5 Reasons to Make Groups a Priority in 2024

It's hard to believe we've only got 13 days left in the year. But before we know it, our calendars are going to turn to 2024 and you'll have to remember to write the correct date on everything you do. Pro tip, go ahead and remind yourself so your bulletins aren't wrong on January 7th.

If there's one thing I want to encourage you to prioritize this coming year, it's this: Groups. It doesn't matter what you call them, Sunday School, Life Groups, Adult Bible Fellowship, Care Groups, Small Groups. Call them whatever you want. Call them People Pods for all I care. But whatever you call them, make them a priority. Here's why:

1. Groups are relational glue - People might choose to attend your church and initially commit for any number of reasons. They might think you're a good preacher. They might have had a welcome from someone who made them feel at home. They might have been brought by a friend. Whatever the reasons they came, they stay for one reason: relationships. Despite our best efforts, we're really only capable of maintaining a small number of relationships. That's why groups are so important. Rather than depending on the pastor to know who's there (and who's not), groups help foster those relationships. A good group leader managing a small list (10-12 max) has a better feel for how people are doing than one person trying to manage 200 (or more).

2. Groups foster growth - No matter how polished your preaching is, much of the interaction during the service is one direction. Unless you're taking questions, there's normally only one person doing the talking during the service. But in a group, dialogue is fostered. Participants have the freedom, opportunity, and accessibility to ask better questions. It's more informal which lends itself to conversational dynamics.

3. Groups are a growth catalyst - Hopefully, however your groups are arranged, there's an emphasis on growth and multiplication. They can be a growth catalyst as group members begin the process of invitation to others. Groups provide a great front door for people to assimilate into a local church, even if the person may not be a Christian yet. They don't have the formality or expectations of a gathered worship service, and they can be done in homes or smaller settings to allow for a greater feeling of reception.

4. Groups help funnel pastoral care - Again, it's impossible for one person to know everything and everyone. Even the best at juggling all those concerns max out at some point. But groups help funnel pastoral care and ministry to those who can help. As a pastor, I rely on those group leaders to share information about when Ms. Gladys goes to the hospital or when someone is expecting surgery. They allow needs to filter to our Deacons for practical ministry concerns.

5. Groups help you feel at home - While she was in seminary, Carrie worked at a megachurch. Like one of those the truckers called "Fort God" when they drove past. It's true, they caught a CB transmission once. But I noticed every time we went out places she'd recognize people from the church. Even in a church of thousands, she knew people who helped make it feel like home. Groups do that. They're an oasis of intimacy in a sea of people, even if your church is normative size (less than 100).

As much as I'm writing this to pastors to encourage them to prioritize groups in 2024, I'm going to say this to those of you reading this who attend those churches.

Get plugged in to a group. One of the consistencies I've seen in ministry is that people who leave a church because they don't feel connected is because they're not in a group. Almost 100% of the time that's why people don't feel connected. If your church has multiple group options, try them. But don't expect a perfect group. They don't exist. Neither does the perfect church nor the perfect pastor. Plug into that group because you need it, they need, the church needs it, and your community needs it.