It turns out that whether you're on the Apollo 13 heading for the moon or Amelia Earhart circumnavigating the globe...you only have to be slightly off course to miss your objective.

I've found that there is often only a slight difference between the priorities and objectives of churches with thriving and struggling small group ministries. I've also found that churches with struggling small group ministries are often quite adept at justifying or explaining away discrepancies in their priorities and objectives.

5 Subtle Differences between Thriving and Struggling Small Group Ministries

Struggling small group ministries...

1. Pay too much attention to the needs and interests of existing small groups.

Rather than satisfying the needs and interests of existing small groups (restocking them with new members, choosing curriculum based on their requests, etc.), thriving small group ministries are preoccupied with launching new groups. Their strategic focus is on connecting unconnected people in new groups. Instead of restocking existing groups with new members, a secondary focus is on training the group leaders of existing groups to fish for their own new members.

Rather than satisfying the needs and interests of existing small groups (restocking them with new members, choosing curriculum based on their requests, etc.), thriving small group ministries are preoccupied with launching new groups. Click To Tweet

See also, Critical Decision: Add Members To Existing Groups vs Start New Groups.

2. Pay too little attention to the development needs of new small group leaders.

Sustaining a high percentage of new groups is a hallmark of a thriving small group ministry. Connecting every new small group leader with a coach who skillfully and patiently develops a mentoring and discipling relationship with them is more than a nice extravagance. It is one of the two most important strategies that produce high sustainability (the other being providing a follow-up study that is similar-in-kind).

See also, 5 Steps to Sustaining New Groups.

3. Are often a discipleship option (but one of several options).

The discipleship menu in churches with struggling small group ministries almost always is a cluttered mess. Struggling small group ministries often have a lack of clarity about the best next step (or reluctance to conclusively declare a winner). Thriving small group ministries are clear about the best next step and never blink when declaring a winner. They skillfully eliminate any lack of clarity in every communication (announcements, sermon, print, social media and web).

Struggling small group ministries often have a lack of clarity about the best next step (or reluctance to conclusively declare a winner). Thriving small group ministries are clear about the best next step and never blink when declaring… Click To Tweet

See also, Small Group Ministry Roadblock #2: A Bloated Become and Belong Menu.

4. Emphasize groups every year (and provide equal opportunity for emphasis to other ministries for the rest of the year).

Struggling small group ministries often point to their annual emphasis and overlook the fact that their annual effort is the only emphasis all year long. Worse, their annual emphasis is often diluted with other competing promotions at the same time. On the other hand, churches with thriving small group ministries frequently highlight small group participation (often to the exclusion of other core ministry opportunities). Recognizing that other core ministry opportunities (serving and missions, to name two) can be delivered through group participation.

Churches with thriving small group ministries frequently highlight small group participation (often to the exclusion of other core ministry opportunities). Click To Tweet

See also, 5 No-Brainer Characteristics of Churches that Actually Connect Beyond 100%.

5. Are often championed by senior pastors who proclaim groups are essential (for other people).

Thriving small group ministries are championed by senior pastors who unabashedly proclaim life in community as an essential ingredient. Further, they regularly talk about their own group and their dependance on the support, accountability, care and comfort gained. Senior pastors in churches with struggling small group ministries often look for work-arounds or substitutes for their own involvement.

Thriving small group ministries are championed by senior pastors who unabashedly proclaim life in community as an essential ingredient. Further, they regularly talk about their own group and their dependance on the support,… Click To Tweet

See also, Note to Senior Pastors: Authentic Community Begins with You.

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

Image by Luigi Mengato