Avengers assemble! Unite the Justice League! Get the band back together!
These are phrases we are almost certainly familiar with, and they are exciting to hear. There is something about bringing a group of people together that makes us feel like something is about to change or like something BIG is about to happen. And it is so true. Maybe it is instinctively hard wired into our brains that when we see people gather we have to know what is happening.
Small groups are no different. “When two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” - Matthew 18:20. When we gather, God is with us. And we know that God makes things happen. Therefore God is in small groups as soon as they are gathered and things will happen!
How do i Gather a small group?
“Let’s make a small group!” Is easy to say isn’t it? But it’s not always so easy to do. You can’t just throw people in a room together and expect results. There needs to be a focus, a purpose to meet, and a driving force. It may be tempting to just get stuck in with the big picture purpose of a small group when you first meet, but it is hard to do this when nobody knows each other.
It is better to start off by getting people to know one another before diving into the gritty business. The first stage of a new small group is it’s birth. This means the small groups must first learn about itself, identify its own personality, figure out its banter dynamics, and make sure that everyone feels comfortable.
Focusing on getting to know each other can feel a bit intense though. You don’t want your first small group session to feel like speed dating or an awkward icebreaker from freshers week. One solid way to avoid this and get the result you want is to talk about what each member of the group wants to see happen in the small group. What is the reason and purpose for them being in the small group? And why does the small group exist in the first place?
What does a leader do?
As a small group leader, your job is to create room for the small group’s purpose to be formed. You may be coming with your own hopes and goals, which are great to voice, but don’t let them become the only objectives heard. Your posture in this stage of the small group should be one of vulnerability and openness. You are also the one who should provide platforms for fun and banter.
“If you build it, they will come” - Field of Dreams. Construct a space that you would feel welcomed by, make sure there is plenty of time to voice goals and hopes for the small group, and most importantly, let there be laughter. If you create this space for a new small group the rest will surely follow.
