The Problem with American Small Groups
A sobering look at small groups in our own backyards
Randall Neighbour | posted 6/15/2010
| Topics: | Discipleship, Evaluation, Guidance, Problems, Values, Vision |
| Filters: | Coach, Director, Pastor, Start |
| Purpose: | Ministry |
| References: |  |
| Date Added: | June 15, 2010 |
1 of 2
Note: This article has been excerpted from The Naked Truth About Small Group Ministry, by Randall Neighbour.
I oversee a ministry that was founded to help churches implement holistic small groups with consulting, training, and printed resources. Today, Touch Outreach has ministry partners in South Korea, Brazil, Hong Kong, South Africa, Australia, and Eastern Europe.
In each of these areas of the world, my counterparts report that small-group-based churches are growing rapidly with new believers and new leaders, validating my own observations about a global shift away from buildings and programs.
The members of these churches are very active believers who—in small group families—pray fervently, serve sacrificially, and worship boldly. These small groups grow and multiply regularly through mentoring new Christians and new leaders, causing all sorts of wonderful challenges for the pastoral staff, especially in the areas of discipleship and leadership training.
Here in America, reports from pastors with whom I visit are in stark contrast to the rest of the world. While many American churches are growing numerically when counting noses on Sunday morning, I consistently hear comments such as, "No one wants to lead a group because they're too busy" or "We can't seem to get our cell groups to focus on reaching unchurched people for Christ" or "Our small group ministry just isn't growing like other churches we read about."
One might think this malady is only found in smaller, struggling churches. Not so! America's largest churches are not seeing their small groups multiply naturally through relationships. Most increase the number of groups with hastily formed collections of interested strangers.
As a nation of church leaders desiring true biblical community, we've got a big problem with small groups.
The relational countercultureThe typical American pastor struggles to make small groups work. Each small gain made in small group life is a hard-fought battle. The traditional church culture still holds back many lay leaders who are heavily invested in antiquated programs. There is simply no room to belong to or lead a small group into Christ's presence, power, and purposes for their lives.
Those who have broken out of the traditional church roles to lead small groups remain so busy with career and family that they do not have time to devote to relationships with group members between meetings. Moreover, small group members, who are fully capable of leading a group, have no desire to lead because of greater priorities. Little League baseball games and working a high-stress job to serve a growing debt load are far more important than living and ministering to others in biblical community.
The two conflicting cultures in which we live—found inside and outside the walls of church buildings—work against the formation of a third relational counterculture, where Christ's presence births personal transformation in the midst of a small group family. Attempting to move one's congregation out of one unresolved cultural clash into a strange new way of life is no easy task. The road to outward-focused biblical community will no doubt be awash with the blood, sweat, and tears of many hard-working pastors.
We're not good at doing small groups, but we value small groups.Aside from the stark global comparison and cultural concerns mentioned, I remain confident that a sizeable percentage of American church leaders would say they value small groups. Each is sacrificially working to make small groups thrive in the western world.
share this page
Luke: Bring Jesus to Your World (4 session course)
We have the privilege of bringing the good news of salvation to many who have not heard.
Choosing and Evaluating Bible Studies
Practical assessments and evaluations from experts in the fieldsee more downloads
user reviews
Average User Rating:
Displaying 1–5 of 6 comments
See all comments
CHAD PENNER(Registered User)
Mike Breaux, in his book Identity Theft shows just one example of what's wrong with the church today. We've bought into the belief that the American Dream is God's dream for us. We're missing it so badly. Of the developed world we work as many/more days than any other country in a given year...yet we are of the least productive. Our education system seems to mirror the work force, and these spill over into what's left of "God's Church." It's as if the chasing after the wind, as mentioned above, is like finding the base of the rainbow of previous years...we believe our busyness will land us with the next best thing. We're so confused, and unwilling to admit it. For the church to recover, I believe we must speak the fullness of Scripture and not hold back. The sugar coated attempts of the church don't work today. While the "Seeker" church had it's moment of great effectiveness, today's culture seeks the main course...no appetizers wanted. What does Romans 12.2 look like today?
Kirk Giles
I've been wrestling with this very same question within my church and ministry leadership. Sometimes, I wonder if the answer lies not in trying to force a certain method of discipleship/evangelism/community to take place; but rather, to make sure that it is taking place within the cultural framework we have to live within. Is busyness going to change in North America anytime soon? Probably not. This does not remove the need to create opportunities for discipleship/evangelism/community - it just may change how we do it. Small groups may work in some circles and not in others, but let's not lose sight of what we've been called to by Jesus.
Daniel
The real problem is unbelief. We in the west chase after the wind because deep down we really believe it is in our best interest to do so. Sadly, I think this is driven primarily by selfishness and the fear of being left out by being different (i.e. counter-cultural). But such sacrifice is necessary to bring change to our churches and to influence our society positively. Somebody has to do it - but when we build our culture upon promoting comfort and shielding ourselves from pain and inconvenience, is it any surprise that so few are willing to make the necessary sacrifices? It is from our hearts our actions spring. Why would small groups change us when we are fundamentally committed to another master, when we are wavering to and fro between God and the world? Small groups will just become another tool to express our real values. We in the west need to start with repentance - and when no one but God is watching.
Scott
Good comments. Sounds like we are having trouble being friends with others. The busyness makes sense when considering the lack of time for Small Groups. I work with high school kids and even they are incredibly busy. Just about every moment of a typical weekday is booked. The weekends are not much different. It's tough to make Small Groups work. I empathize and sympathize, big time!
arturo fernandez(Registered User)
One of the main problems with the Small Groups in USA is the "BUSY AGENDA" that all the members need to fill, (WORK, SELF-INDULGENCE, KIDS, GOD), In the moment that really people wants to outreach the community, and leave a day to do evangelism for their small groups, and don't see the meetings are just simple reunions, instead a CHILD OF GOD reunited to WORSHIP with their lives, IS WHEN the small groups will growth, and full field the GREAT COMMAND in Mathew 28:19-20.
Rate and Comment on this article: *