If your church is struggling to develop new leaders, take a closer look at what happens in your small groups. Those relationships create opportunities to help people grow in their faith, discover their purpose, and learn to lead others.
But group leaders need a clear picture of what they are being asked to accomplish.
In a recent conversation on the Build the Church podcast, Pastor Michael Murphy shared four responsibilities that give small group leaders that clarity. Michael described how his church went from 16 struggling small groups to 330 in 30 months as they became intentional about discipleship and multiplication.
Here are the four responsibilities he outlined, along with practical ways to put them to work in your church.
Start by creating an environment people want to be part of. Help them feel welcome, build relationships, engage with Scripture, and participate in the conversation.
Michael encourages leaders to let group members do about 80 percent of the talking. That requires thoughtful questions and enough space for people to share what they are learning and how they are applying it.
A leader can guide the discussion, draw quieter people into the conversation without putting them on the spot, and help everyone have a chance to contribute.
As you coach your leaders, ask them to think about the experience of someone joining their group for the first time. Would that person find an easy way into the conversation? Would they leave feeling someone had taken an interest in them?
Discipleship becomes practical when leaders know the people in their group and can help each one move forward.
For one person, that next step might be following Jesus in water baptism. For another, it might be beginning to serve. Someone new to church may first need a friendship and a sense of belonging.
Michael’s encouragement is to help every person take one step in their spiritual formation. That gives leaders a manageable way to care for people at different stages of faith.
Encourage your leaders to consider each person by name: Where are they now? What could help them grow? How can I walk with them as they take that step?
Michael describes this responsibility as building “three deep”: one group leader developing two apprentices.
That gives leadership development a clear place to happen. Within the life of the group, people can practice leading with someone beside them to encourage them and offer feedback.
An apprentice could begin by leading prayer, facilitating part of the discussion, or helping care for someone during the week. As they gain confidence and demonstrate faithfulness, the leader can give them more responsibility.
Ask your small group leaders to identify two people they can begin investing in. Then help them choose a meaningful responsibility to share at their next gathering.
Healthy groups help people care about those who have yet to experience that community.
Michael shares a simple practice: leave an empty chair in the room as a reminder of the person who could be there. Let it prompt the group to pray for friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members they hope to invite.
Keep that conversation active each week. Ask who people are praying for, who they are inviting to church or group, and how the group can support them.
Over time, that shared purpose can become part of the group’s culture. People begin arriving with stories of conversations, invitations, and opportunities to care for others.
These four responsibilities also give pastors a useful framework for coaching leaders. Bring them into your next small group leader meeting and talk through where each group needs support.
And begin with your own example. Michael challenged pastors and key leaders to participate personally in the discipleship culture they are asking others to build. Sharing what God is doing in your own group gives people a picture of what is possible.
This episode is brought to you by YourTeam.Church. Help people discover their spiritual gifts, understand their personality, and find a place to serve through personalized assessments and team recommendations.
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Watch my full conversation with Michael Murphy in the video below for more on restarting struggling small groups, developing leaders, and building a culture of disciples who make disciples.
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