Not every group is going to experience leading the masses into a relationship with Jesus. Every group should be evangelistically effective at some level, though. So, why is it some groups are ineffective when it comes to being evangelistically missional?
1. The leader isn’t praying enough. In Jim Egli and Dwight Marable’s book, Small Groups, Big Impact, after interviewing more than 3,000 small group leaders, their research showed “of the leaders with a strong prayer life, 83 percent reported their group had seen someone come to Christ in the past nine months, but only 19 percent of the leaders with a weak prayer life could say the same.”
2. The leader of the group isn’t directing the group to have an outward focus. Again, Small Groups, Big Impact … “Ninety percent of the groups surveyed with a strong outward focus had seen someone come to Christ in the last six months, but only 11 percent of the groups with a weak outward focus could say the same.
3. The group leader doesn’t consistently remind the group they exist to bring others into a relationship with Christ. From Small Group Big Impact … “Group outreach begins with group purpose. If you are launching a group, you should make it clear to those forming the team and those joining the group exists to experience and extend Jesus’ truth, love and power. This needs to be repeated over and over again.”
4. The small group leader isn’t modeling an evangelistically missional lifestyle. Small Groups, Big Impact speaks again … “As leaders reach out to their own friends, relatives and associates—praying for them, loving them, introducing them to their small group members, and bringing them to small group and church events—the small group members capture a vision and imitate their example.”
If This Was Helpful Check Out …
People Into Projects: Let’s Use Language That is Actually Missional by Scott Boren
Sympathy for the Devil by Randall Neighbour
The Future of Church/Community, Is Your Church Ready by Kirby Holmes