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 principles Motivated by practical reasons Church health and growth Improved outreach, discipleship, assimilation What’s Going On? Some had seen wonderful results Many 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 Surveyed In over 200 churches Scientific Statistical Methodology Factor Analysis Beyond 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

The Research Underlying assumption If 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 Matters? Married?Y or NSpending more time praying for group meetings? Y or N Younger?Y or NSpending more time preparing the lesson for their meetings? Y or N Well educated?Y or NPraying consistently for non- Christian friends? Y or N Outgoing?Y or NModelling and encouraging friendship evangelism? Y or N Gifted in evangelism? Y or NEncouraging caring relationships and fun activities? Y or N Gifted teachers?Y or NSpending time with members outside the meetings? Y or N Spending more time with God? Y or NNoticing and encouraging others’ gifts and abilities? Y or N Praying consistently for group members? Y or NIdentifying and utilizing potential leaders? Y or N

What does NOT matter Marital Status Age Educational Level Personality Spiritual Gifts Time devoted to lesson prep.

Growing Groups have Leaders who... Spend More Time with God Pray Consistently for Members Pray More for their Meetings Pray for Non-Christian Friends Model Relational Outreach Encourage Relationships Spend Time with Others Encourage the Gifts of Others Mobilize 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... Pray Reach Care Empower

Three Growth OutcomesAssimilation Conversion Growth Multiplication

Which Groups Bring Others? Conversion Growth PrayReach

How important is Prayer? Percent that Saw People Brought to Christ in Past 9 Months: 83% vs. 19% Strong vs. Weak Prayer Life

A Praying Leader Consistent Time with God Prayer for Friends that Need God More Time with God Prayer for Members Prayer for Small Group Meetings Pray

Why Does Prayer Make Such a Difference? People experience God’s presence in God-soaked groups People sense that praying leaders care for them People see the fruit of the Spirit in praying leaders Praying leaders hear from God about their groups

Which Groups Bring Others? Conversion Growth PrayReach

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 Out Investment - Members Spend Time with Friends in Order to Share Christ Invitation - Encourage Members to Invite Others Intention - Outreach is a Stated Purpose of the Group Intercession - Prayer in Meetings for Friends Imitation - Leader who Models Relational Outreach Reach

Which Groups Assimilate Others?Assimilation Conversion Growth PrayCareReach

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 Group Are like Family to One Another Pray for One Another Through the Week Support each Other in Times of Need Have Fun Together Spend Time with One another Between Meetings Care

Caring Through the Stages of Group Life Forming Storming Norming Performing Reforming Care

Building Intimacy in Your Small Group and Facilitating Excellent Discussions with 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? Assimilation Conversion Growth PrayCareReachMultiplicationEmpower

How important is Empowering Leadership? Percent of Groups that had Multiplied or Sent Out New Leaders: 62% vs. 27% Strong vs. Weak Empowering

Empowering Others Talk to members about their potential Encourage members to take risks and try new things Encourage others to get trained Meet with leaders-in-training to plan Constantly look for potential leaders Empower

Empowering Others Not 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 Multiply Internal multiplication Birthing Small group planting Shotgun approach Launching Empower

3 4 For Long-term Growth All 3 Outcomes And All 4 Health Factors are Essential

Conclusion Assimilation Conversion Growth PrayCareReachMultiplicationEmpower “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