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Keeping Small Group Simple
By Paul | April 8, 2008
1. Less is More – Prepare…but not too much. Pull together only HALF as much as you think you’ll have time to go through in a single gathering. Generally, facilitators with LESS material on hand to go through find themselves more open to the conversation going new and different directions. Conversely, facilitators with MORE material prepared to cover experience more pressure to progress through it. You want to be time-conscious, but not too ambitious about what can be achieved during a highly-relational 1-2 hour meeting.
2. Point to the destination…but don’t give too much direction on how to get there. Think of ONE thing you’d like for your group participants to walk away with. What do you hope they’ll learn or feel as a result of your study and discussion? For example, “I hope each person will learn in a deeper way that Jesus is with her every moment of every day and therefore will experience more of His peace in her daily life.” What matters in the study time is not how much ground you cover as it is how much transformation happens within members’ hearts. This can happen through study content, but more often, it occurs through Spirit-led human interaction.
3. Guide, don’t direct – Be flexible with the “agenda” and avoid over-facilitation. Trust the Lord with how the study and conversation flows. The tendency is the more a facilitator speaks, the less responsive people get.
# of People Participative Response
3-6 Everyone speaks
7-10 Almost everyone speaks, quieter people say less, 1 or 2 may not
11-18 5 or 6 people speak a lot, 3 or 4 others join in occasionally
19-30 3 or 4 people dominate
More than 30 Little participation possible
Source: Pretty et al. (1995): PLA Guide
The response ratios above, which measure how the number of people in a group affects individual participation, don’t always hold true because every group’s dynamic is unique. However, it’s good to be aware of these ‘interpersonal laws’ because they can prompt you to know how to encourage greater interactivity. Increased interactivity results in more energetic and fruitful conversation. Besides, following the other ‘simple rules’ shared in this section compresses these response ratio results.
4. Recap and Refocus – Share what the group accomplished together and a basic plan for your next gathering. This instills a since of accomplishment and purpose for group members. It shows them that you have a plan (albeit unfolding) and that you’re all going someplace together. This simple practice boosts participants’ commitment and brings more focus to the course of your study overall.
5. Don’t meet up to the last minute – Give people time to unwind and socialize toward the end of each gathering; it’s a simple way to foster unity and inclusion in the group. This is more likely to create a positive conclusion for everyone, which will leave them with an increased desire to come back for more. This also ensures all participants, particularly those who have to get home for the sake of their kids or the next-day’s schedule, can do so without stress and enjoy the company of the whole group.
Topics: Instruct |
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