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Three Detrimental Assumptions Small Group Pastors Often Make

November 15, 2011

Assumptions are dangerous things. They lead us to believe that all is well and that we’re accomplishing what we are to be accomplishing when we may be completely missing the mark. There are three incorrect assumptions that seem to be consistent in the small group pastor world.

1. Every coach and leader in the small group ministry knows, believes in, and is passionate about the small group pastor’s vision. If a small group pastor doesn’t consistently (at least every thirty days) remind the small group team what the vision for the ministry is, in time, every coach and leader will subconsciously create a vision of their own and will espouse that to those they lead.

2. Getting people in a group is the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to see unbelievers come into a relationship with Jesus and every small group member become a mature follower of Jesus Christ. Too many small group pastors settle into satisfaction when they have a large percentage of weekend worshipers attending a small group. This is satisfying and will often appease the elder board. But the ultimate goal is to make disciples who make disciples.

3. If people are in a group, they are becoming more spiritually mature. Attending a bible study and having Christian friends doesn’t make a mature disciple. It will instill important biblical knowledge, allow people to see life through the lense of a Christian worldview, and give individuals a place of refuge with a people who will pray for and care for them. But becoming a mature disciple of Jesus Christ demands every person committing to a disciples lifestyle, which will not only change the way group members think, it will also demand changing the way they live life on a daily basis. Once a group member is in a group he/she must be led to realize where he/she is on their faith journey and then be directed on to new paths of expectation and experience so that the maturation process can continue. Arriving in a group that just meets and cares for one another may actually be detrimental to the disciple-making process as attendees will begin to believe that what they are seeing modeled by the group leader and other group members is a disciple’s lifestyle when it may just be the lifestyle of a spiritually immature cultural Christian.