CHURCH GROWTH THROUGH

SMALL GROUP

WEST INDONESIA UNION MISSION

WORKERS’ MEETING
OCTOBER 17-19, 2003
 Church Growth
Through Small Group
Ministries
 Building Christian
Community

Small Group Ministry

in Today’s
Seventh-Day Adventist
Church
 Created for Community

“Let US make man in our

image…(Genesis 1:24)
“I pray that they may all be
one, Father!…just as You
and I are one.” (John 17:21,22)
 The Universal Human Need
“The silent churning at the
core of our beings is the …
need to know and be known,
to understand and to be
under-stood, to possess and
to be possessed, to belong
un-conditionally and forever
without fear of loss,
betrayal, or rejection…It is
the search …for the freedom
to be who we really are.”
Gilbert Bilezikian
 A. EXPLOSIVE GROWTH IN
THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH
 120 disciples
 Acts 1:15
 3000 new converts
 Acts 2:41,42
 5000 men
 Acts 4:4
 More and more
 Acts 5:14
 Increasing
 Acts 6:1,7
 Grew in numbers
 Acts 9:31
 Church planting
 Acts 16:5
 Many thousands
 Acts 21:20
 A. It is Biblical
 Moses followed the counsel of
his father-in-law, Jethro, in
having small groups of tens
(Exodus 18).
 Jesus started His ministry by
calling a small group of twelve
disciples (Matthew 4:18-22).
 The Early Church grew in
numbers although they did not
have a big church building.
They met from house to house
(Acts 2:42-47).
Moses’ Method...
God

Moses

The Multitude
The Jethro Principle...
GOD
Moses
Leaders of 1000
Leaders of 100
Leaders of 50
Leaders of 10

The Multitude
 Christ’s Method

“Christ’s method alone will give

true success in reaching the
people. The Saviour mingled
with men as one who
desired their good. He
showed His sympathy
for them, ministered
to their needs, and won their
confidence. Then He bade them,
‘Follow Me.’”
(Ministry of Healing 143)
 Jesus’ Model
 12 group members
 “Inner” group of Peter, James and
John
 Heart to Heart
“Your success will not depend
so much upon your knowledge and
accomplishments, as upon your ability
to find your way to the heart. By
being social and coming close to the
people, you may turn the current of
their thoughts more readily than by
the most able discourse.” Gospel
Workers, p193
 The New Testament Church:
A House-Based Church
 “Day after day, in the temple
courts and from house to
house, they never stopped
teaching and proclaiming
the Good News that Jesus
is the Christ.” (Acts 5:42)
 “Greet also the church that meets at
their house.” (Romans 16:5 etc.)
 New Testament Church
 Acts 1:15 120
 Acts 2:41 3000+
 Acts 4:4 10,000+
 Acts 5:14 +++

Explosive
Growth
Biblical Goals for Small Group Ministries
Foster Biblical Love (John 13:35; 1 Cor. 13:13;
Gal. 5:13; Eph. 5:2; 1 John 4:7, 11, 21).

Promote Fellowship and Unity (Acts 4:32; Rom.

12:5; 1 Cor. 12:12, 25; Eph. 4:3, 5, 13; 1 John 3, 6-7).
Build the Body (Rom. 14:19; Eph. 2:19-22; 4:11-16; Col.
1:10-12, 28; 2:6-7).
Faith
Discerning
of Spirits Knowledge

e cy
o ph Working
Pr Miracles
do
Healing W
is
m
Nurture Spiritual Gifts (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor.12:4-11).
Evangelism
(Acts 42-47).
It’s a Fact...

“Small group
evangelism and
dynamic church
growth are two
sides of the
same coin. They
are one.”
Joel Comiskey
c. It is Inspired
Preparing for the Second
Advent
“The formation of
small companies as
a basis of
Christian effort is
a plan that has
been presented to
me by One who
cannot err.”
(Evangelism 115)
Despite the absence of official pastoral
leadership, churches that have been
persecuted in countries such as China
have flourished. How? Through the
ministry of small groups.
“In England,about one
million people are now
involved in small groups.
The Holy Spirit appears
to be using small groups
to win unbelievers to
faith, revitalize the
spiritual lives of
individuals and
congregations and focus
attention on the study of
the Bible.”
 Martin Luther
“But those who seriously want
to be Christians and to confess
the Gospel in deed and word
would have to register their
names and gather themselves
somewhere in a house alone…”

“…Here one could also conduct baptism and

communion in a brief and fine manner, and
direct everything to the word, prayer and
mutual love…”
John Wesley’s Class System

“According to the judge-

ment of our Lord and
the writings of His
apostles, it is only when
we are knit together,
that we have
nourishment from Him,
and increase with the
increase of God.”
John Wesley’s Class System

Whitefield to John Pool: “My

Brother Wesley acted wisely…
the souls that were awakened
under his ministry he joined in
class, and thus preserved the
fruits of his labor. This I
neglected, and my people are a
rope of sand...Wesley has
been wiser than me because
he penned his sheep.”
II. SMALL GROUP IN THE
CONTEMPORARY WORLD
A. SUCCESSFUL CHURCHES
1. Yoido Full Gospel Church
2. Iglesia ni Cristo
 B. Eight Characteristics of
Growing Churches
1. Empowering leadership
2. Gift-oriented lay ministry
3. Passionate spirituality
4. Functional structures
5. Inspiring worship service
6. Holistic small groups
7. Need-oriented evangelism
8. Loving relationships
 C. What Small Groups Will
Do for You and Your Church:
 They will help you and your fellow believers grow
as disciples of Jesus
 They will build deep relationships between
believers and a strong sense of community in the
church
 They will help believers develop their spiritual
gifts, releasing the ministry potential of the
church, and freeing pastors for the specific work
they have been called to do
 They will help more people come to faith in Christ
 III. SMALL GROUP
MEETING –SMALL GROUP
LIFE
 A. How to Begin
 Receive God’s vision on small group
ministries.

 Decide that small

group ministries is
God’s plan for the
church.

 Discuss and obtain permission of the

church board.
 Choose pioneers for a pilot
group.
 Train pioneers in the
implementation of small group
ministries.
 Let the pilot group multiply.
 Have a weekly group
meeting for leaders.
The Four Parts of a
Small Group Meeting

WELCOM WORSHI
E P

WORD WITNESS
Small Group Meeting Agenda
FOCUS ORDER ACTIVITY RELATION
Entrance You
CHRIST WELCOME into to
Fellowship Me
CHRIST’S
Exaltation Us
PRESENCE
WORSHIP in His to
Presence God
CHRIST’S Edification God
POWER WORD in the to
Word Us
CHRIST’S
Evangelism God
PURPOSE WITNESS Vision & through
Prayer Us
The Four Parts of a
Small Group Meeting
 Greeting and
welcome
 Time to “catch
up” with each
WELCOM other
E  The ice-breaker
Fellowship with those who come early:
 Welcome Words
 Introduction of guests and get–
acquainted activity
 Breaking the Ice
with the Ice-Breaker
The Ice-Breaker:
 creates a relaxed
atmosphere
 enables everyone
to say something
 can lead into the
Bible study or
worship period
 The Four Parts of a
Small Group Meeting

WORSHI
•Acknowledging the presence
P of Jesus:
• With singing
• Meditation with instrumental music
• With testimony, prayer or Scripture
 Worship
Praise
Reports:
Thanksgiving:

Testimonies
Prayer

Expression of
Singing appreciation
for each other
Intercessory Prayer
 A need expressed
 Several lead in
prayer
The Four Parts of a
Small Group Meeting

The Bible study

WORD
The Four Parts of a
Small Group Meeting

Seek full Participation

Seek practical application
WORD
Small Group Bible Study
Should Be Relational
Three Questions:
? What is this text
saying
? What is this text
saying to me/us
? What are we
going to do about
this
 Relational Bible Study
 Asks not only “What does this mean?” but
“What is God saying to me/us here?”
 Based more on real life experience than on a
collection of doctrinal texts
 More concerned with making Christianity
real than with proving a point
 Concerned not only with the original
characters associated with the story, but
where we see ourselves in it
 Accepts all opinions as equally valid
 It allows the group to grow together even
when there is serious disagreement
The Four Parts of a
Small Group Meeting

WITNESS
 Witness: Praying for
Group Growth
 Spirit-led prayer
 Informal, usually
seated
 Conversational
prayer
 Smaller prayer
groups
 Special prayer for
individuals
C. The “Afterglow”
 Begin and end the
meeting on time
 Simple refreshments
afterwards
 Informal: some
leave, some stay
 Sometimes the most
important time of
sharing
 Remember the Goal
The Goal of Small
Group Meetings:
 Life
transformation

 Building
community

 Kingdom growth
 D. Group Life Outside
Group Meetings
 Social
events
 Community
service
 Church
involvement
Community cannot  Retreats
“happen” in a  Mentoring

weekly meeting alone

 E. Stages of Small Group
Development
1. 2.
Adventure Discovery

3.Develop 4.
ment Maturity
 When the Group Gives Birth...

…the gain is greater than the pain!

F. Essential Ingredients

 The Senior Pastor needs to be interested and

serves as a head coach
 The Senior Pastor trains leaders in small groups
 Start Small

 Establish Relaxed Atmosphere

is
 Group Covenant

Purpose?
When?
How long?
 Leaders’ meetings

 Pastor’s commitment to groups

 Focus on evangelism

 Church’s commitment to small group

ministries
 The need for follow-up program
 VALUES needed for
successful Small Groups
• Prayer
• Affirmation
• Availability
• Openness & honesty

it
Small Gro

ir
• Accountability Sp
y
ol

• Sensitivity
H

• Confidentiality
• Multiplication
 G. CORE VALUES
 The presence of God which makes the group
grow
 Every members is called to minister to others
 Leaders are called to serve
 Every group reproduces itself
 Groups function as basic church
 Evangelism flows out of group life
 There will be clear accountability
 Pastor meets with group leader once a week
 Prayers move the life of the church
 Assistants are developed at every level
 IV. The Goal of Small Groups:
Holiness and Harvest
 “Go, then to all
people
everywhere and
make them my
disciples… and I
will be with
you.” Matthew
28:19, 20.
A. What’s A Disciple?

A Disciple is...
 An apprentice
 An apprentice-
maker
 B. The Two Disciplines of
Discipleship

1. EDIFICATION 2. EVANGELISM

Growing in holiness Growing in numbers

 1. Edification:
Spiritual
Body-Building
Edification
(Oikodomeo)
= building up/
strengthening
“Let all things be
done for building
up the church.” •“The church is the
I Cor 14:27
body of Christ.” Eph 1:23
 a. Building Community

“He gave gifts…

to prepare God’s
people for works
of service, so
that the body of
Christ may be
built up…”
(Eph 4:8,12)
 b. Building Believers

“Therefore
encourage one
another and
build each
other up…”
(I Thess 5:11)
 c. Believers Grow:
 Through personal
spiritual disciplines
 Through ministry
of spiritual gifts
 Through
accountable
relationships
 Through mentoring
 d. People Grow Faster
in Small Groups

“I believe that people grow

at least eight times faster
when they’re in a small
group and attending
weekly worship celebration
on (Sabbath) than if they
just attended the service
itself.” Dale Galloway
 Through All to All
Christ ministers to
His body through body
members. He
ministers TO
ME through
other body members,
and He
ministers THROUGH ME to other
body members
 God Uses People
to Build Up Other
People

“God has so
ordained things
that we grow in
the Spirit only
through the frail
instrumentality
of one another.”
Alan Jones
 Mentoring

 building
friendships that
point to God
 one person
“coming alongside”
another person
 A Friend to Keep Us
On Course

“Sin always tends to make us

blind to our own faults. ..We
need a friend to stop us from
deceiving ourselves that what
we are doing is not so bad after
all. We need a friend to help us overcome our low
self-image, inflated self-importance, selfishness,
pride, our deceitful nature, our dangerous
fantasies, and so much else.” James Houston
 Two Alternatives...
a) Mature believer
meets with new
believer for one-
way mentoring

b) Two mature
believers meet
for mutual
mentoring
 How Does it
Work?

 we agree on plan
 meet regularly
 we reflect on what
God is doing in our
lives
 we pray for each
other
 Mentors Offer:

 encouragement
 prayer support
 challenge
 all that a real
friend can be
 a. Evangelism:The
Growth Potential of
Small Groups
...Just Suppose:
 Small church of 50 members involved in
small groups
 Groups grow by 20% per year (e.g. group
of 10 grows to 12)
 Total in groups after 4 years = 100
 Total in groups after 10 years = 310
 Total in groups after 15 years = 770
 Total in groups after 20 years = 2,358
 b. Evangelism: Growing in
numbers
1. Reaching the
unchurched
majority
2. Post-modern
thinking
3. Bridging cultural
differences The challenge of
evangelism in
western society
 c. Engel: the Process of
Spiritual Decision-Making
-8 No awareness of God
-7 Awareness of God
-6 Some knowledge
-5 Understand basics
-4 Grasp implications
-3 Positive attitude
-2 Intention to act
-1 Decision to act
+1 New Creature
d.The Friendship
Evangelism Process
Stage 1:
Friendship
Stage 2:
Christian Friendship
Stage 3:
Adventist Friendship
Combines personal, group and
public evangelistic witness
 The Power of
Friendship
in the Church
Friends in 1st Year 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9+

Active Members 0 0 0 1 2 2 8 13 12
12

Dropouts 8 13 14 8 4 2 1 0 0
0
 Introducing Friends to Your
Small Group
 pray that God will  introduce friends
guide you to the other socially to group
Christians or non- members, e.g.
Christians He wants in anniversary,
the group concert, birth-day,
 take other group barbecue, etc.
members to Bible  use a course to
study contacts introduce Christian
 offer something of beliefs like “Alpha”
shared interest, e.g.  just invite them to
parenting, stress the group
e. Why Small Groups Work Well
in Evangelism
Small Groups:
 encourage teamwork
Why Small Groups Work Well in
Evangelism
Small Groups:
 encourage teamwork
 offer a bridge for
shy people
Why Small Groups Work Well in
Evangelism
Small Groups:
 encourage teamwork
 offer a bridge for
shy people
 personal and informal
Why Small Groups Work Well in
Evangelism
Small Groups:
 encourage teamwork
 offer a bridge for
shy people
 personal and
informal
 maximum
participation
Why Small Groups Work Well in
Evangelism
Small Groups:
 encourage teamwork
 offer a bridge for
shy people
 personal and
informal
 maximum
participation
 flexible
Why Small Groups Work Well
in Evangelism
Small Groups: A
 encourage teamwork
 offer a bridge for B
shy people C
 personal and informal
 maximum
participation
 flexible
 low cost, minimum
organization
Why Small Groups Work Well in
Evangelism
Small Groups:  localized evangelism
 encourage teamwork
 offer a bridge for
shy people
 personal and informal
 maximum
participation
 flexible
 minimum organisation
Why Small Groups Work Well in
Evangelism
Small Groups:  localized evangelism
 encourage teamwork  natural and
 offer a bridge for spontaneous witness
shy people
 personal and informal
 maximum
participation
 flexible
 minimum organisation
V. SMALL GROUP
LEADERSHIP
 A. The Shape of Your
Future Church…

…may well be
determined by
the quality of
your small
group leaders… ?
 …Because the Church
Began as a Prototype
Small Group…

…and Jesus was its Leader!

B. Small Group Leaders Are…

 Called
 Available
 Gifted
 Teachable
Special People:
 Visionary
Small Group Leaders Are Also…

 Live in the
real world
 Don’t know
everything
 Struggle with
…Ordinary people: their faith
 Small Group Leaders Are
All Different…

•Jesus
They
•People
LOVE:-
•The Church

…but they have one thing in common:

C. The Small Group Leader
as a Shepherd
 The Shepherd-Leader’s Method

“We loved you so much that we were delighted to

share with you not only the Gospel of God but our
lives as well, because you had become so dear to
us.” Paul, I Thess 2:8
D. The Small Group Leader
as a Facilitator

Some one who enables

others’

Someone who
disciples others
 E. The Small
Group Leader’s
Role
 Shepherds and facilitates
 Manages group life
 Delegates responsibility
 Identifies and develops gifts in group
members, trains apprentice leader
 Models small group values
 Involves everyone
 F. SOME
INTERESTING
PEOPLE SMALL
GROUP
LEADERS LEAD
 The Dominator
 Done it all before
 Long monologues
 Interrupts
 Won’t let others finish
 Hard to listen to others
 Can always go one better
 Needs recognition
 Give tasks
 Address questions to others in the
group
 Meet personally to address problem
 The Story-Teller
• goes off on a
tangent
• slows down progress
• tells irrelevant
stories
• minimize eye contact
• ask specific group members by name
to read or give opinion
• Don’t be afraid to interrupt is
necessary
 The Passive Member
• Some just are this way
• Doesn’t get involved
• Be sensitive, don’t
embarrass
• Usually have something
valuable to contribute
• Affirm in the group,
encourage in private
• Provide opportunity to develop
confidence
 The Joker or Clown
• Keeps everyone
laughing
• Relieves tension
• May prevent anything
serious happening
• Can intimidate others
• Often shy or self-
conscious people
• Don’t kill the humour, but build on it
• Meet personally to share concern if it’s
serious!
 The Fighter/Defender
• often hostile
• aggressive-
defensive type
• persecuted complex
• Don’t return like
with like
• Work hard to build
personal friendship. Try to learn
cause of behaviour
• Be gentle but firm
 The Don
• Puts things on “higher level”
• Intellectualizes
• Interprets what others say
• Can make others feel
inferior
• Give specific
“research” tasks to
prepare for Bible study
• Also challenge with application
questions
 Oh for Brilliant
Leaders!
They’re the complete
package…
 Dynamic Speaker
 Great Motivator
 Good with youth and
 A few leaders
elderly
are like this
 A1 Administrator
 They ARE the
 Excellent Musician
system
 AND good looking
 The Truth Is…

The best and most effective

leaders may well look and feel
more like THIS
 G. Is God Calling You?
 …but you like what
you’ve heard
 You really want to
get involved
 You’re not satisfied
with the status quo
 You would like to
give it your best
even though you
don’t know how to
If you feel like
THIS… start…
Chances Are He’s
Calling
YOU
Yes

YOU
 WHAT NEXT?
 Meet with friends to pray and discuss the
future
 If you would like a taste of a small group
life, talk to the church pastor or small
group coordinator
 Do it! Join a group or begin to build a new
one together
 Building Christian
Community

VI. DEVELOPING A
SMALL GROUPS NETWORK
Getting Started…?
A.
A. Need
Need for
for
Strategy!
Strategy!
 B. Getting Started…?

1. Study and
understand small
group ministry

2. Pray, and follow

as God leads
 Getting Started...
3. Share the vision
with others

Focus on values
4. Designate small
and objectives,
group co-ordinator
not just groups
 Getting Started...
5. Identify
leadership teams,
each consisting of:
 Leader
 Apprentice leader
 Host or hostess
and begin training. But remember…
 Getting Started...

Grow... …don’t GO

...into small groups. START SMALL

Getting 6. Form a
Started Prototype Group

Co-ordinator/
trainer
Group leaders
Apprentices
 Getting Started.
The purpose of the
prototype:
 to train
 to bond Jesus
in the
 to develop a
reproducible model centre
 to provide an authentic
small group experience.

 to practice the real thing!

Getting Core
Group
Started...
7. Build core Leadership
groups by team
adding 3-4
members
Other church
members
 Complete
Getting Core
Small
Group
Started... Group

8. Build
complete
groups by
adding 5-6
non-members
Non-members
 Introducing Non-S.D.A.
Friends to Your Group
 Pray that God will  Introduce friends
guide you to the other socially to group
Christians or non- members, e.g.
Christians He wants in anniversary,
the group concert, birth-day,
 Take other group barbecue, etc.
members to Bible  Use a course to
study contacts introduce Christian
 Offer something of beliefs like “Alpha”
shared interest, e.g.  Just invite them to
parenting, stress the group
Getting Started

9. Make sure one

or two people
don’t wear ALL
the hats!
 Getting Started
9a. Identify abilities
and gifts in the
group, and delegate
responsibilities

Put the right hats

on the right heads
 Getting Started
Basic Small
Support Group Study Sub-
Sub-Group Group

JESUS
IN
CENTRE
Task Sub- Leadership
Group sub-group

10. Keep the small group at the level of a

basic Christian community, organizing sub-
groups as necessary
 Getting Started...

12. Plan ahead:

have a strategy
for growth

11. Keep the vision clear

by reading, prayer,
observation evaluation,
and training for group
members
 Getting Started

Remember the
Jethro Supervising pastor
leadership Leaders of 500
principle
Leaders of 100

Leaders of 50

Leaders of 10
 Future Challenge for Small
Groups...
““The
The great
great outpouring
outpouring of of the
the Spirit
Spirit of
of
God,
God, which
which lightens
lightens the
the whole
whole earth
earth
with
with His
His glory,
glory, will
will not
not come
come until
until we
we
have
have an
an enlightened
enlightened people
people whowho
know
know by
by experience
experience whatwhat itit
means
means to
to be
be labourers
labourers together
together
with
with God…but
God…but thisthis will
will not
not
be
be while
while the
the largest
largest portion
portion
of
of the
the church
church areare not
not
labourers
labourers together
together withwith God.”
God.”
Evangelism
Evangelism 699
699
 Building Christian
Community

Small Group Ministry

in Today’s
Seventh-Day Adventist
Church
 OHP
OHP5.5
5.5


Be convinced of Small Groups yourself & convince your leaders

Plan your teaching & introduce that teaching to your church

Prototype Cells
1st Wave Cells & Train new Cell Leaders

2nd & 3rd Wave

Adjustment of old
programme -
Transition complete

1 2 3 4 5 6

Six year transition outline

 The Pastor’s Changing Role
Traditional Small Group
Responsibilities Responsibilities

 Year 1 80% Year 1 20%

 Year 2 60% Year 2 40%
 Year 3 40% Year 3 60%
 Year 4 20% Year 4 80%
 Year 5 ? Year 5 ?
 The Original Cell Model

KOREA
 The “Touch” Model

Singapore,
Hong Kong,
South Africa,
U.S.A.,
Russia,
many other
nations
The Groups of Twelve (Turbo)
Model

Bogota,
Columbia
 How It Works

Each of the
twelve
develops up to
LEADER three Cell
OF Groups. The
TWELVE goal is to find
twelve leaders
who will launch
Cells.
The G12 Structure

Cell leader’s
main task is to
develop more
leaders
 The Story
 First 7 years,
Castellanos worked
with Cho’s system of
Cells.
 Grew to 3,000 people…
 1992-1997, with
“Groups of Twelve”
Strategy, grew to
10,460 Cell Groups
 The
The Objective
Objective
To evangelize all
of Colombia and
see a Cell Church
planted in every
town in the
nation.
 How Membership Has Grown

30000

25000 Started
20000 “Groups of
15000 Twelve” Strategy
10000 3000
5000 members
0
84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98
 How Cells Have Multiplied!

30000

10,456
25000

20000
Cells as of
15000
January, 1997!
10000

5000

0
84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98
 Growth Principles of G12
(Turbo) Model
 Everyone is a potential group leader
 Everyone is ministered to then ministers
 Everyone can disciple 12 others
 A believer can only be part of your 12
when they open a cell
 Everyone should win souls and develop
leaders
 Homogeneous cells grow more rapidly
 Building Christian
Community

VII. MAINTAINING
THE SMALL GROUP NETWORK
 It’s One Thing to Start…

It’s another thing to continue

 Small Groups Are…

 Living
things
– how can we
keep them
growing?

•We can’t!
1. Understand the “All-
By-Itself” Principle
Jesus also said, “This is what the
kingdom of God is like. A man scatters
seed on the ground. Night and day,
whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed
sprouts and grows, though he does not
know how. All by itself the soil produces
grain–first the stalk, then the head, then
the full kernel in the head. As soon as
the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it,
because the harvest has come.” (Mark
4:26-29)
 The “All-By-Itself”
Principle
 Growth takes place without
apparent cause, it is spontaneous
 There is order and process in this growth
 All we can do is prepare the way and remove
the obstacles to growth
 Human anxiety does not make it happen!
 The life is in the seed. We must learn to
release the natural growth potential
 This principle applies also to the growth of
the kingdom in our lives and in the church
2. Focus on Health
We are often so
focused on
FRUIT that we
fail to consider
the ROOT that
produces the
SHOOT…
2. Focus on Health
We are often so
focused on
FRUIT that we
fail to consider
the ROOT that
produces the
SHOOT…

…which produces the

FRUIT!
8 Characteristics of
Healthy Churches
(Schwartz)
 Empowering
Leadership
 Gift-oriented Ministry
 Passionate Spirituality
 Functional Structures
 Inspiring Worship
 Holistic Small Groups
 Need-oriented Evangelism
 Loving Relationships
Excellent criteria for an occasional small group
health check too!
 It Makes a Difference!

Growing and Leadership +9

declining Ministry +9
churches Spirituality +13

vary Structures +13

significantly Worship service +13

Small groups
in all eight
+9
Evangelism +11
quality Relationships +9

areas 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60
declining growing
churches churches
3. Multiply Leaders - the Key to
Reproducing Groups

 Every person a
leader
 Leadership
development a
priority of Jesus
 Need for training
and nurture of
leaders
 Leaders Leading Leaders

Remember the
Jethro Supervising pastor
leadership Leaders of 500
principle
Leaders of 100

Leaders of 50

Leaders of 10
 4. Keep it Challenging

Re-define and re-state the vision:

 The pastor’s role
 The cell supervisors’ role
 The cell leaders’ role
5. Keep it Interesting

 Be creative
 Provide variety
 Have fun on the journey
 6. Be Prepared to Take
Difficult Decisions
 Confront difficult
people
 Close or re-form
disfunctional
groups
 Learn from
mistakes: failure
is part of success
But Small Groups Should be More
than Just Alive and Growing…

• They should
be on fire –
how can we
keep them
burning...?

…without burning out?

How Can We Keep
the Fire
Burning?
We can’t! But we
mustn’t quench it
either!

“Quench not the Spirit.”(KJV)

“Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” (NIV)
I Thessalonians 5:19
 1. Check the Core Values
• Is Jesus at the centre?
•
• Is every member in ministry?
• Is every member growing?
• it
Is this a genuinely loving
ir
Sp

community? Do actions Small Group

y

support words?
ol
H

• Do we love the lost?

• Do we take accountability
seriously?
2. Understand the
Change Process

“I Give Up!”
3. Watch for Signs of Overload
• Are relationships at
every level in •
harmony with
Ephesians 4:29-32?
• Are the people who
can’t say “no” saying
“yes” too often?
• Are leaders
receiving adequate
support?
4. Keep an Eye on the Family

• Is family/personal/ social life

neglected?
• Are children and elderly included in
the group network?
 5. Give Prayer Priority
“Do not be
anxious about
anything, but in
everything, by
prayer and
petition, with
thanksgiving,
present your
requests to God”
Alone Philippians 4:6 Together
 6. Believe the Promise
“When we have
entire, whole-hearted
consecration to the
service of Christ, God
will recognise the
fact by an outpouring
of His Spirit without
measure”
(Evangelism. page 699).