Ill hit on this more below, but theres a chance youll need to simplify your churchs calendar by reducing some ministries in order to build other ministries. If someone in the group expressed a need, try to meet it a ride to a job interview, a meal on a hectic day, a call to follow up a prayer request, etc. Here are some prayers from the Bible for your church: I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace., And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.. Serve them. Did you create a warm atmosphere? Follow the spiritual leadership of others (Hebrews 13:17). Choose icebreakers that will work for both small and large groups. Be sure to explain anything that may not be clear during the discussion, such as quotations or references. But leading by example is essential to encouraging your church to participate in small groups. See how they can be an important part of your small group, and how you can create an environment where anyone can come and feel safe to explore faith. Never underestimate the value of this part of the study. This timeframe isnt a hard rule, and we dont have data saying whether its best to go with 3 weeks or 6 weeks or more. Small Groups That Reach Out: Why Its Better When You Help Others, they can be an important part of your small group, How to Prepare an Effective Small Group Lesson, How to Guide a Meaningful Group Discussion, How to Build Community in Your Small Group, receive weekly tips about leading a small group, (Almost) Everything You Need to Know About Leading a Small Group., Four Key Components of a Small Group Meeting. An icebreaker is something that gets each group member talking and sharing early on. As you do so, you also want to focus on building a church culture that readily embraces community. What other adjustments do you need to make. Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Did Jesus need this motley crew to help him? Be ready for people to share the messy parts of their lives as well as the polished parts. You can start in the range of six to eight weeks and make adjustments after three weeks. These believers engaged in life together through teaching, fellowship, communion, prayer, miracles, radical generosity, and corporate worship. Speaking of a lack of time, your church may be unintentionally leading people to stumble and fall before they even commit to joining a small group, which brings me to my next point.
Beware of this trap, and be sure to consider those who dont know Christ yet as you invite others. Snacks are a nice addition to a study. God calls us to love, not in an abstract or superficial way, but in a deep, face to face, life-on-life, transformative waywhich is difficult and inevitably messy. Thats not to say you should minimize the Bible, but if the people in the group dont know each other, its important that they learn more about each other. Choose one that will lead you into your discussion in that days study or one thats just fun. If you wont naturally see them, you can call or text them instead. These communities not only equip their members for service but also expose sin and call people to adore Christ. Be sure to introduce yourself and explain how you got their names and numbers. Partner with Cru on a short-term missions trip.
Find resources for personal or group Bible study. In this post, I want to help you create a plan for your church to increase your small group attendance. Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. 
Start with your icebreaker and then transition into your study. Talk about the benefits of living in community with other Christians. It is one thing to study the lesson yourself; it is another thing to lead it. If 100 percent of your church is in a small group, then that indicates your church isn't experiencing new growth. Will their children be in the same room during discussions? Social media doesnt have to be complicated, and it AboutContactJobsPrivacy PolicyTerms & Conditions, BlogPodcastStaff Meeting IdeasGuide to ReopeningPastors ToolboxGuide to StewardshipData Fueled Church. Be sure to let them know you are glad they are coming. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others (2 Timothy 2:2, New Living Translation). We want to present them to God perfect in their relationship to Christ. The apostles continued Jesus' model and formed a community of believers who loved God and loved one another. Regardless of how your churchs small groups takes care of children, be sure to share this with parents to help them prepare. In addition, the 50-plus "one another" verses in the New Testament flesh out other aspects of this community. But dont let them prevent you from thoroughly preparing your content! It would be impossible to experience biblical community apart from spiritually significant, intentional relationships with other believers. Showing God in action in and through His people. If you offer more than one program, you could be at fault for not growing your small group ministry. Be sure to end promptly. They also use various models, numerous strategies for connection, various plans for assimilation, and church-specific vision and goals for their group ministries. The culture of your church may not be ready to support a small group ministry. May God bless your labor. Memorize this verse: Having thus a fond affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us (1 Thessalonians 2:8, New American Standard Bible). Choose an icebreaker for each meeting. Remember that the goal of leading a small group is changed lives. The following are a few key biblical foundations, ministry purposes, and benefits of small groups. Will they need to provide their own childcare? Guest: Bobby Williams Social Media is one of the best tools we have to continue ministry outside of the hour on Sunday. Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. Make sure there are plenty of comfortable seats. Dont mislead them into thinking that youll just be hanging out and then suddenly pull out a Bible and say, Hey, lets all look at the Bible It will probably be the last time you see them there. Here are some ideas for you.
At key times during the year, promote short-term small groups people can join for 36 weeks. If the time/place isnt convenient for multiple people who are interested, could you change it? Choose activities that will help people get to know each other but wont feel intrusive for people who may not feel comfortable opening up right away. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. Afterward, Im going to share four promotional tactics you can use to increase small group participation. Note that Jesus did not say people will know we are Christians by how many churches we build, how many Bible studies we complete, how many prayers we say, or how many people come to our church. Do people in your church value small groups? Feeling pressure to pray out loud (which can happen even if you dont ask them to) can make people not want to return to a study. If people forgot, you could call them an hour before. You must be willing to demonstrate Gods love to the people in your group. When it comes to training your small group leaders, you can: Theres more than one way you can train your leaders. 
Become familiar with the content. Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. This passage is often used in the context of marriage, but it also speaks to our fundamental need to connect with others in the human community. Youll most likely have Christians in your group, but its important to invite and welcome people who dont yet have a relationship with God to join you as well. During this time, yes, you want to continue to promote your small groups. If someone didnt hear the sermon or didnt read the chapter, give a summary at the beginning or write up a summary and give everyone a few minutes to read it before the discussion. You need someone who desires to lead and has an ability to facilitate conversations. If your church prioritizes small groups, you will need to consistently promote them to your church. Growing into maturity is a continual process. What portion of the time do you want to spend on each aspect? When people walk into a small group setting for the first time, they often ask three questions (usually subconsciously): Work hard to give people a positive experience. But if you dont pray for the spiritual growth and well-being of your people, then dont be surprised if your efforts only provide short-term results and dont lead to lasting change. For more ideas on how you can incorporate prayer in your group, check out How to Lead a Prayer Meeting.. Whoever leads your small groups, youll need to equip him or her for success. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. All the time is a great time to spread the gospel of love and hope, but people are listening now more than ever. Instead, we need to declare our dependence upon the Most High God at the onset and seek His will every step of the way. The litmus test is clear: people will know we are Christ-followers when we love each other the way Jesus does. Did people who had expressed interest but didnt show up contact you before or after the meeting to tell you why? For example, if your church provides sermon-based small groups, be sure to provide the questions your small group leaders need ahead of time. Im not talking about asking them to go door-to-door in their neighborhood to pass out tracts. Do your staff members, elders or deacons, or key leaders participate in a small group? In the words of Charles Spurgeon, prayer is the powerhouse of [the] church.. In general, in the life of your church, you'll observe these patterns: Since your church will experience these patterns, you should expect to see increases and decreases in your small group attendance. Sign up for our newsletter: When you struggle to lead people to sign up for small groups, your problem may not necessarily be a lack of promotion. Regular access to innovative training resources, Bible-based curriculum, and practical articles. There's no sin yet and no disobedience; man is in perfect intimacy with God. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. By supplying this information, youll set up your leaders to focus on facilitating a conversationnot spending a few hours in a Bible study getting ready. We need each other to help us know the truth about who we are, who God is, and how we can live in light of those truths. In many ways, your small group leaders can serve like mini-pastors under your care and direction. Here are three ways you can equip your small group leaders: Dont assume your small group leaders know what you know or believe what your church believes.
But strive to counsel people one-on-one to help them overcome their fears. Read Gospel-Centered Small Groups to learn more about the power of small groups. (Some people may feel awkward regardless of how welcoming you are, but if most people seemed relaxed and open, thats a good indication you created a good environment). During these events, youre encouraging people who are not in a small group to join one. As you preach about biblical community, show your church how small groups help build relationships and this sense of interdependence. Think about whom you want to invite and what location would be best for them. One big hurdle you have to help parents cross is what theyll do with their children. Here are four components that are key to most small groups or Bible studies that will answer your questions. For example, it was a place where people loved, forgave, served, bore burdens, encouraged, exhorted, prayed, equipped, spoke truth in love, confessed sins, and treated each other as precious members of one body. If you are working with predetermined content, such as questions based on weekly sermons or a book, make sure that anyone who comes can still participate in the discussion. As you trust Him to work through you (focusing on His power as opposed to your weaknesses), He will move in your life and the lives of others. So the goal of small groups is to create environments where Spirit-driven, life-giving experiences can flourish. They dont have much wiggle room or emotional bandwidth to simply get involved with a small group. Read, Prepare to lead or guide the lesson. If you arent sure, ask a trusted friend who knows you well and who will be honest and kind with you where you are in each of these areas.
But its equally as important for your church members to live life together throughout the rest of the week. Families in your church and community are busy. To do this, you need to have a supportive church culture that embraces and values biblical community. By launching small groups in the fall (September) or winter (January), you can align with the time at which parents or guardians are getting back into a rhythm with school and extracurricular activities. Heres what you should expect to be up against. Different levels of spiritual maturity among members will dictate different amounts of time for each part, and the balance of time will likely be different as the group grows and its members get to know one another. You need more than a warm body to serve as a small group leader. 
12). Ultimately, small groups are a way of living out our purpose, both as individuals and as a collective group of believersto be the church. What strengths do they have? Make sure you have contacted all group members and that they know when, where and at what time the group is, as well as a little of what they can expect from the group. How can we apply these "one another" references unless we are in intentional, close relationships with each other? Several questions may come to mind as you plan your small group. You are who you are today because someone knew you by name and invested in you. And yet, God declares that man is alone and that it is not good. The focus of the Great Commission, the verses above, is to make disciples that is, followers of Jesus. Serve others rather than only being served (Philippians 2:3-11). Plan the specifics for your meeting. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. The reason behind intentional Christian community. Take time to thank Him for all He did. Theyre offended by Christians. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. Begin by introducing people to one another. To prioritize small groups, you need to take an honest look at your churchs calendar to see if you can eliminate any activity to create more margin in the life of your church to participate in small groups.
When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. When we look at the early church we get a picture of small communities of people who followed Jesus together. The following five heart attitudes will help keep you in check as a leader. Where do they need growth? God never intended for us to live the Christian life alone. As you promote your small groups, pray for God to work in the lives of your church members and build a life-giving Christian community. We tack on a last-minute, all-encompassing prayers asking God to bless well-made plans. Ask God for wisdom about how He wants to work in their lives. As you get together in your group, look for things that will alert you to their individual needs so you will be able to better serve them. What matters is giving new people a taste of community, an opportunity to meet new people, and a chance to learn more about your church. A big part about being made in Gods image is community. Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God. Take the time to prayerfully think through the challenges youll face, build a church culture that values biblical community, and make sure everyone in your church hears about your small groups more than once. We often think it takes a certain type of person to be a great teacher or dynamic leader, but God is more interested in your availability to Him than your natural abilities. Small groups exist as a way for people to engage in biblical community that helps them become more like Jesus in every area of their lives. Does everyone in your church know about small groups? That is why what happens between you and another person is never merely human-to-human interactionthe Spirit longs to be powerfully at work in every encounter." people are attending worship services less often, three ideal small group childcare options, How To Rebuild Unity In Your Church After 2020, Moving Your Church Membership Classes Online | Church Fuel Podcast Episode 2.1, How Churches Can Use Social Media During Covid-19, New people commit to your church as members, Current small group participants stop attending, 6 reasons why people dont join small groups, 6 surefire ways to increase your small group participation, Offer one-on-one coaching or group sessions. Is biblical community a value embraced by your churchs leadership and staff? One big concern people have is committing to a long-term group. Its never too late to create a church culture that supports biblical community and small groups. Dont delay. Leaders who dont plan are ultimately more stressed and can hinder the groups growth. So, if your church members are tied up with other programs and ministries in your church, then they wont have the time to join a small group. Though social media and other technology have made our world seemingly more connected, people have fewer genuine friends than ever before. He's the only one who can truly help your church members prioritize their spiritual growth. Said another way, you want your church to value small groups as an essential part of their lifenot just as another program. It feels scary and threatening to allow ourselves to be known or to invest in knowing someone else at a deep level. Alan Danielson, Peri Gilbert, Dean Deguara, and more, Expert advice on creating a custom plan for your ministry, Mark Howell, Rick Howerton, Bill Donahue, and more. The building blocks of anything your church sets out to accomplish is prayer.
