The Group Within the Group

Every Community Group, no matter what size, has a smaller group within the group.  If it is one of our larger Community Groups that meets on-campus, there might be several smaller sub-groups within the larger group.  And, even if it is a smaller group that meets in the home, there is a sub-grouping between the men and the women.  By understanding this reality a Community Group Leader can use these “groups within the group” to propel the greater purpose of transformation in the life of the group members.  Here are four ways you can use sub-groups to help your group grow spiritually…

1) Consider dividing up into sub-groups for prayer time…

One of the best ways to grow spiritual friendships is by sharing each other’s burdens in prayer.  Maybe once or twice a month, fore-go doing prayer and prayer requests as a large group, and divide people into their smaller sub-groups.  If you lead a larger group on-campus, consider your table groupings or care groups as the dividing point.  If you are a smaller group, allow your sub-groups to simply be men and women.  Or, you might even consider grouping people into gender-specific groups of 3-4 people only.  Doing prayer time in these smaller groups will actually cultivate greater transparency in communicating prayer needs, and may lead to deeper discussions of what is “really” going on in someone’s heart.  Set a certain amount of time and then assign a point person for each sub-group to watch the time and navigate through everyone sharing equally.

2) Consider doing a study series in the sub-groups…

If there is a study that you believe is going to require a good deal of “wrestling” with application, and will need opportunity for transparent sharing, selecting a study where most of the time in the group meeting is spent in the sub-groups.  This can take several different forms – 1) a larger group can select a study where there is a small amount of teaching (10 – 15 min.) up front, and the rest of the group time is spent in table discussion, with a 5 min. closing word and transition to next week.  2) Dividing into men and women with 100% of the time spent in separate rooms/tables/groups for prayer, discussion of study, etc.  3) Spend the teaching time (live or via DVD) together as one large group, and then divide as men and women for discussion of application questions.  Any of these three options can generate deeper bonds as group members are more vulnerable with each other and interact more honestly with study material.  Studies related to “horizontal relationships”, i.e., marriage, parenting, work, extended family are especially good to be done in sub-groups.

3) Lead your sub-groups to cultivate accountability partnerships…

If you periodically spend the study time and/or prayer time in sub-groups, you will likely see more authentic accountability taking place between group members.  Some smaller groups that practiced separating men and women have now implemented separate guys’ and girls’ nights where the focus of the meeting is accountability.  With other Community Groups where the sub-groups were co-ed around a table, the 3-4 men or 3-4 women that were at the table have begun meeting two additional times a month to spend the time focusing on how that can “spur one another one toward love and good deeds.”  If sub-grouping is done intentionally and strategically, greater spiritual accountability will emerge as a by-product.

4) Allow your sub-groups to cultivate apprentice leaders…

Segmenting your Community Group into smaller sub-groups will also give opportunity for potential new leaders to emerge.  This might take the shape of a assigning Table Leaders for your Table groups in the larger on-campus group.  Or, in smaller groups where the sub-groups are simply divided into men and women, you can give specific assignments to individuals to lead that prayer time or discussion time or ministry-service time.  Sometimes all a person needs to recognize their leadership potential is to be charged with a smaller, less visible version of what you do every week to lead the Community Group.  Consider, as you divide out your group for prayer time or for a particular study, who you would like to test in order to see their potential as an apprentice leader, and then invite to join in this new format for your group.