I hear from pastors all the time who are desperate to crack the small group ministry code. Many have tried multiple systems and strategies, only to be disappointed and discouraged.

It's not hard to get in touch with their desperation. Often, it comes across as a mix of question and exclamation:

What does it take to build a thriving small group ministry?!?!

Important Note: Can I encourage you to not race through the following article. Slow down. Chew on each of the 5 secrets. Ask yourself, "How has this secret been overlooked in our small group ministry?" Ask yourself, "Where has overlooking this secret cost us time and effort?" And finally, ask yourself, "What will have to be true for our ministry to embrace these secrets?"

5 easily overlooked secrets to building a thriving small group ministry

1. It takes time to build a thriving small group ministry.

Nothing of significance is built overnight. Anything truly worth doing is worth committing to for the long haul. Some books and workshops make it sound easy to do and quick to see results (I hope my writing always captures gritty reality and not just theoretical possibilities).

Want to build a thriving small group ministry? It takes time. Significant time.

Yes, Saddleback has a thriving small group ministry. They've committed the last 25+ years building it. Year in.  Year out. Yes, North Point has a thriving small group ministry. They've committed the last 25+ years to building it. Year in. Year out.

Want to build a thriving small group ministry? It takes time. Significant time. Click To Tweet

See also, Wash, Rinse, Repeat...and the Long Run.

2. It takes commitment to a strategy to build a thriving small group ministry.

Switching to a new strategy every year (or every time you read a new book or attend a new conference) is a recipe for failure. Can you adjust to take advantage of new opportunities? Absolutely. In fact, you need to make strategic shifts when ministry windows end. But switching on what seems like a whim to your key leaders leads to idea fatigue.

Switching to a new strategy every year (or every time you read a new book or attend a new conference) is a recipe for failure. Click To Tweet

See also, The Unexpected Twist in Saddleback's Exponential Growth Formula.

3. It takes personal commitment to authentic community to build a thriving small group ministry.

If you truly want to build a thriving small group ministry it requires the personal commitment of your senior pastor. It requires the personal commitment of your staff and key leaders in your congregation.

And truthfully, it requires our personal commitment.

Personal commitment is a challenging ask and is never without cost. But real results are the product of all in commitment on the right thing.

Personal commitment is a challenging ask and is never without cost. But real results are the product of all in commitment on the right thing. Click To Tweet

See also, Note to Senior Pastors: Authentic Community Begins with You and 5 Habits I'd Look for If I Was Hiring a Small Group Pastor.

4. It takes a healthy budget to build a thriving small group ministry.

Your budget reflects your true priorities. The right words from the right people are important but not enough.

Building a thriving small group ministry requires a financial commitment. You cannot reasonably expect significant results from ministries that receive token budget allocations.

If you really want a thriving small group ministry, even your auditor will be able to figure it out.

If you really want a thriving small group ministry, even your auditor will be able to figure it out. Click To Tweet

See also, Budgeting for the Preferred Future.

5. It takes willingness to shorten the discipleship menu to build a thriving small group ministry. 

You may think a buffet provides more entrees and more entrees leads to more diners, but what a buffet really does is make it hard to choose. And if you want to build a thriving small group ministry you need to make it easy to choose.

Whether you're in ministry, retail sales, fast food or manufacturing, the easiest thing to believe in is more: a larger menu, more options, and a wider selection. Winning strategies offer the right thing, the best option and a skillfully curated menu.

Whether you're in ministry, retail sales, fast food or manufacturing, the easiest thing to believe in is more: a larger menu, more options, and a wider selection. Winning strategies offer the right thing, the best option and a… Click To Tweet

See also, A Plated Meal Leads to a Church OF Groups and 5 Compromises That Derail Small Group Ministry.

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

Image by Marco Monetti