Four Standards for Successful Small Groups
Mark A. Taylor highlights four common principles from several writers on small groups. Though their approaches differ, they point to Bible-centered purpose, intentional strategy, trained leaders, and authentic community as key standards for thriving small groups.
- Successful small groups begin with Scripture and compare their reality with God’s Word.
- Small group ministries need a clear strategy, measurable goals, and trained leaders.
- Community is a worthy outcome, but intimacy must develop organically rather than be programmed.
By Mark A. Taylor
After reading this week’s small groups articles, you may wish we had talked to all the writers in one room at the same time. The variety in their approaches would no doubt stimulate a lively discussion about “the right way” to do small groups.
Yet, in spite of any potential disagreements, several common principles are clear. According to this week’s writers, here’s how to have successful small groups:
Begin with the Bible
Jim Putman, whose church involves thousands in small groups every week, says “The Bible plays a central part.”
Mike Mack, who not only leads a dynamic small groups ministry but also has become a national expert, says, “Small groups should honestly and diligently confront the brutal facts of their current reality in comparison to the truth of God’s Word.”
Diane Stortz chronicles the renewal that has come to the lives of group members whose purpose was simply to discover what God says through his Word.
Adopt a Strategy
Putman and Mack don’t use groups in exactly the same way, but each knows what their groups are supposed to accomplish. Theirs is no haphazard groups-for-the-sake-of-groups approach. They are not happy with numbers alone.
They have a big picture in mind with goals they can measure as they evaluate their group ministry year by year.
Train the Leaders
The key element in this strategy is leaders. Putman’s approach to oversight and accountability is remarkable. Mack’s call to greatness is challenging.
Adult Sunday school has waned in our churches wherever we’ve lacked strategy for the classes and training for their leaders. The same thing will happen with small groups unless we heed the example of leader-trainers like Mack and Putman.
Expect Community
Note that these writers do not list community as the reason their groups exist, and none of them speaks of intimacy. Putman advocates discipleship. Mack describes shared mission and service. Stortz says community grew in her group, even though that wasn’t its goal. Paul Williams’s group comes closest to demonstrating intimacy, but that was not the reason the group was formed.
Intimacy must happen organically; it occurs infrequently in life, and it does not happen because someone decides to program it. Community is a biblical standard for the church, an experience too many Christians lack, a worthy outcome for a small groups ministry.
Discover the details for yourself as you read and discuss this week’s issue. Even with different approaches to a small groups ministry, small groups will thrive with these four standards in place.
Author: Mark A. Taylor
Mark A. Taylor, who served as Christian Standard editor from 2003 to 2017, retired in June 2017 after almost 41 years with Standard Publishing (Christian Standard Media).
