Home Small Group Leaders Articles for Small Group Leaders 3 Downsides to Sermon-Based Small Group Material

3 Downsides to Sermon-Based Small Group Material

I am a proponent of any small group experience that lifts the name of Jesus above all other names, creates a safe place for everyone involved, and produces an environment where unbelievers feel as though they are equals on a spiritual journey so they attend consistently.

This week, I spent some time meditating on various small group systems and how they do or don’t accomplish these goals. When I got to the sermon-based small group experience, I had pause.

These concerns came to mind.

1. Elevating the Pastor’s Words While Inadvertently Diminishing God’s Word – When utilizing biblically based, well-done curriculum, the conversation is strategically turned toward what the Bible is saying. When discussing the weekend sermon, the discussion is built around what the pastor said. The primary voice in the Bible study isn’t God and His Word; it is the pastor and his words. Instead of hearing phrases like, “The Bible says,” or “Jesus told us,” or “God’s Word demands,” small group members hear phrases like, “Pastor told us,” “If the pastor were here, he’d probably say,” or “I’ll check with the pastor and see what he meant.” The pastor’s voice may inadvertently become known as the ultimate truth source rather than the Bible being the only source of all truth.

2. Senior Pastor Worship – Sermon-based small group experiences can easily lead to high levels of senior pastor worship. My experience has shown that the senior pastor’s name is brought up, and he is held in awe at least six times during each group gathering. Jesus’ name and His personality are discussed much less than the pastor’s personality and the senior pastor’s name. Jesus is subconsciously established as the senior pastor’s sidekick, the secondary personality in church life. Before long, many believers speak more of their pastor and his great sermons than their Savior and His redeeming power.

3. Those Farthest from Christ Won’t Attend a Small Group – Those who are far, far from Christ are not going to attend church services, which means they’ll never feel comfortable in a sermon-based small group experience. Let’s face it…People who are far from Christ are not going to come to a group to discuss a sermon they haven’t heard. To expect a not-yet-follower of Christ (who didn’t hear the weekend sermon and never will because they are not going to attend a weekend worship service…ever) to come weekly to a sermon-based small group experience is like asking someone to come to a book club for a weekly meeting to discuss a book they refuse to read. They aren’t going to attend. Doing sermon-based small group experiences may mean many who might have heard the Gospel and come into an eternal relationship with Christ never will.

Food for thought maybe…  

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rhowerton@churchleaders.com'
Rick has one passion… To see “a biblical small group within walking distance of every person on the planet making disciples that make disciples.” He is presently pursuing this passion as the Small Group and Discipleship Specialist at LifeWay Church Resources. Rick has authored or co-authored multiple books, studies, and leader training resources including A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic, Destination Community: Small Group Ministry Manual, The Gospel and the Truth: Living the Message of Jesus, Small Group Life Ministry Manual: A New Approach to Small Groups, Redeeming the Tears: a Journey Through Grief and Loss, Small Group Life: Kingdom, Small Group Kickoff Retreat: Experiential Training for Small Group Leaders, and Great Beginnings: Your First Small Group Study, Disciples Path: A Practical Guide to Disciple Making. Rick’s varied ministry experiences as an collegiate minister, small group pastor, teaching pastor, elder, full-time trainer and church consultant, as well as having been a successful church planter gives him a perspective of church life that is all-encompassing and multi-dimensional. Rick is a highly sought after communicator and trainer.