What kind of group do you want your group to be? The chances are that you want a group that is:
Loving
Caring
Giving
Studies the Bible
and open to newcomers.
All of these are integral parts of your small group or Sunday School class. But one thing may be missing from your group’s vision – and that is starting a new group! I often find that starting a new group is usually not on the agenda of many groups. Many groups that I encounter suffer from nearsightedness, or group myopia.
Starting new groups is an essential part of an existing group. Many people fail to realize that starting a new group validates their existing group. You have accomplished your goal of making disciples, because you are sending people from your group out to start a new group. The church at Antioch did something similar in Acts 11 when they sent Paul and Barnabas (their two best teachers by the way) on a mission trip to expand the Kingdom by… you guessed it… sharing the Gospel and starting new groups, many of which later became churches.
Here are a few practical pointers that may help lead your group to start a new group:
1. Talk about it! Maybe I should also add, “Talk about new groups positively”. I can assure you that very few new groups are started until somebody becomes a catalyst and begins to talk about them.
2. Dream a little. Share how many people in your neighborhood do not know Christ and could benefit if your class started a new group. Maybe there are some group members who have become inactive that might start attending again if a new group was available.
3. Provide opportunity. You really don’t have to divide your group in half. Instead, make leaving the current group to start a new one an option for people to consider.
4. Enlist a leader. Ultimately, a new group is going to need a leader. That new leader is going to need a mentor and encouragement.
5. Keep the current group involved. Excitement will begin building as the launch date for the new group nears.
6. Throw a party. Before the new group launches, throw a party! Just like when a new child is born into a family, a new group is a cause for celebration.
7. Finally, remember that if you are the leader of the current group, you are the one person – and probably the only person – that can lead the group to start something new. Don’t let the myopia of the members of your group keep you from seeing the bigger picture of starting a new group.
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Bob Mayfield is the Sunday School/small group specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Bob also writes on his own blog at bobmayfield.com
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