Small Group Killers

If a small group doesn’t make it, often the leader is hard-pressed to understand why. It’s usually not the complex or theological problems that kill a small group, but the simple issues with simple solutions. Small group killers can be classified in 3 areas; Environmental, logistical, and relational. You might consider asking yourself – or others—about these areas.

With environment you should ask these questions: Is there adequate and comfortable seating? How’s the temperature in your home? Does your home have a pleasant scent? Are there distracting sounds? Are your pets or kids running around?

You should ask yourself about the logistical area: Do you start on time? Do you end on time? Are you prepared? Do you keep to a schedule that allows adequate time for fellowship, study, discussion, and prayer? Do you meet often and on a consistent basis? Are you giving homework when you should not be? Do you “sell” the next series that you are going to do a couple weeks in advance? Is there food?

The last area you should ask questions in is focusing on relationships: Are you teaching or facilitating discovery? Is someone in the group being excessively dominant? Do you have cliques forming? Is discussion turning into debate? Are building in the right amount of social time? Are you taking interest in your group members more than the study? Are you keeping the main thing the main thing? Again is there food?