Finding Direction For Your Small Group

Posted on 18. Sep, 2008 by frank in small groups

Directing our Small Group Ministry is one of my roles here at CCV and when the fall season arrives I often get questions from leaders about what they should do next with their group. It is a common question because people are often coming back from summer break and they are ready for something fresh. However, for leaders I think that answers can be found in asking the right questions. To honestly figure out where your group needs to go… you need to figure out where you are and there are four major areas to consider:

1. God – Your personal relationship with God and your group’s relationship with God.
2. Each other – The depth of your relationships with your group members and their relationships with each other.
3. Leadership – The number of future leaders your group is producing and who you are personally investing in.
4. Evangelism – The relationships your group has with unchurched people and the passion they tap into to connect those people to God.

Evaluation Questions

God:

• How often do you pray for your group each week?
• Do you and your group members discuss personal time spent with God?
• How much time do you spend in prayer and bible study each day?
• Does your group spend time talking about prayers that God has answered?

Each Other:

• How many times does your group meet in an average month?
• How many parties, socials, or fun group activities has your group had in the past 3 months?
• How many times have you invited someone from your group over for a meal in the past two months?
• Do you ever participate in church activities as a group by going together?
• How often do you communicate with group members by phone, email, cards, or letters to encourage them?

Leadership:

• Does your group have an assistant-leader or an apprentice?
• How many of your group members expect to lead a group sometime in the future?
• How many people in your group participate by leading different components of the meeting? (For example: prayer time, ice breaker, bible reading, etc.)
• How often does your group pray about developing new group leaders?
• Who in your group would you like to see become a leader?

Evangelism:

• How often does your group pray for people far from God and when was the last time you were able to share your faith?
• How many parties or gatherings have you had, not spiritual in nature, that your group members could invite their non-Christian friends to.
• When a visitor attends your group for the first time, how often do you follow up with a phone call, card, or an invite to breakfast or lunch?
• Do you know how to draw the bridge and use it to share your faith? Have you done it recently?

These questions help me figure out if I am on target with leading my group. Hopefully, you find them useful. You may even want to bring them to your next meeting and discuss them with you group.