What’s Your Group Strategy?
Whether you call them Sunday School, small groups, connect groups, life groups or discipleship groups, nearly every church I have ever heard of, has groups. The question is, what is their purpose and where are you trying to take people spiritually in these groups?
If you haven’t pondered why you do groups, and what different types of groups you may need, January is a great time to tackle that exercise. My friend, David Francis, whose job is to know all about groups at LifeWay, gave us some great information last week I thought might help you.
He told us there are two reasons churches begin groups:
- To accelerate spiritual growth
- To develop leaders
He also gave us a great definition of an open group: a group that expects new people to be there EVERY week.
Normally, these are the groups that meet around your worship service each week. Hopefully, what you’re studying is self-contained each week, so that a guest to your church could walk in and feel comfortable engaging in the lesson or discussion. If you’re three weeks into a six-week Bible study, that’s a bit tougher. Usually, these kinds of open groups, like Sunday School groups or small groups, help accomplish the multiple goals of fellowship and spiritual growth if they are done right.
One important point to consider: If you don’t have open groups as a part of your church experience, it’s going to be awfully tough getting guests comfortable and meshed into the life of your church. A very small percentage of people who attend your worship services as guests stick, grow as believers and get involved in the regular life of a church. It takes an open group to do that.
You also can have open groups that meet in locations other the church building. The premise is that it’s easier to get someone who is outside the church to come to a home Bible study. That’s true only if the leaders and churched participants in the group make it that way. If not, it’s just different. It’s a a covenant, grow or closed group.
Convenant groups are also essential part of any church. If you want to help people grow deeper and to help them become leaders, you need a different kind of group. Maybe the content is of primary importance to people who are already believers. Maybe you have people in your church who are ready to launch their own group, but they need some basic Biblical grounding. Or maybe a group of people just need some specific biblical help around the topic of parenting. They could be open or covenant groups, depending on what your strategy is for that specific group. Normally, covenant groups are set for a specific period of time — six weeks, eight weeks, etc. — and there is a pre-set goal for a piece of knowledge or skill you will acquire.
If you don’t have covenant groups, you probably don’t have enough leaders. If you need leaders, it’s time to intentionally develop them through covenant groups.
One important concept to understand. A group can’t be both open and covenant in nature. You have to choose which one a group will become.
That’s probably too long a blog post, but here’s where you come in. Tell me what kind of groups your church has, what your strategy is for these groups, and how they work. I will be interested in knowing how groups work in your church.
About the Author
Jim is the director of Young Adult Ministry at LifeWay Christian Resources. He has worked for the past 11 years in a variety of roles, ranging from marketing to publishing to Internet development. Before being called to full-time ministry, he worked as a reporter and editor at Alabama’s capital city daily newspaper, the Montgomery Advertiser, for 10 years. Prior to coming to LifeWay, he also worked as an adult-in-missions editor at the Brotherhood Commission in Memphis. Jim and his wife Tammy have been married for 23 years and have two sons, Spenser, 17, and Ethan, 10.
There have been 16 replies so far
We have a Bible Fellowship on Sundays to do two things: Help them grow Spiritually by studying the Bible together and to connect them with each other in the Church (fellowship). Many of our students go to a Christian college and have worship, small groups,classes etc. We’re trying to connect them to the church since that is the main thing that they are missing.
We have a night for fellowship and connection each week, but leader training has been a one on one effort so far. But that’s on my radar.
Your posts have been really helpful, so keep it up.
1 | JFRadosevich
Tuesday, January 13, 2009, at 10:19am
Joseph, Connecting college students to a church in the community where they go to school is a huge help to them. A church helps meet needs in a much different way than campus ministries do.
I remember being lost many weekends at my college because so many people had gone home for the weekend. Having a place to meet with other believers on Sundays was very significant for me, even though it was a short-term church home.
An open group like you are hosting is a great way to connect them with a church home. Thanks for posting.
2 | Jim Johnston
Tuesday, January 13, 2009, at 10:36am
We have a separate night of the week that we call Group Nite. We have a large group gathering and then we break off into small groups. For us, Small groups function to raise up leaders (we have a leader and a co-leader for each group), and to create spiritual growth and community within the church.
3 | David Santistevan
Tuesday, January 13, 2009, at 11:12am
David, Sounds like you have a strategy and tactics to accomplish your strategy. And it’s very simple and easy to understand for your people. Congrats! Sounds like you are doing very well. What do you study in your small groups? Just curious (and I am sure others would be as well).
4 | Jim Johnston
Wednesday, January 14, 2009, at 12:01pm
We’ve done different books in the past: “Don’t Waste Your Life” by John Piper, “Wide Awake” by Erwin McManus. This Spring we are doing the LifeMatters Bible study from you guys. Looking forward to it. We also try and tie in what our pastor is preaching on the weekends as a monthly outreach focus and/or discussion topic.
5 | David Santistevan
Wednesday, January 14, 2009, at 3:23pm
David, I am huge fan of Piper’s and in particular “Don’t Waste Your Life.” Have not seen “Wide Awake,” but I really enjoyed “The Barbarian Way” by McManus.
I am also, not surprisingly a big fan of LifeMatters.
Please let us know how it works for you.
6 | Jim Johnston
Wednesday, January 14, 2009, at 3:27pm
Thank you so much for this article. Our whole church has started small groups on Sunday nights instead of Sunday night services. I serve as the church’s and Baptist Association’s Single Director. Am now the small group leader for our church’s small group for singles. Sorry for such a big lead-in, but was trying to paint the picture.
Anyway, I’m having the hardest time getting single’s to even bother to show up. So any ideas or suggestions from you would be greatly appreciated. The 20-45 years don’t even bother and about 5 or 6 of the 45 and up will come ocassionally. This Sunday evening I’m starting the Andy Stanley Bible study called “Defining Moments” and would like to see at least 10 show up.
If any singles out there have any suggestions, please let me know. I really want to reach out and get them involved.
7 | Carol Boylston
Friday, January 16, 2009, at 9:41am
Carol, Have you tried any gender based groups? Sometimes, you have more success getting people to come and be actively involved if they know they can be fully honest and real. In a singles environment with men and women together, that can be difficult at times. I would also ask your folks what topics and Books of the Bible they are interested in and perhaps offer something from their list as well. Hope this helps and maybe others can offer help as well. jj
8 | Jim Johnston
Friday, January 16, 2009, at 9:48am
I am new to the College / Career aged young adults groups. I am taking a more top down approach to planning and strategizing my ministry at our church.
I am a firm believer in the fact that everything that is planned and done within your ministry must build upon each other, like building blocks. First you must have a solid foundation, then you build from there.
Here are some aress we are trying to address:
Sunday School
Discipleship Training
Topical Group Discussions
Open Forum discussions of topics which they can openly discuss issues / concerns they deal with in their daily lives. I would be happy to host these discussions at our home, but it is a long drive for some, but I am open to it if they are.
Of course this is something this age group loves to do, socialize. Just look at the success of Facebook and MySpace. I would have to get a feel for the type of social events they would like to be a part of and try to schedule accordingly.
• Christian Concerts • Bowling • Pizza Night • Movie Night • Ski Trips • Fishing (my favorite)
Praise and Worship Band
Where members of the student (middle/high schoole) Youth Praise Band could move over to after they graduate from High School. I would see this as something we could possible use as a witness tool by visiting other Churches, Schools and other events.
Currently researching into what materials I can use for the bible studies and discussion groups.
I am also a firm believe in using technolog in my ministry, so I envision using Facebook as a means to reach the College / Career Young Adults who can’t make the meetings. We will post discussion questions, scripture reading, etc. and will use it to share thoughts and ideas.
9 | Mark Ward
Friday, January 30, 2009, at 1:13pm
Mark, WOW! You have been thinking before you have been doing. I think you have the waterfront covered. I hope you can find some Bible study resources here that help you accomplish your goals.
10 | Jim Johnston
Friday, January 30, 2009, at 1:23pm
Of course I am looking at the THREAD Studies. I personally like “The Exchange” by Joel Engle. I held a bible study at my home for my youth group at our other church, but I think it was too much for the 16 - 17 year olds, so I am going to try it again with this age group.
11 | Mark Ward
Friday, January 30, 2009, at 1:30pm
You da man! Whenever you do one with a group, let us know what works and what doesn’t. We need to keep getting better for the people who use our studies. Thanks!
12 | Jim Johnston
Friday, January 30, 2009, at 1:32pm
will do! I love to share what I have done. Don’t know if you caught it in my previous post, but I am very much interested in reaching this age group using technology they are fimilar with like Facebook. I use alot of short video clips, and notes that I post. Come check me out and my group I created on Facebook. My Facebook Name is “Mark Weston Ward”.
13 | Mark Ward
Friday, January 30, 2009, at 2:19pm
Since no churches in the area were offering any sort of young adult programs, we started our own about a year ago. We’ve grown to about 15-18 people on a regular weekly basis (which is pretty exciting for the small town we live in). We are now having the discussion about when/how to divide the group as it has become just a little too big for intimate conversation and discussion. I’m afraid it might get messy since we had no set plan or definition of the group. I think we’re afraid that if we try to split it, we’ll kill it. Any advice?
14 | Dan Deitrich
Thursday, February 5, 2009, at 1:45am
By the way, we’re working through the Get Uncomfortable series right now. I can’t get over how appropriately named it is. It’s really striking a nerve in our group. There have been a wide range of reactions. There are some who are outright angry at the book! Others don’t like it because “it makes them feel guilty,” others are getting more and more excited about it each week. We’ve had some pretty intense discussion. Thankfully the group is really good at keeping things civil. I’ll let you know in 3 weeks where we end up…
15 | Dan Deitrich
Thursday, February 5, 2009, at 1:50am
Dan, Thanks for the post and your experience with Get Uncomfortable. It is a great study, but the title is very appropriate. The message gets under your skin.
As far as the group, I have been in this place before. Here’s my suggestion. Don’t divide this group. Find another leader and start another grouup, with a different purpose and aim.
One of the problems you have with a Bible study group is that not everyone is interested in getting into that personal intimate space. Some people just want to gather in a social space and study the Bible. They really aren’t interested in the intimacy thing.
So, keep the primary group. Launch another group with another purpose. Maybe’s it too grow your leaders. Maybe it’s to get more into the areas of accountability and and spiritual growth.
You might start a men’s or a women’s group that would meet in addition to your primary group.
Hope this helps.
16 | Jim Johnston
Thursday, February 5, 2009, at 8:38am
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