Modern research is catching up with what Scripture has been telling us for centuries.
The Harvard Grant Study—one of the longest-running studies on adult development—found that the single greatest predictor of happiness and longevity wasn’t money or success. It was the quality of one’s relationships. The people who thrived in old age were the ones who had strong, stable, life-giving friendships. Not the richest. Not the most accomplished. The most connected.
Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad discovered that strong social connections increase a person’s chances of survival by 50%. In fact, being disconnected socially has a greater negative impact on health than smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Isolation, it turns out, is more dangerous than we realize. Community isn’t just good for your soul—it’s good for your heart, your mind, and even your immune system.
And psychologist Dr. Larry Crabb said, “The root of all personal problems is a lack of community.” He believed that most of what people seek from therapy could be found in a healthy, grace-filled small group. When people are truly known and still loved, healing begins. When they are challenged and encouraged, growth takes root. This is where discipleship flourishes—not in the anonymity of a crowd but in the context of meaningful, committed relationships.
Other studies have shown that people who regularly participate in small groups report higher levels of spiritual growth, more frequent Bible reading, greater accountability, and deeper life satisfaction. Simply put: small groups help people grow.