Two trends I’ve been noticing are:
1 - Small is the new Big.
Look around at the explosion of minimalism and tiny homes. Small is a big deal. In the church world, if we don’t learn how to master the art of breaking larger gatherings of people into smaller groups, we will never be effective at raising large numbers disciples.
2 - Simple is better than ever.
The world is so complicated today, there are so many things vying for our time and energy. I think if we can simply do simple things well, we will actually make a big impact in the lives of others.
So here are five simple keys to life changing small groups.
Fun
Be sure to keep the mood light and fun. People open up when they are laughing and having a good time. Think ways to break the ice and have a good time each week with your group.
Food
Many times Jesus taught people while eating a meal together. You don’t have to have a full meal at your gatherings but some beverages and light snacks will go a long way in setting the tone for the evening.
Friendly
Everyone wants to go where someone knows their name. Make your groups strategically friendly. Pick a few people to help you make sure everyone is not just greeted but feels completely welcomed and a part of your gathering.
Faith
Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. Every week make sure that you put some element of God’s word and prayer into your group. Also, give everyone a chance to be a part of the discussion every week. Groups are not so much a time of “preaching” as they are “participation”. Every week give your group a chance to grow by participating in the discussion of faith.
Follow Up
John Maxwells statement, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” is so true. Because of this, follow Up is one of the greatest keys to a healthy small group.
Let people know you care about them.
Let people know you were glad they were there.
Let people know you want them to return again.
Let people know that you missed them when they weren’t able to attend.
Three easy ways to follow up every week.
1. Send a personal text message. Don’t ever send a message that does not include their name.
2. Send a hand written Post Card. Make it personal to them, not just a push to attend your group.
3. Make plans to connect with them at Church on Sunday or grab a coffee before or after the service.
I know. I know. This is so simple. Fun, Food, Friends, Faith, and Follow Up. It has to be more complicated than that. Well, no I don’t think it does. When you look at the first church we see that they, gathered in the temple, they broke bread, house to house, focusing on the teachings of scripture, and every day people got saved.
What if we just focused on doing simple things really well in small environments. I think, not only would our life be a little easier, we might just make a bigger impact. .