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4. Healthy groups divide and multiply. A healthy family raises children who want to become independent and start families of their own. They don't break relationship. They just move out and start their own family. They come back and visit, and eventually the parents might move back in with the kids. Small groups should function in the same way. It really bothers me when the "fifty-year-old kid" stays at home in our churches and never wants to be a leader.
   
   
5. The focus of the group should be living out the Gospel. I don't think holistic small groups should be Bible studies. I think they should be a place where the group applies God's Word to their lives. They should gather together on a weekly basis to experience the presence, the power and the purpose of Christ in their lives. I suggest that if we stopped learning anything new about the Bible and only put into practice what we know today, we'd have three or four lifetimes of practical application that we could make in our small group setting without ever learning one more new truth about the Bible.
   
   

As with any health or fitness program, success is not instantaneous. This is definitely a transferable truth when it comes to developing small group ministry. Good health takes time and dedication. So remember to be patient!

For more information, visit our Small Groups Channel.

More Bible Study Helps
Quarterly Study Plans Focus on the topic of your choice over the next 13 weeks! You and your group will be challenged by a new, thought-provoking Bible study each week. Plus you'll save time and money by downloading all of the Bible studies at one time! Read more.	Questions: Icebreakers and Beyond Steering your discussion the right way. by Dan Lentz Let me describe a common scenario in many small groups. At the beginning of your discussion the leader may ask an icebreaker question like, "How was your week? Does anybody have anything to share with the group?" Read more.

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