Shopping For A Small Group

A friend of mine from high school saw that I was listed as a small group leader at our church and decided to contact me about possibly joining our group. I shared the details of my group with her and advised her to check out all of the different groups available to see if there maybe one that will be best for her.

I think it is important to shop for your small group and find one that you really like. Note to small group leaders. You should not be offended if someone visits your group and never returns. Small groups are key at many churches to becoming a part of the church community, so picking a group that you don't have much in common with may not be the best idea no matter how cool you think that they are.

I would encourage someone who is looking for a small group to find a group that fits you, instead of looking for a group that you can conform to. I know people that have visited multiple small groups before deciding to stick with one for a while. I know people who have changed groups every year or two. Sometimes groups grow and change over time, but you have to think about what is going to work best for you, your schedule, and your family.

On a side note, although I encourage you to shop for a small group, at some point you have to make a commitment to the group for an extended period of time. I don't condone group hopping every time you get uncomfortable. You are going to encounter real people with real problems in all small groups. Not everyone is going to be nice all of the time. So stick it out for a while and try to work through and resolve conflicts within the community.