As you’ve, no doubt, heard us discussing, we are working on moving toward a tri-semester or 3 semester system for our small groups. One of the major books on the subject is a book called “Activate.” Here is a summary of the first half of the book and his “Big Ideas.” If you like what you see here but want more info, I will be summarizing the practical steps as well as we move forward with our 15-month plan. Please, feel free to read and ask as many questions as you may have. Also, feel free to copy and make this available to any/all leaders who you think might benefit from this information. Thanks!
Adam Waters
Big Idea #1 – Think from the inside out… not from the outside in.
Conventional wisdom tells us to “take care of those on the inside first.” Reality has shown us that “Small groups that focus on serving their own members rather than on reaching out to others quickly become inwardly focused and stagnant.”
Big Idea #2 – Think larger… not smaller.
Conventional wisdom tells us that “smaller groups lead to increased intimacy, deeper relationships and more significant spiritual growth.” Reality has shown us that “Groups with 7 members or fewer are difficult to lead and more likely to fail, which means they have little to no chance of fostering healthy relationships or spiritual growth, while groups of 12-15 people do both more effectively.” We’ve discovered that most people…
(1)feel more comfortable in a larger group,
(2)are more likely to sign up for larger groups,
(3)stay plugged in longer in larger groups, and
(4)form deeper connections & grow spiritually in larger groups.
Why? …because not everyone who signs up shows up every week, because fewer people means more work for leaders & members, and because you need to minimize the impact of dominant personalities that make the group awkward or negative.
Big Idea #3 – Think friends… not intimacy.
Conventional wisdom tells us that “small groups are a place where intimate relationships are formed.” Reality has shown us that “small groups are a place where new friendships are formed.” We need to allow casual friendships to develop without feeling a need to force intimacy. For when there are no social relationships, there is no pool to draw from to find a best friend or an intimate relationship. When we try to induce intimacy, not only do we make it so that people are hesitant to join, but we also set up our group leaders for failure. Intimacy cannot be forced. It is a work of the Holy Spirit.
Big Idea #4 – Think short-term… not long term.
Conventional wisdom tells us that “small groups should last anywhere from 18 months to eternity.” Reality has shown us that “the ideal length for a small group is 10-12 weeks.” People grow over short periods of time (stress). Then they need to rest (release). After the period of rest, they can grow again (stress)… and the growth cycle continues. When people are “stressed” and then “released,” they grow much deeper in their spiritual walk and much closer to other believers than when the stress period continues indefinitely. There are 9 advantages to time-bound groups:
1)a clear beginning and end date,
2)easier for people to make short term commitments,
3)allows time for promotion and sign-ups,
4)easier for people to get into a group when everyone is starting at the same time,
5)more group options—new topics/themes offered each semester,
6)matches the academic calendar,
7)allows for the growth that comes through a stress-and-release cycle,
8)group leaders are less likely to burn out, and
9)group members won’t get too comfortable and stagnate.
Big Idea #5 – Think promotion months… not ongoing sign-ups.
Conventional wisdom tells us that “small group sign ups should be ongoing, so people can get involved with a group at any time.” Reality has shown us that “a shorter, focused sign-up period increases small group participation and excitement.” There is power in promotion. Taking a whole month to raise small group excitement increases participation, decreases burnout, utilizes the natural flow of the calendar and allows for concentrated, creative promotion.
Big Idea #6 – Think church of small groups… not church with small groups.
Conventional wisdom tells us that “small groups are just one of many programs that the church offers to its attendees.” Reality has shown us that “small groups are exponentially more effective when they stand alone, rather than having to compete with other church programs.” By focusing on groups and using groups as the primary platform for other ministries, you and your staff are able to be exponentially more efficient and effective with the limited time, energy and resources that you have. If you give people too many options, their involvement will be so spread out that you won’t have their full participation or momentum in any one area. (At the Journey Churh in NY) The decision was made that everything we do has to fit one of 2 criteria: (A)It either has to expand the weekend service or (B)advance small groups. If a ministry idea, program or suggestion doesn’t directly do one of those 2 things, they don’t allow it to distract or slow them down by pulling energy sideways from the system. If you run groups as a lean machine, you are going to be more effective at reaching and keeping people, which will result in more growth and more life-change.
Big Idea #7 – Think easy… not hard.
Conventional wisdom tells us that “people are willing to go through a multiple-step process to join a group.” Reality has shown us that “one step sign ups, which make getting into a group faster, easier and less intimidating, will greatly increase the number of people who decide to join a group.” With every step you add to the sign-up process, you are going to lose a % of participation. The system doesn’t make things easier on staff. It is created to make things easy on the unbeliever who walks into your church and has an urge to join a group; and easy on that sporadic attendee who would like to be in a group but doesn’t think they have the time for a connection event; and easy on the shy, single guy who want to be a part of something but wouldn’t dare call a leader he doesn’t know. People will use any excuse not to grow. We have to stop giving them those excuses. The simplest system is to give everyone a groups list (sometimes called a catalog) and have them put the # of the group on their connect card (HJ1 – healing journey and/or M1 – Monday group 1). Then, the corresponding leader(s) calls them the following week.
Big Idea #8 – Think ahead… not behind.
Conventional wisdom tells us that “thinking about upcoming groups a month out gives you plenty of time to plan and prepare.” Reality has shown that “for groups to be successful, you need to start planning and preparing 3-4 months in advance of their start date.” Average leaders will focus on what happens next, but extraordinary leaders will focus on what happens after what happens next. Creating a small group SYSTEM that outlines what we are doing behind the scenes each month of the year will “Save Yourselves Stress Time Energy & Money.”
Big Idea #9 – Think full staff participation… not staff specialist.
Conventional wisdom tells us to “Have a small group specialist on staff who runs the system so that no one else has to worry about it.” Reality has shown us that “every person on staff needs to have a part in small groups especially the lead pastor.” The lead pastor doesn’t have to run the system but they do have to OWN it and be IN the system. They need to be involved in a group and be quick to encourage everyone they come in contact with to do the same. The church’s attitude toward small groups will be a direct reflection of the senior pastor’s attitude. When the people running the church are excited about the system, the people in the church will get excited as well. Three focuses that will help keep the small group soil fertile:
1)encourage staff members to keep their “radar” sharp (connecting and encouraging people toward groups;
2)have small group testimonies at the weekend service;
3)hold members accountable for participation (at least 2 of 3 semesters every year to be a member).
Big Idea #10 – Think apprentice… not expert.
Conventional wisdom tells us that “group leaders need to be biblically knowledgeable, longtime Christians, and must undergo extensive training in order to lead a group effectively.” Reality has shown us that “serving as an apprentice/coordinator in a group will prepare potential leaders to lead a life-changing small group on their own, regardless of how long they’ve been Christians or what their level of training and expertise.” The best way to raise leaders is through organic apprenticeship. Just as Jesus did only what the Father did (John 5:19), we want our new leaders to do what they’ve seen the Holy Spirit leading us to do. This is, also, why our group leaders should always been on the lookout for potential leaders inside their group.
Big Idea #11 – Think decentralization… not staff control.
Conventional wisdom tells us “to ensure successful groups, paid staff must be in control.” Reality has shown us that “groups will multiply faster and be healthier when you trust God with your volunteer leaders and trust your volunteer leaders with your people.” As long as you have complete control over your system, you will only be able to go to a certain level before you plateau. You can structure for control or you can structure for growth, but you CANNOT structure for both.
Big Idea #12 – Think leader multiplication… not group multiplication.
Conventional wisdom tell us “the best way to increase the number of groups in a church is to split existing groups.” Reality has shown us that “through the semester based system and the practice of apprenticing, you can multiply groups naturally by multiplying leaders.” Instead of going in and breaking apart an existing, ongoing group in the name of growth, you let each semester run its course & identify new potential leaders for the next time around from those naturally ending groups. Then you will automatically have groups growing out of each other, because you are identifying new leaders in every group every semester. Multiply your groups by multiplying your leaders.
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