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