In my early years of serving as a small groups pastor I often would talk to a person interested in joining a small group, refer him to the small group facilitator, then would find out that no one showed up for the group. Thus, I developed these ten tips because several of our groups had ten people sign up to be part of a group, then when the group was ready to start only two people showed up the first night.

SERVE TOGETHER EITHER AT CHURCH OR IN THE COMMUNITY

A Special Bond

There is something about working and serving together that bonds people together. When you accomplish something as a team there is a connection that is made which can rarely be duplicated. Additionally, it provides some great social time so your group can get to know each other in a deeper way.

In my early years of serving as a small groups pastor I often would talk to a person interested in joining a small group, refer him to the small group facilitator, then would find out that no one showed up for the group. Thus, I developed these ten tips because several of our groups had ten people sign up to be part of a group, then when the group was ready to start only two people showed up the first night.

ATTEND CHURCH TOGETHER

A Great Way to Bond Your Group Together
Is to Attend Church Together

Getting Your Group to Go Together

As you talk to the people in your small group ask everyone which church service they normally attend. Then, pick the service that most of the people already attend, and tell everyone to try to attend church together. Don’t “require” it, but say, “Hey, I think it would be great to have us all attend church together.” Or you can say, “Our Small Groups Pastor recommends that we attend church together, so let’s do it.”

In my early years of serving as a small groups pastor I often would talk to a person interested in joining a small group, refer him to the small group facilitator, then would find out that no one showed up for the group. Thus, I developed these ten tips because several of our groups had ten people sign up to be part of a group, then when the group was ready to start only two people showed up the first night.

START A SNACK SIGN UP LIST

A Healthy Small Group Has Everyone Involved

In my early years of serving as a small groups pastor I often would talk to a person interested in joining a small group, refer him to the small group facilitator, then would find out that no one showed up for the group. Thus, I developed these ten tips because several of our groups had ten people sign up to be part of a group, then when the group was ready to start only two people showed up the first night.

PRAY FOR THE PERSON

I have never met a person that has refused allowing me to pray for him. As you meet a new person and work to develop a connection with him, offer to pray for him.

Ask If There Is Anything that You Can Pray for Him About

Your first point of contact with a person is probably going to be by phone or in person. (You always want to connect in a personal way such as a phone call or in person; not just via text message, email, or Facebook message.) When you talk to the person, ask if there is anything you can pray for him about. But, be sure that you have set aside a little time for this phone call with the person.

Offering to pray for someone might mean that he wants to talk with you about it, and it could take a while. Be sure that you have at least ten minutes set aside to have this conversation. If you feel comfortable, pray for the person on the phone together. If you don’t feel comfortable doing that, then it is okay to tell him that you will be praying for him during your personal quiet time each week.

Then, before you end the call, ask if you have his permission to share those prayer requests with your small group. What a comforting assurance it gives someone visiting a small group to know that the group has been praying for him and his prayer requests before he even visits the group!

In my early years of serving as a small groups pastor I often would talk to a person interested in joining a small group, refer him to the small group facilitator, then would find out that no one showed up for the group. Thus, I developed these ten tips because several of our groups had ten people sign up to be part of a group, then when the group was ready to start only two people showed up the first night.

REMIND THEM THEY CAN JOIN AT ANY TIME

While at our church we say that groups “start in February” and “start in September,” as you talk to people interested in joining your group, remind them that they can join at any time.

Different Church Philosophies

In my early years of serving as a small groups pastor I often would talk to a person interested in joining a small group, refer him to the small group facilitator, then would find out that no one showed up for the group. Thus, I developed these ten tips because several of our groups had ten people sign up to be part of a group, then when the group was ready to start only two people showed up the first night.

DO A “MEET AND GREET” NIGHT

Each time you start a new study and think you might have some new people come into your group, do a “meet and greet” night. Doing a “meet and greet” night might sound weird for some people. In the New Testament Christians we often described as meeting together for fellowship and community. Here’s a brief list of passages I found that describe New Testament believers meeting together: Acts 2:1; 4:31; 5:12; 6:2; 15:7, 30; 16:13; Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 5:4; 14:19, 23-24, 28, 33-35; 16:19; Col 4:15; Phlm 2; Heb 10:24-25; James 2:2; 2 John 1:10.

In my early years of serving as a small groups pastor I often would talk to a person interested in joining a small group, refer him to the small group facilitator, then would find out that no one showed up for the group. Thus, I developed these ten tips because several of our groups had ten people sign up to be part of a group, then when the group was ready to start only two people showed up the first night.

CALL THEM, EMAIL THEM, AND TEXT THEM ABOUT YOUR GROUP MEETINGS

Most People Need Regular Reminders About Your Group

If you think about it, a person who expresses interest in joining your LIFEGroup has lived 30, 50, or 70 years doing the same thing week after week. Then, he expresses interest in joining your small group. After decades and decades of doing the same thing week after week, he now has to remember that he is going to be part of a small group on Wednesday nights. This person will need several reminders about the change to his life and routine! Furthermore, he won’t just need a reminder once via text or email. He is going to need phone calls, emails, and text messages about the group.

In my early years of serving as a small groups pastor I often would talk to a person interested in joining a small group, refer him to the small group facilitator, then would find out that no one showed up for the group. Thus, I developed these ten tips because several of our groups had ten people sign up to be part of a group, then when the group was ready to start only two people showed up the first night.

CONNECT AND MEET IN PERSON AT CHURCH

Going to the home of someone you have never met is scary and intimidating for a lot of people.