The Holy Spirit has been putting great emphasis on the use of small groups for discipleship, outreach and other purposes. This is not surprising, especially when you consider that there are so many commands in the New Testament relating to things we do "one to another". How can we love one another as Jesus loved his disciples (John 13:34,35) unless there is an environment in which close relationships can develop?
The Example of Jesus
Jesus spent a lot of time with his disciples, because he loved them. They were with him both in public and in private. As well as in field work together, Jesus trained and prepared them in a small group context. Jesus is, or should be, our model. The kind of relationships he advocated for his followers cannot be built simply on the basis of casual contact. The early church certainly followed this example, and so multiplied mature and committed disciples, who became effective both in evangelisation as well as the other tasks they got from the Lord.
Our Need Today
Likewise, we need a context in which trust can learn and grow, a context in which we can love one another, exhort one another, speak to one another, honor one another, receive one another, watch over and care for one another - just as the Bible instructs us. This can't happen if we limit our contact with one another to public celebration meetings and a brief chat afterwards - even if we do occasionally go out to lunch with others from the church and talk about things. No, the full implementation of God's plan requires a small group setting, in addition to any other kinds of meetings that may be set up. Small groups, which may be known by such names as "home cells", "house groups" or "life groups" are therefore a vital part of God's strategy. Just as the early church often met in homes, so too can we. It is interesting that the vast majority of growing churches today have some kind of home cell network in place, through which new people are added, strengthened and developed for the purposes of our God.
Multiplication is a Goal
Healthy home cell groups have as part of their vision the aim to multiply. This requires two things. The first is the addition of new people to the group. The second is the training and equipping of existing members to lead a home cell group themselves. The purpose of this article is to focus on keys which will cause your group to grow. The leader, as well as participating members need to put these things into action for best results. When these are missing, the group may stagnate or even die.
So What are the Keys to Small Group Growth?
1. Prayer
Prayer is the key factor for growth, because it is prayer that gets God Himself involved in the life of the group. It is God who works in people's hearts to make them want to come along and participate in the life of the group. When the leader is a man or woman of prayer, someone who devotes themselves to really meeting God and getting to the throne so they can be filled with God themselves and intercede effectively for the needs of others - then things will happen. Prayer creates the atmosphere in which God can work.
Prayer is more important than other factors such as personality type, gifting or personal charisma. Its not the opening or closing prayers in a group meeting that count as much as the whole prayer life of the members of the group, especially the group leader. Unless the group leader privately prayers an hour or so on the day of the actual meeting, it is unlikely that the meeting will hit the mark God intended for it. Some things that God intends just won't happen unless effective prevailing prayer is being offered for the group.
Many people come straight from work to small groups. They are often tired and in need of refreshment, both spiritually and naturally. The leader, more than anyone else, needs to be full of the Spirit of God in order to have what is needed to bless the group. So the leader must be prepared and disciplined. The leader may need to get up earlier than others in order to have time to get what is needed from God.
Some may say they are too busy to pray. If you are too busy to pray, you are too busy. Change your priorities. You cannot achieve more of eternal value by having less of God in your life, no matter how busy you may be in doing one kind of work or another.
2. Personal Contact with Individuals in the Group outside of the meeting time
It is really very important that a group leader has personal contact with individuals in the group outside of the meeting time. People need to know that they are valued as individuals. People have a need for personal affirmation and encouragement. By spending time with individuals in the group, or at least getting in touch by phone, a leader shows that he places value on the person contacted.
Hopefully a leader realises that people really are valuable. They are much more than numbers for the group. Every person is intrinsically valuable. In addition, each person has a great potential for God. A group leader is entrusted by God to care for people. We should care more for people than any kind of investment portfolio, because people are of more value than money. And since most of us give up so much of our time in order to earn money, how much more should we use a portion of our free time to show interest in, and put a high value on, people. They will appreciate it when it is done with this understanding.
If the only reason we contact people is because we want them as numbers for our group, people will sense this. Determine to show a genuine interest in people. Rather than asking, "Are you coming on Wednesday night?" Listen to the person, let them know you are praying for them, and express how delighted you will be if they do come at such and such a time. It is better to draw with love than to attempt to manipulate with fear or even mild forms of condemnation. At the same time, continue praying for them. In so doing, you give God a chance to put it on their hearts to come to the group. And when God does it, it works so much better than we attempt to entice and cajole people.
3. Be Prepared
Its importa
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