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Sermon-Based Small Groups or Small Group-Based Sermons?
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Many churches are developing small group curriculum or agendas based around the weekly worship service teaching. The teaching pastor or other staff take the teaching and develop questions, video, or other tools that can be used in small groups that week. That type of system can be very effective at bringing a sense of unity to the church as a whole, and can also help small groups develop consistent healthy practices. From my own experience, and from feedback from many churches who have done sermon-based small groups, the strategy is very effective, particularly early on, but can lose its effectiveness over time.
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Starting Over: Re-Launching Small Group Ministry
Once upon a time, someone tried to start a "small group program" in your church and it failed miserably. The whys and wherefores of the failure are irrelevant. The fact is, though, now you are stuck with the ever-present naysayers whose mantra is, "We tried that…." In spite of that, you know small groups are still the most efficient way to disciple, so you are committed to a resurrection. The question is, will you use a bulldozer or something with a bit more finesse?
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Restoring Life to Small Group Ministry
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One of the greatest mistakes made by church leaders who want to reintroduce a small group ministry is that they make their first step an announcement from the pulpit. I have talked with dozens of pastors who took this well-intentioned step and it had catastrophic results because those who had a less-than-favorable experience felt disregarded, retired leadership felt dismissed and residual leadership (if any) felt disrespected. There is a critical pre-game plan that must be executed in private before going public. The life-saving practice of CPR offers a helpful pattern to follow.
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Questions to Ask if You Are Restarting
Here is a common scenario in small group ministry…
Your church tried small groups a few years ago. It was a disaster. You know you ought to try again, but church members are resistant when they recall the previous attempt. How can you be successful this time around?
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Chronic Jump-start Syndrome
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When small group ministry goes through a significant downturn or decline, it may become necessary to declare the ministry terminally ill and begin planning and praying for a resurrection. The resurrection may involve a total restart of the ministry.
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Got Small Groups?
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Interestingly enough, I do not know of one church that does not have small groups in one form or another. Many of them do not have a declared small group ministry, but people will get into small groups regardless of whether or not small groups is an official ministry. People naturally and automatically seek out relationships.
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Small Groups Simply Don’t Work
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You are absolutely right. They do not work if you are talking about small groups as a program of the church, a way to grow your church, a popular alternative to Sunday school, or one of the many ministry options offered on the local church menu.
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Re-Starting Small Groups
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While serving conventional churches, many have experienced difficulty in getting small groups up and running. It might make you wonder what makes it so difficult to get them started. Here are a couple of thoughts, as well as a few suggestions, for getting them started.
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Church Planters Diary
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Church Planting Diary – 10th Entry "Training Small Group Leaders"
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Church Planters Diary
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Church Planting Diary – 9th Entry "Training vs. Trying"
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