Church Leadership

August 31, 2020

5 Questions to Ask Before Relaunching Groups

The thought of launching anything right now may seem daunting, but we shouldn’t let a pandemic stop discipleship. We may not be able to all gather in person this fall, but we can still meet and study the Bible.

Ken Braddy, Lifeway’s director of Sunday School, and I recently hosted a free webinar on launching and relaunching groups in the fall. Here are the five key questions we discussed.

1. WHY LAUNCH GROUPS IN THE FALL?

We both agreed that the fall is the best time of the year to launch or relaunch groups.

August/September is normally a growth season for churches as church members return from summer vacations and new people move into the community.

Although this year’s rhythms will look different because of the pandemic, there will still be a lot of people ready for new and old connections after several months of isolation.

Most churches will launch a new preaching series in the fall, which makes it an ideal time to consider a campaign where all of your groups are studying the same thing for a few weeks.

That helps create urgency and excitement around joining a group.

2. WHAT ABOUT EXISTING GROUPS THAT HAVEN’T MET THIS SUMMER? CAN THEY BE RELAUNCHED WITH NEW PEOPLE, OR SHOULD THEY JUST RESTART?

The same momentum that helps propel new groups can help relaunch existing groups.

It’s natural for groups to take a breather during the summer months, and especially during this season of not meeting physically together.

A lot of groups started strong with Zoom meetings then quickly developed Zoom fatigue and stopped meeting.

This fall is an excellent opportunity to breathe new life into those groups by starting fresh with a new Bible study or by adding new people to the group.

Also, changing when or where the group meets can bring new excitement. If the group has been meeting exclusively online, try meeting socially distanced at a park or on the church property.

If Sunday morning hasn’t been working, consider changing to Sunday night or a weeknight. Sunday School doesn’t have to be on Sundays.

3. WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS TO THINK THROUGH FOR GROUPS MEETING THIS FALL?

Childcare issues are already at the top of the list for most groups, but they’re especially important now.

It will be some time before parents will be comfortable with leaving their children in close proximity to other kids, so you may have to stop offering group childcare for a while.

I’m a big proponent of having food options at a small group meeting. It helps people start to feel comfortable quicker, and who doesn’t love food?

However, how you offer the food may have to change. My small group will normally have a buffet style of snack offerings with a line of bowls and community dipping spoons for each. That arrangement will no longer be acceptable.

Some teachers will be slow to return to the classroom. Older teachers who have pre-existing conditions may not be comfortable serving in more crowded pre-COVID conditions.

Some will return slowly, and others won’t return until there is a vaccine. This means we’ll need to recruit and train new leaders.

Do you have time to deep clean your house or classroom before group every week?

Guidelines for restaurants reopening call for thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting everything between every customer. That includes door handles, tables, chairs and menus.

Are you prepared to offer that level of cleaning for your group each week? People will expect it.

4. WHAT ABOUT VIRTUAL/ONLINE/HYBRID GROUPS? IS THAT A LONG-TERM STRATEGY?

Both Ken and I agreed that online—or some type of hybrid group strategy—is here to stay.

Not everyone is going to be comfortable attending physically right away, and some group members may be in the most at-risk demographic and should not attend until there is a vaccine.

Now that people are accustomed to attending online through Zoom or Hangouts, having an option for people to attend virtually is wise.

The virtual option is especially wise for Sunday School. Because of the success most groups have experienced during initial COVID-19 sequestering, the Zoom experience will transfer to on-campus classrooms.

Teachers will use iPads, laptops, or smartphones to broadcast live via Zoom. This will allow absentee members and guests to continue meeting with a group when work, play, or illness takes them away on Sundays.

5. WHAT IS A GOOD TIMELINE FOR A FALL LAUNCH?

First, determine what leaders are coming back for the fall so you know how many new leaders you will need to recruit. Make sure to think about online and in-person groups.

Next, schedule your next training online. Even returning leaders will need training on new methods and curriculum for this season. Facebook Live or Zoom webinars are tools you can use for your training sessions.

Finally, fully plan out your “Plan B.” What happens if you start with groups meeting together physically, but circumstances change and they have to move back online?

We have the luxury of some experience now, so this is the time to get a comprehensive plan in place for leaders.

This article first appeared in FactsandTrends.net.

CHRIS SURRATT (@ChrisSurratt) is the discipleship and small groups specialist for Lifeway Christian Resources, a ministry consultant and coach with more than 20 years of experience, and the author of Leading Small Groups: How to Gather, Launch, Lead, and Multiply Your Small Group.

Church Leadership

August 24, 2020

Congratulations: Your Church is Now a Church OF Small Groups

By Chris Surratt

One of the most common questions I receive from church leaders is: “How do we make our church a church of small groups instead of a church with small groups?”

For clarification: A church of small groups is typically not program driven. They’ll have the basic ministry options of worship, kids, students, missions, and groups.

Groups aren’t competing with a menu list of options for congregant’s time and attention.

Small groups are the best option for community and discipleship opportunities.

A church with small groups will typically offer a long list of ministry and event options for congregants to be involved in.

Groups may be on the list, but they are considered one of multiple ways to find community and be discipled through the church.

In this last scenario, small groups will lose the battle for time and resources almost every time. People are naturally going to choose the path of least resistance when it comes to growth.

Larger group gatherings and events are easier to get in and out of than a small group of people gathering in a home or classroom on a weekly basis.

So, if you’re hoping to move toward less programming and more connecting, then congratulations! Thanks to the current coronavirus pandemic limitations, almost every church is now, or will be soon, a church of small groups.

At the time of this writing, coronavirus cases are soaring around the United States, and many states are now stepping back in their reopening plans to hopefully flatten the curve again.

Several churches had moved to in-person gatherings again, only to have to move back to online only after outbreaks in their communities.

This will further force churches to re-examine discipleship paths and the role of groups in them. Now that we know small groups have to be the priority going forward, what do we do now?

1. DON’T PLAN TO GO BACK TO WHAT WAS.

I don’t think any of us truly knows what life will be like on the other side of this pandemic, but I bet we can agree that it won’t be the same.

People are learning new habits and rhythms that will change how we offer ministry in the future.

For example, online groups are here to stay. There will be in-person groups in the future, but the last few months have proven that digital community can work when it needs to.

We need to approach our online strategy the same way we do our in-person one.

2. HIRE OR DESIGNATE AN ONLINE GROUPS DIRECTOR.

Now that we have established that online community is here to stay, it will need intentional leadership to flourish.

This is a new frontier for most churches. You don’t have to find someone who has a computer science degree or a digital background, just a strategic thinker who’s willing to learn and adapt.

3. REEXAMINE ALL OF YOUR CURRENT RESOURCES FOR GROUPS.

I’m old enough to remember when compact discs were first introduced. Until then, all of my music was either on cassette tapes or records.

I still recall the moment when I first heard the clean, crisp (some would argue—too crisp) sound of digital audio.

I started immediately switching my audio library from analog to digital. We’re at that moment with our libraries of resources for groups.

All of our training, communication, and studies have to be digital friendly. There will still be in-person opportunities for all of these, but online will become the priority.

4. UPDATE YOUR WEBSITE.

Connecting people through your website can no longer be an afterthought or an additional connection point. It’s now the first step for a majority of people inside and outside your congregation.

How easy is it to find a group from the first page? Can people get connected to a group with a minimal number of clicks? Are your groups consistently updated so people aren’t trying to join non-existent groups?

5. RECRUIT DIFFERENT KINDS OF LEADERS.

Offering online groups opens the door to potential group leaders who wouldn’t have stepped up before.

Not having to worry about having a host home, providing childcare, traveling to the group location, etc., takes away a lot of barriers for people.

If you have a role description for your group leaders (and I strongly recommend having one), create two versions now for in-person and online groups.

This will help you think through the type of person to pursue as you recruit your new leaders.

Just because our churches may not be gathering in mass every Sunday doesn’t mean we should stop meeting.

We actually have more environments for intentional discipleship now than ever before—now that we all have churches of small groups.

And what’s more, we can equip our churches of small groups with timely resources. Lifeway has partnered with various Christian leaders to share messages through their Bible studies that can speak to needs now. To tackle doubt, try Help My Unbelief. As we face dissatisfaction and questions on where we can find happiness, explore The Good Life. As we become more engaged with the cause of justice, seek out The Church and The Racial Divide.

A version of this article first appeared at FactsandTrends.net

Church Leadership

July 27, 2020

Why Your Groups Ministry Is More Important Than Ever

By Chris Surratt

We’re talking a lot about health in our current environment, and rightly so. There have been over four million cases and 146,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States alone. Monitoring and taking care of our personal health is vital right now.

In the same way, church leaders need to monitor and invest in the ongoing health of their small groups. For many churches, small groups are the spiritual and relational lifeblood for the congregation. Groups are the environment where the message of the gospel is lived out through the practice of the “one-anothers.”

Never before has this ministry been more crucial in the modern church. While churches all over the world are restricted to online or socially distanced gatherings, groups of 20 or less in homes are becoming the best option for not only fellowship and Bible study, but also corporate worship. Groups can gather for “watch parties” of the weekend service and follow it immediately with a discussion of the message.

Therefore, if groups are that important to the current and future state of the church, we should do everything we can now to ensure they’re healthy and resourced for success. Here are four ways to help make that happen.

1. BUDGET FOR THIS NEW REALITY.

Small groups and discipleship aren’t normally at the top of the budget needs for churches. Groups are a somewhat low-maintenance and self-sustaining ministry line item.

They meet in homes, purchase their own studies (if a Bible study is involved), and provide their own food or snacks. There might be some money budgeted for leadership training and appreciation, but that’s about it.

In order for groups to function effectively in this pandemic reality, there will have to be more invested financial resources. More in the depth and quality of what’s being studied. More in staffing for discipleship. More in helping group leaders and hosts provide a welcoming environment.

2. MAKE GROUPS A PRIORITY EVERYWHERE.

The option to join a group can no longer be three clicks away on the website, or a once-or-twice a year emphasis from the pulpit. The church website was considered the new lobby for the church, but it’s now the lobby, bulletin, and stage.

Getting people assimilated into groups has to be easy and obvious from the first page of your website. Online Zoom groups have made this easier than ever, but in-person groups will need to be as well.

It’s also imperative that groups are mentioned frequently in weekend messages. It’s not enough to just have fliers at the information center in the lobby anymore.

3. INVEST IN THE LEADERS.

Asking people to shepherd and disciple a portion of the congregation has always been a monumental task, and not one to be taken lightly, but it’s even more critical now. We can no longer rely on warm bodies with time capacity and a decent-sized living room.

Our group leaders need adequate training and ongoing soul care from the leaders of the church. If we decide that small groups in homes are now the church environment, then we must invest in the group leaders just as we would in staff ministers and pastors.

They don’t necessarily need seminary training, but they do need to know how to lead themselves and those around them to become more like Jesus.

4. MODEL FROM THE TOP.

Sheep will follow where the shepherd leads. Research shows that churches with leadership who are highly invested in groups have more people in the congregation actively attending groups.

If the lead communicators are actively involved in groups and frequently share stories from those group experiences, people will understand they’re a priority. If groups are just another option listed on the website, they’ll most likely pass on them.

This next season of ministry will require much from our small groups and leaders. Let’s do everything we can to make sure they’re as healthy as they can be.

As we do so, we can take steps to equip our small group leaders as they equip others through trusted Bible study resources. As they encounter those struggling with anxiety or doubt, try Help My Unbelief. When responding to injustice, see The Church & The Racial Divide. If walking through a loss of purpose, explore Pathways or Something Needs to Change. One step at a time, equipped with unique resources, we can support each other.

A version of this article first appeared in FactsandTrends.net.

Church Leadership

July 7, 2020

Relaunching Groups in the Fall – A Facebook Live Discussion

By Group Ministry

Even in a pandemic, fall is still the best time to hit the reset button and relaunch your groups. This free interactive Facebook Live event can help. Lifeway’s Chris Surratt and Ken Braddy will share their ideas, discuss best practices, and answer your questions. Whether your groups meet on-campus, off-campus, or online, you’re sure to pick up some tips to help you relaunch your groups in a big and healthy way. There’s no sign-up required. Just go to www.facebook.com/lifewaygroups/live/ Tuesday, July 14 at 1 p.m. CDT to join the event.

Chris Surratt is the discipleship and small groups specialist for Lifeway Christian Resources, a ministry consultant and coach with more than 20 years of experience, and the author of Leading Small Groups: How to Gather, Launch, Lead, and Multiply Your Small Group.

Other than serving as the manager for Lifeway’s ongoing adult Bible studies and as the director of Sunday School, Ken is an 18-year church education staff leader, and he blogs regularly about Sunday School and groups ministry at kenbraddy.com. https://kenbraddy.com

Church Leadership, Group Leadership

July 2, 2020

Avoiding Spiritual Drift in an Era of COVID-19

By Group Ministry

By Susan Hill

The world-renowned Olympic runner, Louis Zamperini, was serving in World War II when his plane crashed in the South Pacific. Only Zamperini and two others survived the accident. Days later, one of the three survivors died from exposure to the harsh elements while being stranded on the Pacific Ocean. For forty-seven days, Zamperini and his only surviving comrade floated on life rafts hoping to be rescued. By the time they were located, they’d drifted an astonishing 2000 miles into Japanese-controlled territory, and were taken as captives to a POW camp.

Not many of us will experience life-threatening circumstances that cause us to drift two thousand miles off course into enemy territory. But we are all at risk of spiritual drift, especially in an era of COVID-19. Spiritual drift is subtle and seldom intentional. But the reality is if we aren’t careful, we too, can find ourselves off-track.

The shutdowns and school closings caused by COVID-19 have been disruptive to our schedules, and most aspects of our lives have been impacted. The inability to meet in person for worship and Bible study, coupled with the changes in our daily schedules, has, in some cases, compromised spiritual disciplines like worship, Bible study, and prayer. Although some churches are beginning to reopen slowly, we are still a long way from our regular routines. The Bible warns of spiritual drift, and as leaders, it’s our responsibility to shepherd the flock God has entrusted to us. The apostle Peter wrote, “Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

So, as a leader, how can you navigate your group members away from spiritual drift during an era of COVID-19?

Encourage group members to establish a new normal. All indicators point to the reality that we will be dealing with the repercussions of COVID-19 for some time. As we wait for things to return to normal, encourage your group members to establish new practices that incorporate worship, Bible study, and prayer into their daily routines. This might include an online Bible study, Zoom meetings, or creative ways to remain plugged into the local church. Make sure your group members know the “new normal” will likely look different than what they are used to, and that’s OK. The goal isn’t perfection, but to maintain a healthy spiritual life during a season that has been characterized by disruption.
Stress the importance of staying present in the local church. Even though churches are re-introducing in-person worship services, some group members may not be able to return to traditional services due to risk factors related to COVID-19. But that doesn’t mean they can’t stay plugged in with the local church. Encourage group members to participate in online services as long as they are unable to attend in person. Also, many churches are holding traditional prayer meetings and weeknight Bible studies in an online format. These are excellent options for those who are not yet able to return to in-person worship.
Emphasize the importance of connection. We can all agree; the last several months have been stressful for numerous reasons. Now, more than ever, group members need to be connected with other people in the body of Christ. Spiritual drift is inevitable when we are disconnected from other believers. The Bible makes it clear that God intends for His people to live in biblical community, and we are at risk when we attempt to go it alone. We’ll get through this season of COVID-19, but we need each other, and we need to stay grounded in our faith.

Some of your group members may be drifting and don’t realize it. Simply talking about the risk of spiritual drift will help them evaluate where they are. Author and theologian D.A. Carson wrote, “People do not drift toward Holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, and delight in the Lord.” As leaders, we have the privilege to help those we serve to grow in their faith and gently redirect when they get off-track.

Susan Hill is a writer, Bible teacher, and full-time editor at Lifeway. She is the author of Dangerous Prayers: 50 Powerful Prayers That Changed the World, as well as numerous devotional books. She and her husband John live near Nashville, TN with two unruly Golden Doodles.

Church Leadership

June 25, 2020

How COVID-19 Is Bringing the Church Back to Her Roots: Small Groups

By Chris Surratt

The idea of smaller groups of people meeting together for fellowship and Bible study isn’t a new concept in churches.

In fact, we see in Acts 2 that the first-century church relied on them as “Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house” (Acts 2:46).

Most churches today allow people to be a part of some version of a small group. They may call them small groups, Sunday School, life groups, community groups, or various other names.

But the goal has primarily stayed the same from the early church: To disciple fellow believers to be more like Christ through biblical community and the study of God’s Word.

We’re now at a turning point in history where I believe one major shift must take place for the church to not only survive but thrive in what will be the “new normal.”

Churches can no longer offer groups as an option for assimilation and spiritual growth for members, but they will have to be the option. Small groups of 20 people or less in homes are now the church.

Gone (at least for the near future) are mass worship gatherings with people packed into a Sunday-morning service at one location.

Even though some areas of the country are now starting to allow them to return, it will be a long time before many people are comfortable attending them.

We’ve already seen this trend away from larger gatherings and buildings with the acceptance of multisite churches, but social distancing guidelines have pushed it even further.

Any gathering of over 50 people could be seen as dangerous for months, and possibly, years to come.

Now, I don’t believe this is a move toward autonomous house churches with little-to-no spiritual oversight and governance. We still need the guidance an organized local church brings to the body of Christ.

I do see the future church, however, as a more robust organization of small groups meeting in homes to fellowship, study, and worship together under the umbrella of ordained pastors and church leaders.

So what does this mean for right now? For churches to make this pivot, they’ll have to strategically think differently in several areas.

STAFFING

The primary focus in most churches has been on the weekend experience. The current staffing levels and budgets reflect this priority.

The new reality will require less dollars spent on creating amazing live experiences, and more on creating scripturally based content to help groups and families have gospel conversations in their living rooms.

Question: Do we have the right people on board to create and curate at-home discipleship content?

ASSIMILATION

The current assimilation process for most churches is an upside funnel with the weekend service at the top.

This will now be flipped. Small groups will be the entry point for most people into the life of the church. Growth tracks will now be facilitated by small group leaders instead of church staff.

Questions: Is our current assimilation process now upside down? Are we relying on paid staff and large gatherings to help people take their next spiritual steps?

EQUIPPING

If churches haven’t been releasing the work of ministry to lay leaders up to this point, it’s being exposed through this crisis.

In this new normal, churches have to better equip their members to shepherd people in their care through small group gatherings.

Question: Do we have the right processes and staffing to develop and release leaders to truly do the work of the ministry?

It’s fascinating to see how the church is being brought back to what she was designed to be. More people will now be discipled and equipped for ministry than ever before!

Small groups are the history—and the future—of the church.

And we can equip these groups as they play their foundational role. Trusted Christian leaders have worked hard to provide you with Christ-centered resources, even for such a time as this. Explore options such as The Church and The Racial Divide, The Life of a Jesus Follower, and more through The Balanced Discipleship Plan.

The first version of this article first appeared in FactsandTrends.net.

CHRIS SURRATT (@ChrisSurratt) is the discipleship and small groups specialist for Lifeway Christian Resources, a ministry consultant and coach with more than 20 years of experience, and the author of Leading Small Groups: How to Gather, Launch, Lead, and Multiply Your Small Group.

Church Leadership

June 9, 2020

Gospel-Centered Race Resources for Your Group

By Group Ministry

It didn’t just start yesterday, last week, or last month. Injustice and racial disunity span deep into both our national and global history.

We are broken people living in a broken world. But we are meant to be ambassadors of reconciliation, striving to learn, listen, and act for justice as we seek to be the hands and feet of Christ.

However, knowing who to listen to and what actions to practically take can be difficult. Many voices are speaking loudly. Many emotions are surfacing powerfully. What can we do? Where do we turn?

We’ve worked with various authors and trusted Christian voices who have provided resources that can practically aid yourself, your group, or your church towards these ends:

The Church and The Racial Divide (in partnership with ERLC; by Trevor Atwood; general editors Trillia Newbell and Dan Darling)

Featuring contributors: Walter Strickland, Juan Sánchez, and Russell Moore

In light of racial tension in America, many Christian leaders are talking earnestly about racial reconciliation. Many pastors and lay leaders look at the growing tensions in our churches and wonder how they can be a healing force in our culture. The problem is they don’t know where to begin. The average evangelical Christian may not understand why racial reconciliation is a gospel imperative. The average pastor may not know how to pursue it.

This resource features video teaching from key leaders discussing race, culture, and the gospel. Using these evangelical voices and Bible study, participants will learn about racial reconciliation and be equipped to be part of the solution.

Imago Dei (in partnership with The Gospel Coalition; by Mike Cosper)

Featuring contributors: Jackie Hill Perry, Juan Sánchez, H.B. Charles Jr., Tony Merida, Shar Walker, Sam Allberry, Ligon Duncan, Tim Keller, Miguel Nunéz, D.A. Carson, Rosaria Butterfield, Afshin Ziafat, Albert Mohler, and more.

People are naturally compelled to ask questions of identity: Who am I? What am I worth? Why am I here? The answers culture offers only lead to more questions. To properly answer these questions, we need to look all the way back to the beginning—to our creation—and see that all people are made in the image of God.

Having a well-rounded view of the imago Dei will help us better understand ourselves, God, and the restoring work of salvation that comes to us through Jesus Christ. We can understand what God intended the imago Dei to be, how sin corrupted it, and how Jesus restores it through the power of the cross and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

Imago Dei examines the image of God biblically within the grand narrative of Scripture, relationally as it applies to ourselves and others, and missionally in our service to others and in our obedience to the Great Commission.

The Gospel and Racial Reconciliation (Eds. Russell Moore and Andrew T. Walker)

The problem of racism stretches back as far as humanity’s origin in the book of Genesis. Brother pitted against brother, tribe against tribe––people have warred against one another, fueled by contempt for racial differences. Yet the gospel is a message of reconciliation.

The kingdom of God is us reconciled to one another.

Editors Russell Moore and Andrew T. Walker of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) assemble leading voices to frame the issues with a gospel-centered perspective. The Gospel for Life series gives every believer a biblically-saturated understanding of the most urgent issues facing our culture today, because the gospel is for all of life.

Additional Bible studies by authors of color:

Tony Evans

Priscilla Shirer

D.A. Horton

Derwin Gray

The Good Life

Jackie Hill Perry

Jude

Eric Mason

Dhati Lewis

Among Wolves

Church Leadership

June 8, 2020

Last Week of Gospel of Mark Bible Study

By Group Ministry

For the past several weeks, Lifeway has been offering a free Bible study on Mark to anyone who wanted to participate. This week, we cover session six.

In session five last week, Jesus sent His disciples out two by two to do many of the works He had been doing and to spread the gospel. This week, He makes it clear that His kingdom is for everyone.

In his Gospel, Mark emphasized that Jesus never turned anyone away. He was always willing to teach and to heal, even when it might not have seemed convenient at the time. His attitude and actions stood in stark contrast to the religious leaders of the day, who were usually more concerned with the traditions of the law than the troubles of the people.

To emphasize Jesus’ love and compassion for even the castaways of society, Mark highlighted two healing stories…

Click here to access the sixth session, entitled Includes.

Church Leadership

June 4, 2020

How to Choose a Groups System That Works (Including Online)

By Chris Surratt

According to Dictionary.com, the definition of the word “system” is: “a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organized scheme or method.”

We’re sometimes afraid of systems in the groups world because we feel community is supposed to happen organically, not through an organized scheme.

But at its core, a system is simply a way to help people know what to do next and how to do it.

If groups are our primary path to multiplying disciples, then our people need a good system to know what they are and how to do them.

There are a lot of group structures to choose from, and there is not one system that fits all.

Every church has to do the work of discovering who their people are, what their vision and mission is, and then choosing and tweaking a system that works best within that ethos.

There is also no perfect system. Each one will have its pros and cons that need to be weighed before landed on. Here are six of the most popular groups systems and pros and cons for each one.

1. OPEN GROUPS

An open groups system will primarily offer groups that are open to adding new people throughout the life of the groups. This structure works especially well for on-campus groups in a more traditional Sunday School type model.

Pros: Open groups give the opportunity for group members to be missional in their circles of influence. They are encouraged to invite friends and neighbors to join their groups at any time.

Open groups also give new church attenders a place to connect immediately. Their first visit on a Sunday can include a small group Bible study experience.

Cons: It can be more difficult for groups to achieve accountability and vulnerability if there are new members constantly being added.

Also, it can be hard for new members to feel comfortable in an existing group if they don’t already have relationships there.

2. CLOSED GROUPS

A closed groups system will primarily offer groups that are closed, after an initial sign-up period, throughout the life of the groups. This structure works especially well in off-campus home groups.

Pros: Closed groups can achieve community and accountability faster than open groups. Without the possibility of new people coming in, group members can be more open with their lives.

Cons: If closed groups stay together longer than two years without multiplying or adding new people, they can become stale and possibly toxic.

They will start having the same conversations around the same subjects and spiritual growth may be stunted as a result.

3. MISSIONAL GROUPS

A missional groups system will encourage church members to gather their group from the community in which they live.

Pros: Missional groups are naturally evangelistic in form. Instead of relying on the church to fill their groups with attenders, leaders are trained to see their community as a mission field.

Some missional group leaders will move to a location specifically to form a group there.

Cons: It can be much harder to launch and maintain a missional group. The bar for leadership has to be higher because the group is truly a microcosm of the church.

Also, it’s more difficult to help new attenders join a missional group, unless they already live in a community with an existing one.

4. DISCIPLESHIP INTENSIVE GROUPS

A discipleship intensive groups system primarily offers smaller gatherings of 3 or 4 same-sex groups for deeper discipleship, conversations and accountability. These groups are sometimes referred to as “D Groups.”

Pros: Larger small groups of 8-12 people are perfect for community, but not always the best for accountability and discipleship conversations. Especially if they are mixed gender.

We all need this level of community with a few others to help us go deeper in our walk with God.

Cons: Not everyone in the church is ready for this type of group. If you are reaching outsiders on the weekend, they need somewhere less intrusive to test the community waters before they dive into an intensive discipleship group.

5. FREE MARKET GROUPS

A free market groups system offers attenders the opportunity to form groups around something they are passionate about, or are already doing with a group of people.

For example, a group of men, who already get together to ride bikes on the weekends, can be a free market group.

Pros: Groups are much easier to form. People who are already doing life together can add some “God time” to help members grow spiritually through relationships.

Also, invites to join a group are more natural than asking someone to go to a home for a Bible study.

Cons: While community is easily achieved in a free market group, discipleship may not be.

6. ONLINE GROUPS

Before the current COVID-19 crisis, a few churches offered the opportunity to attend small groups exclusively online. Now, most churches have some type of online group experience.

Pros: Joining and attending an online group is a much lower bar to go over. An invitation to an online group is as simple as sending a Zoom invite. Most churches have reported higher group attendance rates since going online.

Cons: As easy as it is to join an online group, it’s also just as easy to disappear from one. Accountability is more difficult to achieve in a virtual-only format.

A consistent Bible study will not in and of itself disciple someone, but will help group members look to the Bible for answers to life’s questions instead of just each other.

Those are six of the most popular groups systems available, but your system may eventually offer groups from different categories.

It’s most important to know why you offer the types of groups that you do, so you can cast a consistent vision for why people should lead and join them.

Church Leadership

June 1, 2020

Gospel of Mark Bible Study, Week 5

By Group Ministry

Lifeway has been offering a free Bible study to anyone who wants to participate. This is week five of our study of Mark. The last session discussed Jesus’ use of parables. In session five, Jesus multiplies His influence.

Bringing His followers together, Jesus paired them off and sent them out. To this point, the message of the kingdom had gone wherever Jesus had gone. His ministry expanded only where His feet could take Him. The disciples could move out in multiple directions so the gospel could spread.

To access the fifth week of the study, entitled Sends, just click here.

This six-week Bible study is an excerpt from a 13-session study in the Explore the Bible Daily Discipleship Guide. Explore the Bible helps your whole church grow together in God’s Word one book at a time, learning how to know, love, and invest in God’s truth in a way that is practical enough for daily application, sustainable in individual and group settings, and age-appropriate for the entire church.

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STAFFING

ASSIMILATION

EQUIPPING

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Digital Resources

Lifeway Network