10 Powerful Benefits of a Thriving Small Group Ministry

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Have you figured this out already? Still arm wrestling with the usual suspects over whether the return on investment is worth the cost?

Here are 10 killer benefits of a thriving small group ministry:

1. Life-change happens best in small groups.

You might have a killer weekend worship service with powerful teaching and inspiring worship, but you still need to know that "the optimal environment for life-change is a small group" because life-change happens best in circles, not rows.

The optimal environment for life-change is a small group because life-change happens best in circles, not rows. Share on X

This Andy Stanley line does a very good job of illustrating the importance of circles:

"Let's say that something happens to me, all the staff, and all the buildings simultaneously explode. Let's make it worst case scenario. There's no staff. There's no buildings. And there's no me. Here's what would happen. On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of the following week, thousands and thousands of adults would gather in homes all over the city and pray together, and do Bible study together and take care of whatever family members are left over and the church is going to go on.

Because at the end of the day, circles are better than rows. And from day one, we've been committed to creating a culture that's all about circles and not rows. We are famous for our rows. But the strength of our churches is what happens in circles." Andy Stanley at RE:GROUP '12

See also, Essential Ingredients for Life-Change and Andy Stanley on Creating a Culture that's All About Circles.

2. Small groups make churches personal.

Whether your church averages 150 or 1500, if I can slip into a back row and then leave without sharing life with a person, your church is too large not to incorporate a small group experience.

Yes, it's still true that for a certain kind of person or a particular stage in life an anonymous seat in a row makes a toe-in-the-water easier. But the research is in. The desire to find a few good friends is on the rise and loneliness is increasing.

Yes, it's still true that for a certain kind of person or a particular stage in life an anonymous seat in a row makes a toe-in-the-water easier. But the research is in. The desire to find a few good friends is on the rise and… Share on X

See also, Don't Miss These Two Huge Barna Findings for Small Group Ministries.

3. Small groups provide a nearly unlimited leadership development pipeline.

What if I told you that your congregation and the crowd that joins you on special days like Easter or Christmas Eve is full of potential leaders? In my experience, the same churches that tell me they've been praying for God to send workers for the harvest really just haven't learned how to identify the  leaders God has already sent!

What if I told you that your congregation and the crowd that joins you on special days like Easter or Christmas Eve is full of potential leaders? In my experience, the same churches that tell me they've been praying for God to send… Share on X

See also, 5 Honest Thoughts about Small Group Ministry and My Top 3 Ninja Ideas for Recruiting Small Group Leaders.

4. Off-campus small groups provide nearly unlimited space at optimum times.

Can't afford to build? Need to reach a much larger community than you could ever fit on campus at one time. Homes, apartments, and coffee shops offer the space you need to have more adults in small groups than you have in your weekend services.

Can't afford to build? Need to reach a much larger community than you could ever fit on campus at one time. Homes, apartments, and coffee shops offer the space you need to have more adults in small groups than you have in your weekend… Share on X

See also, The Four Biggest Obstacles Standing in the Way of Starting New Groups*

5. "Come over to my house" is a much easier invitation than "come with me to church."

Off-campus small groups become increasingly more important as the transition to a post-Christian culture accelerates. While there certainly was a time when an invitation to come with me to church was welcomed and even expected...those days are gone. What remains? Come over to my house.

Off-campus small groups become increasingly more important as the transition to a post-Christian culture accelerates. While there certainly was a time when an invitation to come with me to church was welcomed and even expected...those… Share on X

See also, 5 Essential Practices of a 21st Century Small Group Ministry and The X-Factor Is Near the Edge.

6. Small groups provide the best opportunity for one-anothering.

If you want to be known for the way you love one another, you need to emphasize being part of a small group. The idea that I can receive or give the kind of personal care commanded in the one-anothers while isolating myself from others isn't anchored in reality.

In the words of Andy Stanley, "The primary activity of the early church was one-anothering one-another."

The primary activity of the early church was one-anothering one-another. —Andy Stanley Share on X

See also, The Primary Activity of the Early Church.

7. Small groups can provide a sense of family for many whose biological family lives far away.

Unlike generations past, it is increasingly more common for adults to find themselves living far away from their biological family. Add the growing number of broken homes and dysfunctional families and you have a snapshot of the 21st century. A small group, the right kind of small group experience, can play a role in providing a sense of family.

Unlike generations past, it is increasingly more common for adults to find themselves living far away from their biological family. Add the growing number of broken homes and dysfunctional families and you have a snapshot of the 21st… Share on X

See also, The End in Mind for My Ideal Small Group.

8. I can ask questions in a small group.

Dialogue is one of the key ingredients of life-change. If every spiritual experience I have is about listening, if it's all about one-way communication, I'm going to miss one of the most important developmental aspects of a growing faith.

Dialogue is one of the key ingredients of life-change. If every spiritual experience I have is about listening, if it's all about one-way communication, I'm going to miss one of the most important developmental aspects of a growing… Share on X

See also, Essential Ingredients for Life-Change.

9. Small groups make it possible for more people to be cared for between Sundays.

Genuine care is demonstrated when my needs are known without a call to the church office. A network of small groups provides the delivery system for that kind of care.

Genuine care is demonstrated when my needs are known without a call to the church office. A network of small groups provides the delivery system for that kind of care. Share on X

See also, Do You Know This Game-Changing Connection Secret?

10. Small groups provide an ever expanding network for communication and impact.

This is a huge benefit! There is a vast difference in the response to an announcement from the platform and a personal invitation. When this network for communication and impact is activated, reach becomes exponential.

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

Image by Jason Samfield

6 Comments

  1. Andrew Mason on December 9, 2013 at 2:31 pm

    This is a great list Mark! I think #9 is huge. When groups are thriving, people minister to others in ways we could never expect or train them to.



  2. markchowell on December 9, 2013 at 2:49 pm

    Thanks Andrew! Appreciate it!

    mark



  3. Jon Stolpe on December 10, 2013 at 8:01 am

    Great list, Mark. This is a post church leaders should read and heed.



  4. markchowell on December 10, 2013 at 8:35 am

    Thanks Jon! Appreciate it!

    mark



  5. Jimmie Lawson on February 18, 2014 at 3:06 pm

    I am leading a small Bible Study and I also attend others, The study I lead is more classroom and it has been successful, however the others I attend are not really Bible Studies but small groups, they are members of different churches but they get together once a week and do what small groups do. In talking to others I have found that is what they often want in what they call a “Bible study.” I have had a resistance to small groups, it was the new person in an existing group thing and really did not know if they were needed or useful. I have come to realize that they are not only useful but people desire to partake in them, even when that is not what they are calling it. Just sharing my thoughts……



  6. markchowell on February 18, 2014 at 3:10 pm

    Thanks for jumping in here, Jimmie. Your experience has given you some good insight into small group ministry. Keep learning and dive in here as you want to share.

    mark