Align groups with the purpose of the church. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by making disciples of all nations. That one statement contains the vision (glorify God), the mission (make disciples who make disciples), and the goal (of all nations) of the church. In other words, the church exists to make God famous as everyone makes disciples locally among the unchurched and globally among the unreached.
Evaluate the current practices of the small group ministry. This necessitates answering a challenging but essential question. Does our small group ministry accomplish the purpose of the church? Are participants being equipped to make disciples who make disciples? If so, Halleluja! Fight to keep it that way. If not, what needs to change? In other words, how can we leverage our existing small group ministry to align with God's purpose for the church?
Pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit. Revelation 2:7 The key to transitioning from a non-multiplying to a multiplying small group ministry is prayer and obedience to God's Spirit. This may require a transition from a knowledge-based paradigm that focuses on transferring information to an obedience-based paradigm that values doing, not just knowing.
Educate about the primacy of multiplication. Inform people about the purpose of the church and the outcome of the "challenging" question above. This justifies why things might need to change. Communicate the primacy of multiplication in every aspect of church, including small groups. Everyone should be on the pathway of making disciples who make disciples. Therefore, every ministry should contribute toward this outcome.
Evaluate the current practices of the small group ministry. This necessitates answering a challenging but essential question. Does our small group ministry accomplish the purpose of the church? Are participants being equipped to make disciples who make disciples? If so, Halleluja! Fight to keep it that way. If not, what needs to change? In other words, how can we leverage our existing small group ministry to align with God's purpose for the church?
Pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit. Revelation 2:7 The key to transitioning from a non-multiplying to a multiplying small group ministry is prayer and obedience to God's Spirit. This may require a transition from a knowledge-based paradigm that focuses on transferring information to an obedience-based paradigm that values doing, not just knowing.
Educate about the primacy of multiplication. Inform people about the purpose of the church and the outcome of the "challenging" question above. This justifies why things might need to change. Communicate the primacy of multiplication in every aspect of church, including small groups. Everyone should be on the pathway of making disciples who make disciples. Therefore, every ministry should contribute toward this outcome.