is that it sets up the readers to start groups. We're doing it, to the glory of God!
December 4, 2019
An outstanding and desperately-needed call to find new life in an “old” and abandoned practice...
July 14, 2020
Good if you are coming to Class Meetings for the first time. Love distinction of focus in church groups.
October 16, 2024
he is so right!
*now Im off to try and do this will check in with my real world roll out later
*now Im off to try and do this will check in with my real world roll out later
March 14, 2017
This is a good resource to starting transformative small groups. As the book states frequently, we are drowning in a sea of information focused small groups that promote limited life transformation. Do you want to become a follower of Christ that is drawn ever deeper in relationship to him? Learn from these pages how to start groups that grow into deeper relationship together.
December 11, 2013
This is a fantastic resource for churches and individuals who desire grow spiritually. Watson provides a book that is both an explanation of and a resource for a Christian small group experience known in Wesleyan parlance as a "class meeting".
One of the things I really appreciated about the book was Watson's distinction between types of faith formation groups and their levels of effectiveness in moving people into a deeper relationship with God; he offers a gentle but clear challenge to churches whose groups are often "affinity-driven" (like a moms group) or "information-driven" (book clubs or curriculum-based meetings) instead of "transformation-driven"(a Wesleyan class or band). The goal of discipleship developemnt ought to be one of a transformational experience of our triune God, not just reading another interesting book and not changing a life at all.
Watson also provides real-world examples of churches who have embraced the class meeting in a modern context. This is not just something Methodists/Wesleyans used to do, but something that we can and should continue to do today.
One of the things I really appreciated about the book was Watson's distinction between types of faith formation groups and their levels of effectiveness in moving people into a deeper relationship with God; he offers a gentle but clear challenge to churches whose groups are often "affinity-driven" (like a moms group) or "information-driven" (book clubs or curriculum-based meetings) instead of "transformation-driven"(a Wesleyan class or band). The goal of discipleship developemnt ought to be one of a transformational experience of our triune God, not just reading another interesting book and not changing a life at all.
Watson also provides real-world examples of churches who have embraced the class meeting in a modern context. This is not just something Methodists/Wesleyans used to do, but something that we can and should continue to do today.
February 26, 2015
Class Meetings were an integral vessel in bringing the treasure of Christ to early Methodists. Watson describes reasons why this was the case and pushes a vision of how it can, once again, be the case. The book is very easily read, and instructive enough to put it to practice if one chooses to do so. I read it because I share the authors convictions, and I'm even more convinced having finished it. I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to bring actual discipleship to a languishing community.
October 28, 2015
Kevin Watson introduces the reader to the reasons that Wesleyan small groups will encourage transformation. In our current world of nominal Christianity, it is refreshing to read how a basic Methodist meeting could once again revive. The question is really if the church is prepared for revival. The book's format with chapter lessons encourages thoughtful discussion.
The question remains, is the church prepared for change as Watson suggests?
The question remains, is the church prepared for change as Watson suggests?
December 26, 2025
Thought provoking way to reimagine small groups and develop as believers. We must be willing and ready to meet openly and honestly to share the means of grace in our lives. this is a great way for that!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews