💻 JOIN ORANGE CONFERENCE FROM ANYWHERE — DISCOVER THE ONLINE EVENT

Do Small Groups Still Work?

In a post-pandemic time, do small groups still work? Are small bible study groups still the best way to grow the faith the next generation? Our answer is a resounding YES! Here's why.
Do small groups still work?

It’s not unusual for me to be asked, “Do small groups really work?” And, considering how hard the last few years have been and all the adjustments we’ve had to make to how we do church, do they STILL work?

 

My answer has been, and will continue to be a resounding YES! It’s yes because…

 

Relationships sustain ministries where programs fail.

 

As we watched the world shut down a few years ago, as we watched the word ‘pivot’ become regular and hated, as we anxiously wondered where the church would land and who we would still have on the other side of a pandemic, something became abundantly clear. Relationships sustained ministry while programs failed.

 

And, as I write that, I recognize it sounds obvious. I mean, of course relationships win. But, if I’m honest about what really drives many ministries is program over relationship. What do I mean? Well, when we saw churches shut down and pivot to an online model, those with a great program watched their numbers quickly decrease. Sometimes after a brief increase with the novelty of it all. Then, when they could ‘reopen,’ they discovered they had lost a sizeable amount of their crowd. We might call it scalability or efficiency, but the places the system was more important than the people became obvious.

 

Other ministries which were oriented around relationship, like the kind in small groups, could quickly ask leaders to shepherd their people (which they were already doing) and purposely track with them relationally (which they may or may not have been doing, but a zoom world made vital). When these ministries ‘reopened,’ they found they had sustained if not grown. It’s been a wild thing to witness.

 

Jesus modeled small groups.

 

We were designed to be in relationship, in community. It’s who the triune God is and it’s how Jesus lived on earth. Small Groups will always work because Jesus knew people. He knew this was a great way to love and disciple people.

Okay, He didn’t call them small groups, but it is what He modeled for us. The picture we get in scripture is that over time Jesus preached to great multitudes of people. He likely had dozens of people following Him around by the end of His ministry. However, He focused on just 12 men and a couple of women. And of those, He really spent the most intimate time with Peter, James, and John.

 

The outcome of his ministry was explosive because those people He most invested in understood how to really love people and how to live on mission for Him.

 

Small groups are hard, but they’re effective.

 

I’ve got to be honest, small groups are hard work. You have to find, get to know, train, and follow up with leaders–way more leaders than if you just threw a killer up front program. Not only do you need more leaders, you’re looking for a high-quality volunteer, not a chaperone, but a shepherd. You’ll also have to give up control and know people won’t always do things the way you do. If you’re in NextGen ministry, you know you’re going to have to take angry parent calls about something someone else did that you may not even know about.

 

They’re hard, but they’re effective because…

 

  • The best way for a kid to know God is to give them an adult who loves God and loves them,
  • Research shows us that more healthy, consistent adults in kids’ lives are always a good thing.
  • Every one of us is uniquely designed for Kingdom purpose. There are adults just waiting to live out that purpose with the next generation.

 

You and I can only invest in so many, but these incredible adults can invest in more.

And when we create a small group culture our care and shepherding and growth is unstoppable.

 

Small groups are great practice for life.

 

Following Jesus isn’t always easy. In a world that is becoming increasingly post-Christian, it’s getting harder for Jesus-followers to know how to live out our faith. The beautiful thing about healthy small groups is they give us a place to practice, live out, challenge, champion, question and shape our faith. It’s a safe space for us to process our lives and spur us on to look for more. Small groups not only help the next generation grow in their faith, they help us grow in ours.

 

Yes, small groups still work!

FREE TRAINING

Train Your Volunteers to Understand Each Phase

Tips for Experiencing Orange Conference Solo

How To Prepare Kids and Students for Their Next Grade in Your Ministry With A Promotion Strategy

Don't Miss What's Next

Get free resources for today, and the latest thinking for tomorrow from Orange.