Small Groups helps churches build disciple-making communities where people grow in Scripture, prayer, and relationships. Explore practical, Bible-based articles on launching and leading groups, training leaders, choosing curriculum, facilitating discussion, and creating healthy group culture. You’ll find guidance on group multiplication, care and accountability, welcoming new people, and connecting groups to the church’s mission. Whether you lead a group, oversee a small groups ministry, or want to strengthen community in your congregation, these resources equip you to help people follow Jesus together.
February 3, 2011
“February in Cleveland means snow,” says Momentum Christian Church (Garfield Heights, OH), “and snow means annual competition for Mo Groups!” This month Momentum encourages its small groups to clear snow from as many driveways in the community as possible; the activity blesses neighbors, builds friendships within the small group, AND offers bragging rights for the winning group. Stay warm up there, guys . . .
January 24, 2011
By Brian Jones A few years ago I brought in a nationally recognized pastor to do some consulting for our church. One of the things I remember most about my time with him was a side conversation we had about small groups. “I haven’t really figured out the small group thing,” I confessed to him. “Well, Brian, that’s because they don’t work. Small groups are things that trick us into believing we’re serious about making disciples. The problem is 90 percent of small groups never produce one single disciple. Ever. They help Christians make shallow friendships, for sure. They’re great
November 5, 2010
By Michael Mack How many people can you effectively lead, shepherd, and disciple? Eight? Ten? Twelve? Twenty? Let me ask the question another way: If you are to bear much fruit, fruit that will last . . . if you are to see true transformation of people”s lives . . . if you are to see people develop into leaders so that you are multiplying your leadership . . . into how many people can you invest your life? Jesus formed a small group that would eventually change the world. But first, he called two sets of brothers: Simon Peter and Andrew,
November 4, 2010
By Bill Search We”ve called change different things through the years: discipleship, edification, sanctification, transformation, spiritual formation. These are really great terms, but they convey one simple idea: how people become more like Jesus. A healthy small group should help people change. But many of our groups get off track. Ironically, the love for Scripture can accidentally distract us from the ultimate goal of changing to become like Jesus. You Need to Know More Some groups take a materialistic approach to Bible study. They crave to know more. They may not have the same intense desire to become different people,
November 4, 2010
By Michael Mack What makes a small group healthy? At Northeast Christian Church, we define small group health by seven biblical values and evaluate all groups annually to see how they are doing. Note that the first four deal with how a group is focused and organized, and the last three deal with what they do. 1. Christ-centered: Jesus is the real group leader. Groups meet in his presence and power and for his purposes. (Matthew 18:20) 2. Healthy, growing leaders: The small group leader is growing in his or her faith by being involved in daily disciplines such as Bible
November 3, 2010
By Dick Alexander For most of our adult lives my wife and I have been in a small group””not because my job requires it but because our souls do. Our small groups have laughed, cried, prayed, encouraged, and studied the Bible with us, and helped us keep our bearings through troubled times. They have been “church” to us. Usually when there”s conversation about the value of small groups in the church, it”s done on a pragmatic basis””they keep people connected, they”re important for assimilation, etc. But the main reason for small groups is this: they are foundational for a larger
August 8, 2010
By Jennifer Taylor From brand-new Christians to brand-new mothers, churches are inviting members to share their experiences, knowledge, and friendship with groups beginning new journeys. Significant Mothers When Evelyn Ritchie became an unwed teenage mother 21 years ago, she benefited from a local hospital program offering support and education. Today, Ritchie works with volunteers from Real Life Christian Church (Clermont, Florida) to provide the same experience for Clermont”s teen moms. In the new “ADAPT” program (Adolescent Development And Parent Training), Ritchie matches each teen””some pregnant and some parenting a new baby””with a mentor who shares parenting skills and provides encouragement.
August 27, 2008
By Mark A. Taylor Mike Mack and Brian Jones probably wouldn”t agree about everything. But both of them have expressed enough concerns about traditional small group ministry to make every group leader or participant think twice. Brian, who blogs at BrianJones.com, posted a series of outspoken entries this summer under the general heading “Why Churches Should Euthanize Their Small Groups (and what we should replace them with).” “I believe in creating disciples,” he wrote June 17 to introduce his topic. “And I believe this is what the church is called to do. But in most instances disciples are created in
June 8, 2008
By Michael C. Mack READ THE SIDEBAR: “God’s Word on Great Shepherds” READ THE SIDEBAR: “Great Small Groups Need Shepherds” Good small groups are the enemy of great small groups. Jim Collins opens Good to Great (HarperCollins, 2001) with similar words: “Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great.” God promises to make us into something great (i.e., Genesis 12:2). Yet countless small groups settle for good. They acquiesce to ordinary and adequate rather than pursuing an abundant, transformational ministry. In his book The Relational Way,
June 8, 2008
By Michael C. Mack READ THE MAIN ARTICLE: “Good to Great Groups” READ THE SIDEBAR: “God’s Word on Great Shepherds” Â Â Great small groups require great leaders, and great small group leaders are shepherds””spiritual guides for the group God has entrusted to their care. But not everyone believes that. To get more people into small groups, some churches are launching hundreds of groups at a time with “facilitators” or “hosts” rather than shepherd-leaders. An attitude of “anyone will do” prevails today when looking for people to start new groups. Some churches use slogans such as “If you have a
June 8, 2008
By Diane Stortz Wondering what your small group should study next, or how to help group members truly connect? Looking for material to inspire the small group leaders at your church? Rather than choosing a study based on the Bible, how about reading through the Bible itself? On the first Monday night of 2000, I sat with 16 other women in the living room of Beth Neuenschwander, coleader of a newly forming group at LifeSpring Christian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. “We”re here to get to know God by reading through the Bible in a year,” Beth said. “We”ll read about
June 8, 2008
By Dale Reeves There is more than small talk today about small groups. There are churches with groups, churches composed of groups, and churches that are groups (i.e., the house church movement). In his book Creating Community, lead pastor Andy Stanley says of Northpoint Community Church, “Small groups are not an appendage to our ministry; they are our ministry. We think groups. We are driven by groups.” According to The Barna Group, approximately 11 million people, or 55 percent of America”s 20 million evangelicals, participate in some kind of small group each week. More than two-thirds of American churches use
June 4, 2008
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
December 9, 2007
From the new book by Joseph R. Myers It is not true that an artist is someone who manufactures art. An artist is someone who enables art to emerge from a canvas””someone who has the strengths, competencies, and patience to bring that miracle into being. An artist is someone who enables art to emerge from a canvas. Art is not formulaic, like a paint by numbers kit. It has life. It is viewed and appreciated. It moves and inspires. It invites participation, intermingling its own story with those of its observers. When it comes to our own lives, we want
December 9, 2007
A book review by Myron Williams When Jon Weece became senior minister of Southland Christian Church, Lexington, Kentucky, he convened the leadership team to help determine Southland”s future direction. The mission, “Love God, love people,” was in place, but the strategy to accomplish these mandates was nonexistent. Over a two-year period the team developed six core values. This article tells the story of value four: “Life happens best in community.” A strategy grew out of many discussions and much prayer about how to create environments for moving “weekend-only” adults into smaller community settings where they could know and be known
December 9, 2007
A book review by Jon Zabrocki I”ve heard it said the motivation to do something in life can be traced to one of two things: either the desire to avoid pain or the desire for personal gain. For example, we pay our taxes, not because we enjoy doing it, but because the thought of the IRS agent camping out in our living room brings a certain amount of discomfort. But these competing motivations are not equally balanced in most areas of our lives; more often the avoidance of pain outweighs the desire for gain. Paying bills will always get done
December 9, 2007
A book review by Bill Search “Why do you hate me and everything I stand for?” Those were my first words to Joe Myers, author of Organic Community. I admit it wasn”t the best way to make a new friend. However, I had just finished reading his first book, The Search to Belong, and I was certain he didn”t like small groups. And since I was a small groups minister, I took his criticism a bit personally. Joe”s gracious response and sly grin helped me realize he was initiating a conversation, not attacking groups. In fact, he gave voice to
June 17, 2007
By Chris Travis I wanted to surprise my wife. I”ve found that the surprise factor can turn even a tiny gift into a big success, and this was no tiny gift””I had finally found a piano. The trick with a piano is getting it from point A to point B. But I”ve got a couple of tricks up my sleeve. I picked up the piano on a Tuesday””the night my small group Bible study meets in my home. So when the guys arrived, all ready to pursue God together and be spiritual, they found a pickup truck backed up to
October 16, 2005
What does true biblical community look like? Mike Cope reflects on spiritual friendship, Larry Crabb’s vision of the church as a safe place, and practical steps toward deeper, Christ-centered connection.
April 7, 2026
John B. Penrose Jr
April 7, 2026
David Faust
March 27, 2026
Rick Cherok