We’ve all missed growth group now and then for various reasons, but sometimes people seem to be absent as often as present. Pastoring such irregular group members is one of the most common challenges of group leading.
If so, should we start calling them pastors? If you’re a growth group leader, how would you feel about being called, or calling yourself, a pastor? If you’re a growth group member, would you call your leader your pastor?
When the group begins, you and your group members are motivated and keen to make it an excellent year together. This moment is like when you’re about to catch a wave at the beach—if you swim hard just as it’s breaking, you can catch that energy and ride that wave.
Does your group struggle to start and end at the agreed-upon times? Here are some reasons to stay on time, and strategies to help you do it.
If your Bible study group is on the small side, it can be tempting to feel discouraged. But as Richard Sweatman explains, although smaller numbers mean certain challenges, they also present certain opportunities too.
Praying together is an essential part of meeting in small groups, but it is often difficult to implement during our meeting times. Richard Sweatman offers some encouragement and some practical suggestions on how to pray together better.
Richard Sweatman ponders the perfect number for the spiritual growth of growth groups.
Do you ever feel like group attendance each week is an informal opinion poll on your leadership? You know what I mean: “This week 55% of Richard’s group members felt his group was worth attending. This is the third consecutive poll below 75%, and experts are concerned at this worrying trend.”
How do you feel about change? Do you like new and different things, or do you prefer stability? Personally, I’m way down the stability end of the spectrum. If the packaging changes on my cereal box I have a bad week. I like things to be steady and predictable.