I wrote last week about the 5 Commitments that Propel and Sustain Small Group Ministry. Hopefully, that helped confirm that you're on the right track or set your sights on a modified course.

Today I want to walk you through what I believe are the 5 main compromises that derail small group ministry.

Here they are:

5 main compromises that derail small group ministry

1. Delegating the small group champion role to the small group pastor

By now, this should be crystal clear. If you want to build a thriving small group ministry, the senior pastor cannot delegate the role of small group champion. In order to build a thriving small group ministry you must have full senior pastor engagement in the role of champion. They are the most influential person in the church almost 100% of the time. Failure to step fully into the role of champion will derail small group ministry every time.

If you want to build a thriving small group ministry, the senior pastor cannot delegate the role of small group champion. Click To Tweet

See also, Your Senior Pastor as Small Group Champion Leads to a Church OF Groups.

2. Making a short-term commitment to a long-term project

Building a thriving small group ministry is a long-term project. It takes year in, year out commitment. It's easy to attend conferences, read books, and even hire consultants. It is much harder and it takes great determination to arrive at the preferred future. Selling or buying the notion that burst of energy for one or two years will get it done leads to the mistaken belief that "small groups just don't work here."

Building a thriving small group ministry is a long-term project. It takes year in, year out commitment. It's easy to attend conferences, read books, and even hire consultants. It is much harder and it takes great determination to… Click To Tweet

See also, The Unexpected Twist in Saddleback's Exponential Growth Formula and Wash, Rinse, Repeat and the Long Run.

3. Shrinking back from prioritizing steps that lead to grouplife

If everything is a priority, nothing is a priority. One of the most significant challenges facing churches desiring to build small group ministry is prioritizing one ministry over the rest of the ministries (i.e., Precepts, Discipleship Ministry, etc.). Expecting unconnected people to choose wisely from a large menu is a poor strategy and will lead to a train wreck every time.

If everything is a priority, nothing is a priority. One of the most significant challenges facing churches desiring to build small group ministry is prioritizing one ministry over the rest of the ministries (i.e., Precepts,… Click To Tweet

See also, A “Plated Meal” Leads to a Church OF Groups and 5 Ways Your Small Group Ministry Is Being Throttled.

4. Condoning a "next year will be better/different" mentality

Recognizing that some adults in your congregation don't have another year to wait is absolutely essential. The reality that unconnected people are always one tough thing away from never being at your church again ought to be always on your mind.  If you want to stay on track you must push forward. It will almost never be better or different next year. Instead, 5 or 10 years from now you'll still be agonizing over the need for a way to connect and disciple the unconnected men and women in your congregation.

Recognizing that some adults in your congregation don't have another year to wait is absolutely essential. The reality that unconnected people are always one tough thing away from never being at your church again ought to be always on… Click To Tweet

See also, It's Not the Right Time. Connecting the Fifth Dot.

5. Failing to invest in leadership development.

Perfecting the ability to launch new groups without a strategy to invest in the development of new leaders is a recipe for groups that begin but don't sustain.

Since you can only expect the members of groups to experience what their leaders have already experienced, you must know that failure to invest in leadership development guarantees a very undesirable situation for group members.

Since you can only expect the members of groups to experience what their leaders have already experienced, you must know that failure to invest in leadership development guarantees a very undesirable situation for group members. Click To Tweet

See also, Steve Gladen on Saddleback's Leadership Pathway and Budgeting for the Preferred Future.

What do you think? Have a question? Want to argue? You can click here to jump into the conversation.

Image by Christina VanMeter