The below excerpt is from my book Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups. This revised and expanded edition shows church leaders how to make their small groups work. What would the church look like if we all got serious about our focus, eliminating the misguided ideas and habits bogging us down? Imagine if each one of us made a commitment … Read More
What happens when someone wants to join a small group between semesters?
The below excerpt is from my book Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups. This revised and expanded edition shows church leaders how to make their small groups work. What about the man, the woman, or the family who comes to my church after small groups have kicked off? They’ve missed the promotion month. Can they not get into a group? … Read More
The Power of Promotion in Small Groups
The below excerpt is from my book Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups. This revised and expanded edition shows church leaders how to make their small groups work. Six weeks to a month before the start of a new small group semester, it’s time to launch a promotion month. During this month, focus your attention on getting everyone in your … Read More
Think Promotion Months, Not Ongoing Sign-Ups
“So you’ve made a decision to implement the semester-based system in your church. But what happens if someone new comes to your church in the middle of a semester? Can they get involved in that group? While conventional wisdom would say, “Yes, of course! People can sign up and jump into a group at any time,” the reality is … Read More
Stagnation in Small Groups
“Stagnation usually happens if a group is together for longer than sixteen to eighteen weeks. At that point, people have had the chance to get incredibly comfortable with one another. When group members are so familiar with each other that they start knowing what other members are going to say before they say it, growth stalls. Everyone settles into … Read More
The 7 Advantages of Time-Bound Groups
“There are seven advantages to putting time boundaries on groups: The groups have a clear beginning and end date. It is easier for people to make short-term commitments. Time is allotted for concentrated promotion with sign-ups. It’s easier for new people to join a group when everyone is starting at the same time. There are more group options – … Read More
Adapting a Cultural Norm for Maximum Small Groups Success
“Taking a cue from the early gospel spreaders, my team and I asked an unusual question as we built the Activate system: What current cultural norms can be adapted to help give small groups momentum and success? The most obvious answer is the academic calendar. Our culture is defined by its educational system. People adhere to the flow of … Read More
The Pastor’s Role in Small Groups
“Remind yourself often that you cannot engineer deep relationships in your groups. That’s not your job anyway; it’s the work of the Holy Spirit. Your job is to create effective social spaces where people can meet new friends and learn about God with like-minded others. When you do that, the personal and intimate relationships you want your people to … Read More
Gauging the Success of Small Groups
“Let your group leaders know what success looks like. Make sure they don’t feel any pressure to create deep relationships between group members. Don’t let them think that if everyone isn’t crying together, sharing intimate details of their lives, or getting together outside of group meetings, they have failed. They haven’t. Teach your leaders that their small group is … Read More
Successful Groups Have Specific Dates
“Have specific beginning and end dates for your small groups. At The Journey, our groups last ten to twelve weeks. This gives people the freedom and flexibility to make a commitment they can stick with. Then, if a few people connect and become good friends, they can choose to be in a group together again the next semester. Inevitably, … Read More