Here are some things we ask our small groups to consider at my church every summer break:
- Has your group been together for several years? AND
- Is your group too big?
Answer yes to either of these- and you may be unintentionally hanging the “closed” sign on your front door.
- unofficially: nobody wants to be the new kid on the block OR
- officially: they are simply too big numerically, so there is no room at the inn.
The solution: plant a new group
Allow the leader you have trained to lead your group. Then you and one another experienced member leave and plant a new one. It can be the same night, the same place, the same everything- just mostly new members. Then…
Exclusive becomes inclusive:
Yes, people will not want to get out of their comfort zone. But when we don’t, we exclude. And the gospel is never exclusive- in fact, exclusion is the opposite of the gospel.
Christ didn’t die to keep people out- he died to bring them in.
So we make a sacrifice of our own comfort and exclusivity to include those who have not experienced what we have experienced in community. We bring them in.
Drive By Theology 
We just talked about this at church this morning! I love this topic because seeing stagnant churches and Christian groups is so heartbreaking when there is such a need for inclusiveness. Great post! 🙂
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Thanks for the comment Sarah! Yes, most of the time we don’t really think about it- how great things are in our groups and how comfortable we feel with one another. We need to remind ourselves that others need what we have, too.
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