Last year I wrote 5 Stupid Things Small Group Pastors Need to Stop Doing. What about the stupid things churches need to stop doing (in the name of small group ministry)?

5 Stupid Things Churches Need to Stop Doing (in the name of small group ministry):

1. Calling everything a group.

The decision to call everything a group is usually the result of compromise. Rather than ruffle feathers and prioritize only the things that produce exactly what is hoped for, some churches blink and simply call everything a group. This puts rows and circles, learning and becoming, fellowship and discipleship all in the same category and further muddies an already muddy decision process.

Far better for churches to invest the time for a thorough evaluation of their belong and become menu and then call everything what it actually is.

The decision to call everything a group is usually the result of compromise. Rather than ruffle feathers and prioritize only the things that produce exactly what is hoped for, some churches blink and simply call everything a group. Click To Tweet

See also, Top 10 Signs Your Small Group Ministry Is Schizophrenic.

2. Naming small group involvement as essential but budgeting for it as if it is an elective.

Calling members and attenders to make three (or four) commitments is a common practice. "Attend a worship service, serve in a ministry, and be involved in a small group" is an example of the way many churches talk about the things they believe are important.

Doesn't it stand to reason that churches would budget accordingly?

Stupid Things Churches Should Stop Doing: Naming small group involvement as essential but budgeting for it as if it is an elective.

Stupid Things Churches Should Stop Doing: Naming small group involvement as essential but budgeting for it as if it is an elective. Click To Tweet

See also, Top 10 DNA Markers of Churches with Thriving Small Group Cultures and Budgeting for Your Preferred Future.

3. Promoting small group involvement once a year.

Many churches have an annual groups push or campaign. Many churches only promote small group involvement during their annual groups push or campaign. And many of those same churches underestimate the damage of limiting promotion to once a year. These same churches frequently misdiagnose the reason their small group ministry is struggling.

Doesn't it make sense that churches should talk about things that are truly important all year long? Churches that are building thriving small group ministries never stop talking about the importance of small groups, integrating life-change stories and references to upcoming opportunities to get involved every week and all year long, using every medium possible (sermon references, announcements and bulletins, website, email, etc.).

Doesn't it make sense that churches should talk about things that are truly important all year long? Churches that are building thriving small group ministries never stop talking about the importance of small groups. Click To Tweet

See also, 5 Simple Mistakes that Sink Small Group Ministries.

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

One of the most important characteristics of churches that are building thriving small group ministries is that their senior pastors serve as the small group champion. As the most influential and visible person in the congregation, it only makes sense that they leverage their influence and visibility to draw attention to the critical importance of being in a small group.

"Then why do we have a small group pastor?!!" is the cry of senior pastors who seek to delegate away the role of the small group champion. This rarely has roots anywhere other than a misunderstanding of the true role (and the greatest contributions) of the small group pastor.

One of the most important characteristics of churches that are building thriving small group ministries is that their senior pastors serve as the small group champion. Click To Tweet

See also, Rethinking the Role of the Small Group Pastor.

5. Failing to connect design and results.

Love is blind and falling in love with a model, system or strategy is stupid. Churches should never lose sight of the fact that results are directly connected to design. "Your ministry is perfectly designed to produce the results you are currently experiencing (Andy Stanley) is never more true than when it comes to the connection between the design of your small group ministry and the results you are experiencing.

Churches that are building thriving small group ministries are keeping a steady eye on their preferred future and fine-tuning their approach to stay on course.

Churches that are building thriving small group ministries are keeping a steady eye on their preferred future and fine-tuning their approach to stay on course. Click To Tweet

See also, 5 Signs Your Small Group Ministry Design Is Inadequate.

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

Image by Matt Hollingsworth