6. Lack of follow-up or care beyond meeting time
If someone misses one week and no one asks about them, their absence becomes invisible.
Tip: Assign a “care partner” each term to check in on members who miss. A text or call makes a difference.
When people feel known, they return.
7. Unaddressed conflict or tension in the group
Silence about hurt or conflict quietly drives people away.
Application: When conflict arises, address it gently, pray together, and if needed bring it to leadership.
Healthy groups surface issues rather than ignore them.
RELATED: Reasons Some Small Groups Don’t Work
8. Study material not suited to the group’s life stage or interests
If you’re studying advanced theology with folks who are brand new to faith, people will feel lost. Conversely, if you’re on basics with mature believers, people will feel bored.
Tip: Survey the group at the end of a term: what type of study did you like? What felt challenging/exciting?
Match material to the group’s readiness.
9. No sense of shared ownership or leadership rotation
If one person always hosts, one always prays, one always leads discussion, others may feel like passive observers.
Practice: Rotate roles quarterly: ask new people to host, lead discussion or provide a devotional.
Ownership encourages commitment.
10. Neglecting to link the small group back to the larger church community
If your small group feels disconnected from the larger church life, newcomers may see it as a club rather than part of ministry.
Action: Occasionally host a combined groups gathering, invite the pastor to share, or serve together.
When people see the group as part of something bigger, they invest.
Wrapping up With the Focus on Small Group Health
Building and sustaining a healthy small group takes more than good intentions. By recognising these red flags—why people don’t come back—you can proactively create a space where people feel welcomed, engaged, and committed. As you lead, review your group structure, ask honest questions, and make incremental improvements.
Take-away: This week review your small group’s last term with these questions in mind:
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Which of these ten issues might be present?
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What’s one change you can implement next gathering?
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Who will you invite or empower to help make that change?
By intentionally addressing these factors, you help your small group become a place where people don’t just visit—they stay, grow, and belong.
