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Starting a New Small Group in Your Church

Some items to consider:

Determine the purpose of the new group
How does the potential group fit the church’s ministry and purpose, including current church organizational structures? Examples include:
- Bible study, fellowship and caring (TLC)
- Evangelistic—reaching people groups in the community outside the church building
- Transitioning attendees into church life
- Reaching/involving new people in Sunday School/ABF
- New member orientation
- Discipleship/faith formation of those who belong to the current faith community
- Making disciples with those in the secular community
- Creating new ministry opportunities/task groups
Identify target groups
What is the potential for reaching a new people group? Special needs or interest? Examples include:
- Newly identified people group out in the community
- People connected with the congregation that are not in Bible study or other small groups that nurture TLC and faith formation
- People not currently involve in the church beyond worship attendance
- New Christians or seeker groups
- A people group out side of the church who have a connection with a church member
- Special needs/interest groups
- Seekers who have a connection with the church faith community
Identify, enlist, and equip new leaders
Ask important questions like:
- Who has potential?
- Who feels a attraction to ministry with a target group?
- Who is God calling, and what is God calling that person/persons to do?
Identify needs for ministry, faith formation, TLC, or other ministry opportunities
Develop a ministry team, then train/equip leaders for ministry
- Apprenticeship
- Training events
- Mentoring/coaching
- Modeling
Determine appropriate resources to be used with the group
Determine a time and place for the group to meet
Start group as advertised
Invite people to join the group
- Personal invitation
- Opportunities to sign up for groups
- Orientation periods
Continue to nurture leaders
Provide coaching, training, encouragement while keeping the vision and reason for the group firmly in place. Constantly look for opportunities to start new groups and enlist leadership for those groups.