BIG News About Small Groups
“A small group is an intentional gathering of three to twelve people who commit themselves to work together to become better disciples of Jesus Christ.”
This is just one of the many ways to define a church-based small group. There are key words in the sen­tence that really do help to identify what a small group is or should be.

Commitment is defined as a pledge or promise; an obligation. A small group is meant to be an impor­tant part of your life and should have some priority in your calendar planning. There is a small group at St. Matthew’s that does a yearly planning meeting every May. In that organizational time they are honoring one another by committing to a year of growing together. How many relationships survive without making the decision to spend time together? The success of a small group can begin with something as simple as blocking out some time for one another.

Work Together can mean multiple things to a small group. Participating in a service project gives the group an opportunity to see one another living out the Gospel message. A special bond grows among group members that work side by side to help others. The opportunities to serve are endless. If your group is looking for something to do this summer, consider the Meal Outreach Ministry or The Reformation Garden. But working together involves more than a one-time project. It means always supporting each other, keep­ing in close touch when someone is struggling, offering to bring a meal during a busy time. Looking for an opportunity to extend compassion can feel like more work than volunteering for an hour at a local shelter! It can feel awkward or uncomfortable, but love is a verb. Let the action of love for one another be part of the work that your group does together.

Discipleship is the last key word that is actually not as “religious” as it sounds. Do you believe in Jesus Christ in your small group? Then, you are a disciple. Are you attempting to follow in His footsteps? Then, you are a disciple. It is important to remember that making disciples is an expectation of Jesus and a never-ending process. We are all on a discipleship journey. Let the small group be a place where you grow in faith by hav­ing the hard conversations. Pick out a study that will challenge the group. Spend a meeting discussing a scripture passage. Don’t forget to pray together; just inviting God to be with you in your group changes everything.

~~ Sue Swing, Volunteer & Small Groups Ministries

How to revitalize your small group
It is great to be part of a small group that is growing and moving forward. These groups are usually characterized by high levels of commitment. They honor their agreed upon meeting dates and have decided that the appointment to gather with their small group is as important as any­thing else that is one their calendar. But every small group struggles at times. If you find yourself in a small group that is slowing down, consider these points.

“In recent months, attendance at our small group has been sporadic at best. How do we help our group members become more committed and dedicated?”

Over a stretch of time it is not uncommon for groups to lose their focus and grow sloppy in aspects of their group life. Often, as a result, members will become uneasy with the loss of momentum. These times are critical junctures in the group’s life. The group can either continue to dete­riorate or choose to “clean up its act.” It is much healthier to address it than to pretend it doesn’t exist or hope it will simply disappear. It takes courage to talk about it with the group, but God will frequently use such discussions to trig­ger a time of spiritual renewal. Discuss it as a group and ask for the input of the entire group to arrive at a solution. (From Small Groups Leaders’ Handbook.)

Another thing you can do to solidify group attendance is to make sure that most or all of your group members have ownership in the group. A good small group needs someone to select/facilitate a study, bring the food, host the study, arrange for childcare, administrate by bringing a calendar and reminding everyone else to do so, send out a follow-up e-mail, handle prayer requests, find a service project etc….When people are more involved in the leader­ship of the group they are more likely to attend.

Lastly, consider a group covenant. This is an agreement that states what each member of the group can expect and what will be expected of them. This can include arriving on time, not missing more than one or two meetings, being prepared for discussion. Add a calendar for the year to your cove­nant and, if possible, identify the day of the month that you will meet; ie first Sunday or fourth Thursday. At the very least, schedule a minimum of three meetings at a time.

A small group is like any other relationship and will im­prove with quality time and attention.
-- Sue Swing, Small Groups Coordinator

(If your small group is seeking a new study, don’t forget to stop in the church library. There are some new resources, including DVD’s to be used in a single meeting time, making facilitating the group easier than ever.)