What makes groups grow
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This document summarizes key findings from Josh Hunt's book about growing small groups. It examines statistics on factors that contribute to the growth of small groups, such as: purpose of the group (spiritual growth vs. outreach), time spent on preparation vs. relationship building, visitation rates, size of leadership team, frequency of fellowship events, teacher skills/abilities, and belief in growth. Consistently, groups that placed emphasis on outreach, relationship building, visitation, large teams, fellowship events, and belief in growth were more likely to experience rapid growth.
What makes groups grow
- 4. The light of the American church is flickering and nearly extinguished, having largely sold out to the kingdoms and values of this world.
- 7. Since 1972, Evangelic al Christians have more than doubled in number, going from about 25 million adults to almost 60 million.
- 8. Reflecting this change, in 1990, only about 200,000 Americans described themselves as nondenominational Christians, but in 2008, 8 million did.
- 9. Since that time, those small groups of eight to twelve people have reproduced countless times.
- 10. Today we are a church with more than seven thousand attenders and a network of more than thirty thousand people celebrating every week with several thousand reproducing small groups.
- 11. Today we are a church with more than seven thousand attenders and a network of more than thirty thousand people celebrating every week with several thousand reproducing small groups.
- 12. This book could be summarized in two words: multiply everything.
- 13. This book could be summarized in two words: multiply everything.
- 16. Things that don’t matter very much Things that matter a little Things that matter a lot The one thing that is in a category all by itself
- 17. What percentage of your time do you spend Ministering to people in the class Ministering to people outside of the class Embrace the vision of growing and dividing Organizational skill
- 18. Of the time you spend in ministry, what percentage would you say Is spent on preparation for the lesson Is spent on ministry and relationship building Would you say the purpose of your class (communicated as a percentage) is mostly about Growing the members spiritually, or Reaching out to outsiders Teaching ability Visitation
- 25. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Purpose:Growing Spiritually Purpose: Reaching out 37 59 3 2 Growing Rapidly Growing
- 26. 0 5 10 15 20 25 Purpose: Growing Spiritually Purpose: Reaching out 12 24 Spiritual Vibrancy Not only are those whose purpose is to reach out reaching out, they are also more likely to be spiritually vibrant.
- 27. Of the time you spend in ministry, what percentage would you say Is spent on preparation for the lesson Is spent on ministry and relationship building Would you say the purpose of your class (communicated as a percentage) is mostly about Growing the members spiritually, or Reaching out to outsiders Teaching ability Visitation
- 30. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 5 Star Teacher 4 Star Teacher 3 Star Teacher 2 Star Teacher 1 Star Teacher 48 47 37 35 6 Growing
- 31. Three ways to insure half-way decent teaching.
- 33. Questions. . . Are more interesting than lectures. Lead people to speak the truth and be changed by it. Make it easier to find workers.
- 35. Did they hear something they have never heard before.
- 36. Include great illustrations, f unny stories, video clips and object lessons.
- 40. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Visitation Low Visitation High 29 51 3 6 Growing Rapidly Growing High visitation groups are 78% more likely to be growing
- 41. Things that don’t matter very much Things that matter a little Things that matter a lot The one thing that is in a category all by itself
- 44. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Parties Low Parties High 26 502 7 Growing Rapidly Growing High party groups are 103% more likely to be growing.
- 48. Fellowships Big team
- 51. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 SmallTeam BigTeam 26 511 7 Growing Rapidly Growing Groups with big teams are 115% more likely to be growing.
- 52. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 SmallTeam and Low Fellowships BigTeam and Lots of Fellowships 18 54 0 10 Growing Rapidly Growing High fellowship groups with big teams are 256% more likely to be growing.
- 55. Vision Day
- 56. What percentage of your time do you spend Ministering to people in the class Ministering to people outside of the class Embrace the vision of growing and dividing Organizational skill
- 57. Of the time you spend in ministry, what percentage would you say Is spent on preparation for the lesson Is spent on ministry and relationship building Would you say the purpose of your class (communicated as a percentage) is mostly about Growing the members spiritually, or Reaching out to outsiders Teaching ability Visitation
- 61. 0 10 20 30 40 50 Low people skills High people skills 19 420 5 Growing Rapidly Growing Teachers with high people skills are 147% more likely to be growing.
- 71. 0 10 20 30 40 50 Low spiritual vibrancy High spiritual vibrancy 17 44 0 4 Growing Rapidly Growing Teachers with high spiritual vibrancy are 182% more likely to be growing.
- 75. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Low belief in growth High belief in growth 6 55 0 16 Growing Rapidly Growing Teachers with high belief in growth are 1083% more likely to be growing.
- 76. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Low belief in growth High belief in growth Teachers with high belief in growth are 3 times more likely to report high spiritual vibrancy.