Quick! What is one thing that virtually any church, any where, of any size, large budget or small, can do that will reach new people with the Gospel and make more disciples?
The third principle in Flake’s Formula is “Enlarge the Organization”. Okay, you’ve been waiting for this, right? It is absolutely imperative for church’s to start new groups. There it is… it’s out there! Start a new group.
Of the five principles of Flake’s Formula, this principle may be the least applied of them all. Let’s face it: most of our classes and small groups are focused on themselves and branching out to start a new group is not in our DNA. One of the best things that a group can do to enlarge the Kingdom is something that many groups are firmly against!
I was visiting recently with an education minister of a large and fast-growing church and asked him about their growth. He response was that although they were experiencing a lot of growth, the groups that had been together the longest were not growing. Virtually all of their new growth was coming from new groups the church had started in the past year.
Know the Rule of 10
The “Rule of 10” simply means that for every new group your church starts, attendance will grow by 10 people. So if you want your church to grow in attendance by 50 people this year… that’s five new groups.
Churches are becoming more creative and experimenting with new ways to start new groups. This week you will learn a couple of new ways that churches are starting new groups. Steve Gladen of Saddleback Church has a very aggressive and creative plan to starting new groups that you may need to consider. His post will be up Wednesday the 18th.
How is your church doing? Are you making new disciples? The proven strategy for reaching new people and making new disciples is starting new groups. Join us for a great time together this week.
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Bob Mayfield is the Sunday School/Small Groups specialist at the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. He also serves First Baptist Church of Moore as Interim Education Minister. Bob blogs at www.bobmayfield.com
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