Eric Dunaway
small groups pastor
We often talk about keeping our groups small enough for deeper relationships to effectively take shape. And at PCC, we say that a journey group can be anywhere from 2-12 people... and that's really patterned after Jesus' teaching and ministry practices. In Matthew 18:20, Jesus said, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." And a majority of Jesus' ministry was targeted toward twelve people, with an inner circle of three.
The reality is, however, that even when our group grows to 8, 10, or 12 - and especially if it hits 14 or 16 - this can create a group that is so diverse in personalities that it may begin to be less effective during times of study and discussion.
Mark C. Howell has a great post on a simple strategy that can allow your group to maintain it's smallness and improve the discussion experience for everyone in your group... even the "quiet" ones. Take a look at this brief, but very insightful, post on the concept of sub-grouping.
www.markhowelllive.com
Did this inspire you, leave you with questions, or raise some concerns? Post a comment and share it with the rest of us!
Splitting between men and women has been really good in all the small group experience I've been in, but more periodically for a change-up, not ongoing, as it seems like the author is advocating; It comes very natural when on marriage-related topics.
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