Comments on: Starting a New Small Group http://whydidntyouwarnme.com/2007/11/04/starting-a-new-small-group/ Dealing with Small Group Challenges Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:07:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pat Sikora http://whydidntyouwarnme.com/2007/11/04/starting-a-new-small-group/comment-page-1/#comment-337 Pat Sikora Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:57:59 +0000 http://whydidntyouwarnme.com/2007/11/04/starting-a-new-small-group/#comment-337 Thank You for stopping by. I hope to hear from you again when you have had a chance to read the book. I think you'll like it! I love Heather's blog. On keeping a group small, I teach is that it's all about TIME. Yes, Jesus had 12, but those guys were together 24/7. They walked with him and talked with him and were involved in every aspect of one another's lives. We don't have that luxury. If we're lucky, we get two hours on Wed. evening. That isn't enough time to become intimate with more than about 8 people, 10 max. If we get more people in the group, and especially if they are being added here and there, we begin to lose continuity and accountability. It takes a skilled leader with lots of time on his or her hands to manage the discussion and to keep everyone feeling connected during the week. Discussions take longer and even then, people don't have time to develop their thoughts and integrate the change into their lives. Sharing gets short changed and prayer becomes, "Can someone close in prayer." You may have superficial fellowship, but deep life impact just can't happen in a large group. Can you tell I have an opinion on this? Thank You for stopping by. I hope to hear from you again when you have had a chance to read the book. I think you’ll like it! I love Heather’s blog.

On keeping a group small, I teach is that it’s all about TIME. Yes, Jesus had 12, but those guys were together 24/7. They walked with him and talked with him and were involved in every aspect of one another’s lives. We don’t have that luxury. If we’re lucky, we get two hours on Wed. evening. That isn’t enough time to become intimate with more than about 8 people, 10 max. If we get more people in the group, and especially if they are being added here and there, we begin to lose continuity and accountability. It takes a skilled leader with lots of time on his or her hands to manage the discussion and to keep everyone feeling connected during the week. Discussions take longer and even then, people don’t have time to develop their thoughts and integrate the change into their lives. Sharing gets short changed and prayer becomes, “Can someone close in prayer.” You may have superficial fellowship, but deep life impact just can’t happen in a large group. Can you tell I have an opinion on this?

]]> By: Blineluck http://whydidntyouwarnme.com/2007/11/04/starting-a-new-small-group/comment-page-1/#comment-336 Blineluck Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:41:28 +0000 http://whydidntyouwarnme.com/2007/11/04/starting-a-new-small-group/#comment-336 Hi Pat, I'm really glad you stopped by my blog. I have your book, however, I have not had a chance to read it yet. I read an excerpt from it on Heather Zempel's blog (wineskins for discipleship). I'm looking forward to it very much, I just have to get through the end of this semester at seminary before I have time for more new books. I hope you will have time to stop by again, I have a few more posts on small groups in the making. I really like the emphasis on keeping small groups small. I figure if Jesus had 12 and even He lost one, we should probably stick to 8 or 10. Hi Pat,
I’m really glad you stopped by my blog. I have your book, however, I have not had a chance to read it yet. I read an excerpt from it on Heather Zempel’s blog (wineskins for discipleship). I’m looking forward to it very much, I just have to get through the end of this semester at seminary before I have time for more new books.
I hope you will have time to stop by again, I have a few more posts on small groups in the making.
I really like the emphasis on keeping small groups small. I figure if Jesus had 12 and even He lost one, we should probably stick to 8 or 10.

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