There are a lot of benefits to including small groups in your ministry. Many (including myself) would even argue that a ministry plan is incomplete without small groups. So what's the big deal?
Multiply Ministry
During platform ministry, one person gets up and speaks or interacts with many people. This ministry can only go so deep since time does not allow the person up front to deal with individual situations or objections. Breaking into small groups means that more people are doing the ministering at the same time. This allows for much more in-depth communication to take place, which leads right into...
Building Relationships
It's easier to get to know less people. Small groups means that ministry leaders can focus on building relationships with a manageable amount of people while ensuring that no one is left out. There is almost no other way to build relationships as effectively as you can with small groups. In fact, last week I told you that one church had shallow relationships primarily because they had no small group interaction with their teens.
Encourage Discussion
Sometimes it's hard to get people to talk in front of crowds, but it can be surprising what they'll share in a group of four. Also, segregating groups (men and women or by age or marital status) helps to loosen the lips of those you minister to.
Help with Discipline
Ever lean over in the middle of church and whisper something to someone next to you? We all have. It's easy to hide in a crowd, but when the number of people around drops to 3 or 7, it becomes much more difficult to let your focus wander.
You're not Alone
I've been focusing on going from large group to small groups, but when working with an individual, there is also a benefit to having some time with a group of them. If you are discipling three men in your church, many would meet with them one-on-one in order to deal with individual issues. This is good, but try meeting with them all at the same time for a few weeks. This will help them realize that they are not alone in their struggles and will help them keep a broad perspective (many times we fail because we are so caught up in our own struggles rather than the needs of those around us).
