Insights That Sharpen Small Group Ministry Perspective
Have you noticed that reading more books (and blogs) sometimes increases confusion and indecision about the best way to do small group ministry? Add the input from conferences you attend and experts you listen to and you can end up with a pretty complex soup.
What should you do? It's good to read, right? Leaders are learners, right?
Short answer: Yes, it's good to read and it's good to attend conferences and listen to experts. I'm right there with you.
Slightly longer answer: Computer theorist Alan Kay pointed out that “Point of view (or perspective) is worth 80 IQ points.” While it's good to read, attend conferences and listen to experts, developing the filter of a point of view (or perspective)--through which to absorb new content--provides more clarity and less confusion.
Insights that sharpen point of view (or perspective):
Start with why. Building a small group ministry (or choosing a model, system or strategy) without clarity about the why behind your effort is a recipe for wandering in the wilderness. Did you begin with why? Is it still clear? Was it ever? Simon Sinek notes that "All organizations start with why, but only the great ones keep their why clear year after year.”
All organizations start with why, but only the great ones keep their why clear year after year. —Simon Sinek Click To Tweet
Start with why. This is a truly foundational insight. If you've never watched Simon Sinek's brilliant TED talk on this idea, stop what you're doing and watch it right now. See also, Wrestling with "Why" We Do "What" We Do and 6 Questions We Should All Be Asking.
Determine the what that must be done. Only after identifying why you care enough to do anything about it can you begin to think about what it is that actually must be done. Can you see that it would be foolish to have chosen a small group model, system or strategy before determining what must be done?
Only after identifying why you care enough to do anything about it can you begin to think about what it is that actually must be done. Click To Tweet
Decide how to do what must be done. This is about determining the best way to do what must be done. You are finally in a position to make a wise choice about a model, system or strategy).
I love an Andy Stanley line on this that make so much sense. "Don't fall in love with a model. Fall in love with the mission and date the model." When you are clear on the why (and the what) it is easy to choose the how (the model) that is the best way to do what must be done. See also, How to Choose a Small Group System, Model or Strategy.
Image by Al HikesAZ
