Small Group World

04.20.10

Small Groups and Church Planting I

I’m on Southwest Airlines flight #497 to Orlando. The purpose of this trip… to lead training sessions at Exponential Conference, an amazing annual church planting conference. I find myself reminiscing about my seven years as a church planter. God whispered in my ear that I should plant The Bridge, a healthy church in Spring Hill, TN. From the very beginning I knew she would be a church of small groups. What I didn’t realize was that starting a groups ministry when you don’t even have enough people for one group is completely different than starting groups in an established church with many people willing to lead groups as well as individuals longing to give groups a try.

Maybe you can learn from my mistakes, miscalculations, and experiences. For the next four days I’m going to make you aware of some of these miscues and let you know what I believe I should have done differently.

Today I’d just like to list some awarenesses I should have taken into consideration:

1. I had the opportunity to establish the group DNA that would permeate our groups for decades to come.

2. In order to establish effective DNA the training and nurturing of leaders to lead groups into the right DNA is vital.

3. Recruitment of small group leaders must be ongoing and apprenticing is a necessity.

4. I must trust people to lead groups who do not match the criterion for group leadership I espouse.

5. Some of those who become part of the church plant will want to start groups whose DNA differs from and that might sidetrack that of the church leadership.

6. When a church is being planted everyone is very busy as most individuals take on multiple jobs/roles.

7. Even if I plan to utilize a closed small group approach in the future, the multiplication of groups early in the church’s life is a necessity. Groups may need to multiply long before going through all the stages of group life so new people can have access to group life.

8. God will honor premature multiplication and use it to grow the church and her people.

9. Small groups are the way to close the back door as a church plant can offer few programs that attract and keep guests. Relationships are the key to retaining those who check your church plant out.

10. The senior pastor speaking of his group life journey, encouraging individuals to join a group, and leading one will establish the importance of small groups for years to come.