Download - Four Strategies for Growing Your Small Group
Four Strategies for Growing Your Small Group
Dr. Randy Wollf
What Makes Small Groups Grow?
Many Churches have Small Groups
Inspired by a Biblical model or principlesMotivated by practical reasons
Church health and growthImproved outreach, discipleship, assimilation
What’s Going On?Some had seen wonderful resultsMany have struggled
What Makes Small Groups Grow?
How have you seen your small group grow or not grow numerically?
The Research
3000 Small Group Leaders SurveyedIn over 200 churches
Scientific Statistical Methodology Factor AnalysisBeyond Correlations to Path Analysis
Some results were expected. Some were surprising!What characteristics & behaviors of leaders matter?
Note: This presentation is based on the research in the book, Small Groups, Big Impact by Jim Egli & Dwight Marable. The PowerPoint is a modified version of the one found at http://smallgroupsbigimpact.com.
The Research
Underlying assumptionIf groups want to be successful long-term, they must draw people to Christ, successfully assimilate those people into group life, and launch or create new groups.
Assimilation
Conversion Growth
Multiplication
Small group leaders whose groups grow most rapidly are Matter
s?Matters?
Married? Y or N Spending more time praying for group meetings?
Y or N
Younger? Y or N Spending more time preparing the lesson for their meetings?
Y or N
Well educated? Y or N Praying consistently for non-Christian friends?
Y or N
Outgoing? Y or N Modelling and encouraging friendship evangelism?
Y or N
Gifted in evangelism?
Y or N Encouraging caring relationships and fun activities?
Y or N
Gifted teachers?
Y or N Spending time with members outside the meetings?
Y or N
Spending more time with God?
Y or N Noticing and encouraging others’ gifts and abilities?
Y or N
Praying consistently for group members?
Y or N Identifying and utilizing potential leaders?
Y or N
What does NOT matter
Marital StatusAgeEducational LevelPersonalitySpiritual GiftsTime devoted to lesson prep.
Growing Groups have Leaders who...
Spend More Time with GodPray Consistently for MembersPray More for their MeetingsPray for Non-Christian FriendsModel Relational OutreachEncourage Relationships Spend Time with OthersEncourage the Gifts of OthersMobilize Potential Leaders
The Difference“The differences between successful leaders and unsuccessful ones all relate to controllable behaviors, not to predetermined traits” (p. 17).
Growing Groups and Their Leaders...
PrayReachCareEmpower
Three Growth OutcomesAssimilatio
nConversion
GrowthMultiplicati
on
Which Groups Bring Others? Conversion
Growth
Pray Reach
How important is Prayer?Percent that Saw PeopleBrought to
Christ in Past 9 Months:
83% vs.
19% Strong vs. Weak Prayer Life
A Praying LeaderConsistent Time with GodPrayer for Friends that Need GodMore Time with GodPrayer for MembersPrayer for Small Group Meetings
Pray
Why Does Prayer Make Such a Difference?
People experience God’s presence in God-soaked groupsPeople sense that praying leaders care for themPeople see the fruit of the Spirit in praying leadersPraying leaders hear from God about their groups
Which Groups Bring Others? Conversion
Growth
Pray Reach
How important is an Outward Focus?Percent that Saw at Least One Person Brought to
Christ in the Past 6
Months:
90% vs. 11%
Strong vs. Weak Outreach
Reaching OutInvestment - Members Spend Time with Friends in Order to Share ChristInvitation - Encourage Members to Invite OthersIntention - Outreach is a Stated Purpose of the GroupIntercession - Prayer in Meetings for FriendsImitation - Leader who Models Relational Outreach
Reach
Which Groups Assimilate Others? Assimilatio
nConversion
Growth
Pray CareReach
How Important are Caring Relationships?
Percent of Groups that
had Added 4 or
More Members
Since Starting:
44% vs.
18%
Strong vs. Weak Caring Relationships
Caring GroupAre like Family to One AnotherPray for One Another Through the WeekSupport each Other in Times of NeedHave Fun TogetherSpend Time with One another Between Meetings
Care
Caring Through the Stages of Group Life
FormingStormingNormingPerformingReforming
Care
Building Intimacy in Your Small Group and Facilitating Excellent
Discussionswith Dr. Randy Wollf
&Outward Focused Groups Experience More Care!
Caring Groups Enfold More People!
Will We Sacrifice Group Intimacy if We Reach Out?
According Egli and Marable’s (2011) research, “If you want to experience deeper community in your small group, you should make it an open group that actively reaches out to others” (p. 37).
Reach
Can Outreach and Care
go together?Not only can they.
They must!
Which Groups Multiply? Assimilatio
nConversion
Growth
Pray CareReach
Multiplication
Empower
How important is Empowering Leadership?
Percent of Groups that
had Multiplied or
Sent Out New Leaders:
62% vs. 27%
Strong vs. Weak Empowering
Empowering OthersTalk to members about their potentialEncourage members to take risks and try new thingsEncourage others to get trainedMeet with leaders-in-training to planConstantly look for potential leaders
Empower
Empowering OthersNot sure where to start?
List the people in your group and write down one idea beside each name as to how you could help them develop as leaders
Empower
Ways to MultiplyInternal multiplicationBirthingSmall group plantingShotgun approachLaunching
Empower
3 4For Long-
term Growth All 3
OutcomesAnd All 4 Health
Factors are Essential
ConclusionAssimilatio
nConversion
Growth
Pray CareReach
Multiplication
Empower
“Growing groups have leaders that are connected to God and empowering others.
Their members are giving themselves to one another and to those who don’t yet know
Jesus” (p. 79).
Four Strategies for Growing Your Small Group
Dr. Randy Wollf