Discipleship Framework
Before launching groups, it may be helpful and strategic to launch short-term or test groups. To build momentum for your launch you start short-term groups, like men’s and women’s Bible studies or beta test groups that implement your chosen group models and logistics. If your church is new to small groups and is skeptical of this new model of ministry, affinity groups—groups built around shared interests or hobbies—can be an easy way to warm your congregation to groups (you can learn more about affinity groups in the Group Models page of the Equipping Matrix).
Questions to Ask:
- Does your church need to be eased into small groups?
- What short-term group, if any, could set you up for a successful group launch?
A big part of forming groups is determining where they will meet. You want groups to be accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live. Depending on your chosen group model, location may be more or less important to the mission of your groups—regardless, you should try to offer groups that are convenient for people to attend.
Questions to Ask:
- Where does most of your congregation live? What are the major areas in your community where you need groups?
- Based on your current leader pool, what areas of your community will have a small group? Which areas, if any, will not have a small group?
- What steps could you take to make groups available and easily accessible for everyone in your church?
Whether you are launching groups for the first time or launching a new model, consider the events that could help you launch groups—a sermon series, kickoff party, connection evening, etc. An event will allow you to reiterate your vision and heart for groups while creating excitement for group sign-ups.
The event will look unique to your context, be authentic to your church culture, and clearly communicate your Big Hope for small groups.
Questions to Ask:
- What events could best communicate your vision and hope for small groups?
- Will you need a class to share your vision for groups, or will people pick up the culture and hope for your ministry once they join a group?
For churches who want to make small groups a central part of their community life, pastors can consider teaching a sermon series that firmly establishes the theology of groups, your heart for the ministry, and excitement for people to get involved. Series can be as short or long as needed, but we recommend teaching for 3–6 weeks on small groups before launch. Much shorter and you risk people not fully understanding their need for groups. If you teach longer, you will lose excitement and people might wonder why you are talking about groups for so long without giving them a place to practice what they are hearing.
Questions to Ask:
- Does your church understand the theological foundation and vision for groups?
- How long do we need to teach on groups? What are the big topics we need to cover to be clear, effective, timely, and attractive?
- How can our sermons flesh out and fully communicate our Big Hope?
Before launching groups, it may be helpful and strategic to launch short-term or test groups. To build momentum for your launch you start short-term groups, like men’s and women’s Bible studies or beta test groups that implement your chosen group models and logistics. If your church is new to small groups and is skeptical of this new model of ministry, affinity groups—groups built around shared interests or hobbies—can be an easy way to warm your congregation to groups (you can learn more about affinity groups in the Group Models page of the Equipping Matrix).
Questions to Ask:
- Does your church need to be eased into small groups?
- What short-term group, if any, could set you up for a successful group launch?
Before launching groups, it may be helpful and strategic to launch short-term or test groups. To build momentum for your launch you start short-term groups, like men’s and women’s Bible studies or beta test groups that implement your chosen group models and logistics. If your church is new to small groups and is skeptical of this new model of ministry, affinity groups—groups built around shared interests or hobbies—can be an easy way to warm your congregation to groups (you can learn more about affinity groups in the Group Models page of the Equipping Matrix).
Questions to Ask:
- Does your church need to be eased into small groups?
- What short-term group, if any, could set you up for a successful group launch?
A big part of forming groups is determining where they will meet. You want groups to be accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live. Depending on your chosen group model, location may be more or less important to the mission of your groups—regardless, you should try to offer groups that are convenient for people to attend.
Questions to Ask:
- Where does most of your congregation live? What are the major areas in your community where you need groups?
- Based on your current leader pool, what areas of your community will have a small group? Which areas, if any, will not have a small group?
- What steps could you take to make groups available and easily accessible for everyone in your church?
Whether you are launching groups for the first time or launching a new model, consider the events that could help you launch groups—a sermon series, kickoff party, connection evening, etc. An event will allow you to reiterate your vision and heart for groups while creating excitement for group sign-ups.
The event will look unique to your context, be authentic to your church culture, and clearly communicate your Big Hope for small groups.
Questions to Ask:
- What events could best communicate your vision and hope for small groups?
- Will you need a class to share your vision for groups, or will people pick up the culture and hope for your ministry once they join a group?
For churches who want to make small groups a central part of their community life, pastors can consider teaching a sermon series that firmly establishes the theology of groups, your heart for the ministry, and excitement for people to get involved. Series can be as short or long as needed, but we recommend teaching for 3–6 weeks on small groups before launch. Much shorter and you risk people not fully understanding their need for groups. If you teach longer, you will lose excitement and people might wonder why you are talking about groups for so long without giving them a place to practice what they are hearing.
Questions to Ask:
- Does your church understand the theological foundation and vision for groups?
- How long do we need to teach on groups? What are the big topics we need to cover to be clear, effective, timely, and attractive?
- How can our sermons flesh out and fully communicate our Big Hope?
Where people sign up for groups is vitally important. Your connection location should be centrally located and visible. You want connecting to a group to be as easy and intuitive as possible. Put knowledgeable, friendly people at the connection location to help people sign up, answer any questions they might have, and make people feel welcomed into your group ministry.
Questions to Ask:
- How will people know where to sign up?
- If you already have small groups, where do people currently sign up for groups? Is it easily visible and accessible?
- Where could we set up a connection location? How will we staff that location (volunteers, pastors, staff, etc.)?
- What specific information do you need to get people into the right group (geographic location, preferred communication method, age, stage of life, gender, etc.)?
An online portal or registration can provide an easy way for people to get plugged into your groups by giving your church access to information on available groups 24/7. In addition, online forms can be linked to your digital communications, referenced in QR codes during announcements, and will organize group information into spreadsheets. No data entry required.
Questions to Ask:
- What kind of online sign-ups can our website or current technology provide?
- What are the best ways to link our sign-up to digital communications?
- What information do we need to collect from people (geographic location, preferred communication method, age, stage of life, gender, etc.)?
- What confirmation or communication do people need to automatically receive after they sign-up online?
Utilizing a robust digital communication strategy can help you get the word out, build excitement, and remind your church of important upcoming dates. Consider how you might best communicate via email, social media, and emails as well as through Sunday announcements.
Questions to Ask:
- What are your chosen methods of church-wide communication? What digital communication tools could help you increase the effectiveness of your communication?
- When and how often should you communicate your small group launch? some text
- Is your communication clear?
- Is your communication effective?
- Is your communication timely?
- Is your communication attractive?
- Is your Big Hope statement being used to communicate the vision of your groups?
- How far in advance do you need to start communicating group sign-ups?
Now, think of how you will communicate with people after they sign up.
- What communication should new group members expect?
- Will communication come from the church or the group leader about where and when their group will meet?
- What are your expectations for group leader communication?
- When and how will you communicate these expectations with your leaders?
Think of those who aren’t attending your church—at least not yet. You will have newcomers and new members who want to get involved in small groups but were not around for your sermon series on the theology and strategy of your groups, leader training, etc. It is essential you share your heart for small groups with newcomers while making it as easy as possible for them to join groups.
Consider a class offered periodically throughout the church calendar to connect newcomers and launch new groups. This event may look a lot like your initial group launch and could be integrated into a new member class or, if groups are open to everyone, a quarterly connection event.
Questions to Ask:
- How often will Sunday church attendees hear about groups?
- How will you connect newcomers to groups?
- Are your groups open or closed? Can newcomers join existing groups?
- Who on your staff or which volunteer will be responsible for connecting newcomers to existing groups or forming new groups?
- How will you communicate to newcomers the value of your small groups and the need to join a group?
Before launching groups, it may be helpful and strategic to launch short-term or test groups. To build momentum for your launch you start short-term groups, like men’s and women’s Bible studies or beta test groups that implement your chosen group models and logistics. If your church is new to small groups and is skeptical of this new model of ministry, affinity groups—groups built around shared interests or hobbies—can be an easy way to warm your congregation to groups (you can learn more about affinity groups in the Group Models page of the Equipping Matrix).
Questions to Ask:
- Does your church need to be eased into small groups?
- What short-term group, if any, could set you up for a successful group launch?
A big part of forming groups is determining where they will meet. You want groups to be accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live. Depending on your chosen group model, location may be more or less important to the mission of your groups—regardless, you should try to offer groups that are convenient for people to attend.
Questions to Ask:
- Where does most of your congregation live? What are the major areas in your community where you need groups?
- Based on your current leader pool, what areas of your community will have a small group? Which areas, if any, will not have a small group?
- What steps could you take to make groups available and easily accessible for everyone in your church?
Whether you are launching groups for the first time or launching a new model, consider the events that could help you launch groups—a sermon series, kickoff party, connection evening, etc. An event will allow you to reiterate your vision and heart for groups while creating excitement for group sign-ups.
The event will look unique to your context, be authentic to your church culture, and clearly communicate your Big Hope for small groups.
Questions to Ask:
- What events could best communicate your vision and hope for small groups?
- Will you need a class to share your vision for groups, or will people pick up the culture and hope for your ministry once they join a group?
For churches who want to make small groups a central part of their community life, pastors can consider teaching a sermon series that firmly establishes the theology of groups, your heart for the ministry, and excitement for people to get involved. Series can be as short or long as needed, but we recommend teaching for 3–6 weeks on small groups before launch. Much shorter and you risk people not fully understanding their need for groups. If you teach longer, you will lose excitement and people might wonder why you are talking about groups for so long without giving them a place to practice what they are hearing.
Questions to Ask:
- Does your church understand the theological foundation and vision for groups?
- How long do we need to teach on groups? What are the big topics we need to cover to be clear, effective, timely, and attractive?
- How can our sermons flesh out and fully communicate our Big Hope?
Where people sign up for groups is vitally important. Your connection location should be centrally located and visible. You want connecting to a group to be as easy and intuitive as possible. Put knowledgeable, friendly people at the connection location to help people sign up, answer any questions they might have, and make people feel welcomed into your group ministry.
Questions to Ask:
- How will people know where to sign up?
- If you already have small groups, where do people currently sign up for groups? Is it easily visible and accessible?
- Where could we set up a connection location? How will we staff that location (volunteers, pastors, staff, etc.)?
- What specific information do you need to get people into the right group (geographic location, preferred communication method, age, stage of life, gender, etc.)?
An online portal or registration can provide an easy way for people to get plugged into your groups by giving your church access to information on available groups 24/7. In addition, online forms can be linked to your digital communications, referenced in QR codes during announcements, and will organize group information into spreadsheets. No data entry required.
Questions to Ask:
- What kind of online sign-ups can our website or current technology provide?
- What are the best ways to link our sign-up to digital communications?
- What information do we need to collect from people (geographic location, preferred communication method, age, stage of life, gender, etc.)?
- What confirmation or communication do people need to automatically receive after they sign-up online?
Utilizing a robust digital communication strategy can help you get the word out, build excitement, and remind your church of important upcoming dates. Consider how you might best communicate via email, social media, and emails as well as through Sunday announcements.
Questions to Ask:
- What are your chosen methods of church-wide communication? What digital communication tools could help you increase the effectiveness of your communication?
- When and how often should you communicate your small group launch? some text
- Is your communication clear?
- Is your communication effective?
- Is your communication timely?
- Is your communication attractive?
- Is your Big Hope statement being used to communicate the vision of your groups?
- How far in advance do you need to start communicating group sign-ups?
Now, think of how you will communicate with people after they sign up.
- What communication should new group members expect?
- Will communication come from the church or the group leader about where and when their group will meet?
- What are your expectations for group leader communication?
- When and how will you communicate these expectations with your leaders?
Think of those who aren’t attending your church—at least not yet. You will have newcomers and new members who want to get involved in small groups but were not around for your sermon series on the theology and strategy of your groups, leader training, etc. It is essential you share your heart for small groups with newcomers while making it as easy as possible for them to join groups.
Consider a class offered periodically throughout the church calendar to connect newcomers and launch new groups. This event may look a lot like your initial group launch and could be integrated into a new member class or, if groups are open to everyone, a quarterly connection event.
Questions to Ask:
- How often will Sunday church attendees hear about groups?
- How will you connect newcomers to groups?
- Are your groups open or closed? Can newcomers join existing groups?
- Who on your staff or which volunteer will be responsible for connecting newcomers to existing groups or forming new groups?
- How will you communicate to newcomers the value of your small groups and the need to join a group?
Whether you are launching groups for the first time or launching a new model, consider the events that could help you launch groups—a sermon series, kickoff party, connection evening, etc. An event will allow you to reiterate your vision and heart for groups while creating excitement for group sign-ups.
The event will look unique to your context, be authentic to your church culture, and clearly communicate your Big Hope for small groups.
Questions to Ask:
- What events could best communicate your vision and hope for small groups?
- Will you need a class to share your vision for groups, or will people pick up the culture and hope for your ministry once they join a group?
For churches who want to make small groups a central part of their community life, pastors can consider teaching a sermon series that firmly establishes the theology of groups, your heart for the ministry, and excitement for people to get involved. Series can be as short or long as needed, but we recommend teaching for 3–6 weeks on small groups before launch. Much shorter and you risk people not fully understanding their need for groups. If you teach longer, you will lose excitement and people might wonder why you are talking about groups for so long without giving them a place to practice what they are hearing.
Questions to Ask:
- Does your church understand the theological foundation and vision for groups?
- How long do we need to teach on groups? What are the big topics we need to cover to be clear, effective, timely, and attractive?
- How can our sermons flesh out and fully communicate our Big Hope?
Where people sign up for groups is vitally important. Your connection location should be centrally located and visible. You want connecting to a group to be as easy and intuitive as possible. Put knowledgeable, friendly people at the connection location to help people sign up, answer any questions they might have, and make people feel welcomed into your group ministry.
Questions to Ask:
- How will people know where to sign up?
- If you already have small groups, where do people currently sign up for groups? Is it easily visible and accessible?
- Where could we set up a connection location? How will we staff that location (volunteers, pastors, staff, etc.)?
- What specific information do you need to get people into the right group (geographic location, preferred communication method, age, stage of life, gender, etc.)?
Reflect
Regularly Reevaluate
- Are we using our Big Hope statement to talk about groups?
- Do our staff members know how to get newcomers connected?
- Do newer attendees know what our hope is for them relationally? Do they know the steps they should take to find community? Have we asked them these questions?
- Based on feedback from our church, is our plan working? Is it clear, effective, timely, and attractive?
- Are there adequate opportunities for people to join groups throughout the year?
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