Growing up I was always a little guy. By the time I graduated High School I stood a whopping 5 feet 5 inches and weighed around 135 lbs soaking wet. I remember being depressed about my height and weight back then and always dreaming of being a bigger and more athletic guy. My mother would always encourage me by saying things like “You know Eric, big things come in small packages” and “Dynamite is small but it carries a powerful punch.” Now today after a growth spurt in college I’m a little bigger and after a great marriage to a wonderful wife I’m a lot heavier but the truth of what my mother encouraged me with still remains a reality. Big things do come in small packages.
Smaller is Deeper!
As I think about connection groups I am reminded of God’s word and His promise in Matthew 18:20 which says “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Anytime a group of people even if it’s just a couple of folks who gather together in the name of Christ, he’s there! I am also reminded of Acts 2:46 which says “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.” The early believers according to the previous scripture went to church together and met in small groups in homes all throughout the city. Small groups are a way of getting more personal and connecting at a deeper level with the body of Christ. It’s where as a member of a group we can experience relationships at a deeper level, where we care for and are taken care of by others. Where we can serve along side of others and enjoy making a difference in our community while sharing the love of Christ. Small groups also help to keep us accountable in our journey with God as we strive to live a life that reflects our decision to follow Jesus. Hey, small groups are part of what God intended for his church because there is power in connected, committed, and concentrated groups of people focusing on a purpose. Jesus himself had the crowds who followed him, the disciples that numbered 12 whom he chose to walk with him daily, and the three Peter, James, and John whom he pulled aside to go even deeper in his relationship with them. Jesus might say to us today, that smaller is deeper!
Bigger is well…Bigger but not Better!
But what happens when a small group grows to a point where it’s more like a crowd? What is the impact on the purpose of a small group when it’s no longer a small group? A small group is defined by our strategy at CPH as a group of people who number between 8-12 individuals or 4-6 couples in average attendance. We believe that this number is appropriate (Remember Jesus the creator of small groups limited his group to 12). Here is what happens when a group becomes more of a crowd.
1. Intimacy is diminished (It’s so large I just don’t know everyone)
2. Trust is weakened (I don’t know that new couple so I’m not going to say anything)
3. Group participation is devalued (They won’t miss us, they have a lot anyway)
A group may grow larger in size because of several different reasons. Maybe the leader is very charismatic and fun to be around, maybe the group is evangelizing the area, maybe the group is actively inviting friends, maybe another group has folded into an existing group, etc. Whatever the reason is, when a group reaches a size in which the above begins to happen it has likely become too large to be effective. That’s not what the Bible describes as an effective small group. Some of our connections groups at CPH have reached this point of critical mass and need to sincerely pray about next steps. If you find your group has become more like a crowd here are some suggestions that might help you as you pray for God to reveal what’s next.
1. Talk to your group. Be open and honest about group size and the effects.
2. Discuss options with leadership and put together a plan to birth leadership out of your group.
3. Discuss sub-grouping options with leadership (What’s this? Ask Eric and he’ll tell you about it over coffee)
Before you engage this Fall again with connection group ask yourself this question. Do we want to get bigger or do we want to get better? If your answer is we want to get better then you might want to consider getting smaller to go bigger….for God!
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Good word...our SMALL groups help our large church shrink for lots of people. That's how my wife and I initially came to CPH. People reluctant to plug-in to a church that large can change their minds once they really connect with a core group of people. The size suggested by Eric is conducive to just that.
ReplyDeleteMatt Knoble
No doubt bigger is not always better. The whole point of Connection Groups is to connect and if things get too big that becomes difficult.
ReplyDeleteGreat word of encouragement for leaders of "small" small groups. While my group was experiencing low participation, I was feeling pressure to grow quickly. I guess I've been having a corporate attitude. When I quit worrying about it, God added 3 couples in 1 Sunday! They all attend every week because God grew it. It is His.
ReplyDeleteGreat comments guys. I appreciate the time you men spent reading this and hope it was an encouragement to you. As leaders we have to realize that our small groups are a launching point for a powerful life transforming connection to Christ and His church.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog: very encouraging for small groups and food for thought for large groups
ReplyDeleteWe as leaders should evaluate our groups over the summer and pray for what God wants us to do to be more effective leaders and groups. Consistency in group life is key to large and small groups....that can be the determining factor in getting smaller from bigger.
ReplyDeleteWith just 7 in our connection group last Thursday, we had a great time. I have always found that smaller groups are more effective in meeting the needs of each individual. Dynamics change as the group grows. Larger groups can acheive intimacy, but it takes longer as it is harder to get to know and trust a larger group. Thanks Eric for this good word.
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