Small groups can easily lose heart. A group can be meeting but have no passion for being together. This can be avoided by knowing what causes a group to end up in the place of deadness. There are at least eight reasons that a small group can lose heart.
1. The small group leader doesn’t have a passion for the people she is leading.
2. The group has been together too long.
3. There is unresolved conflict between group members.
4. The group seldom connects to play together, enjoy meals together, etc between group meetings.
5. The group is self-centered and therefore isn’t missional.
6. If the truth were known, the group has no expectations that Jesus is going to do something beyond comprehension in and/or through them.
7. The senior pastor seldom mentions the importance of group life to the congregation.
8. Stories of life transformation through groups are seldom told in weekend worship services.
If you are a small groups pastor you can keep your groups from losing heart by:
1) continually casting a compelling vision for the small group ministry,
2) choosing the right leaders,
3) equipping small group leaders well,
4) making group leaders aware of the importance of multiplying the group as well as letting them know how long the group can meet before being required to multiply, and
5) working with the senior pastor and worship pastor to include stories of life change taking place through small groups in weekend worship services.
