Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. – 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

As you can see from the above Scripture, an apostle, prophet, and teacher are the top three gifts. These three gifts are about teaching because God wants people to know Him and worship Him in spirit and truth:

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. – John 4:24

When a church leader divides believers into groups and appoints a head over each group, it means that a church leader is domineering over you. Do not give away your freedom which was given to you by Christ. Let no one lord over you:

You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. -1 Corinthians 7:23

Disciples of Jesus Christ must teach each other, encourage each other, and take care of each other with love. This is the godly way to build up the church:

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Small groups

The church leaders argue that the practice of dividing believers into small groups derived from Moses who divided Israelites into groups and appointed a judge over them. They refer to the below Scripture:

So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country. – Exodus 18:24-27

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