02. Small Group Potential

After 30 years of involvement in small group life, I’m convinced that being in a small group that is committed to living in community, a group that multiplies into two groups every 18 to 24 months, has given me more potential for impacting lives than anything else I have ever done as a pastor. That includes preaching and counseling and teaching seminars.

I believe that my greatest impact for the kingdom of God has come through my impact in a small group. Just one person of the hundreds who have been in a small group with me over the years, is now one of the most impactful champions of small group discipleship, by the name of Francis Chan. The power of multiplication is incredible as I invested in one person who now has impacted millions.

You can know how many seeds are in an apple, but you don’t know how many apples are in a seed.

Imagine yourself nine years from now. If you were to plan to impact as many people for Christ as you can, what would you do? Knock on doors and tell people to turn or burn? Make a sign and stand on the street corner? Put a fish sign on your bumper?

Here is a plan that you can do and it works… you don’t have to get arrested, sing, play the guitar and speak in front of a large group.

If you just get into a small group and interact with people for a year to 18 months, inviting friends and neighbors. Then at the end of the year to 18 months you multiply the group into two groups. You do that for 9 years and at the end of that process you will have impacted directly or indirectly over 640 people.

If you have a better 9 year plan, good for you. If not, then I suggest you consider this one and see the impact you can make for the kingdom of God. Imagine if the next Francis Chan just happens to come to your group.

When I look back over my life of ministry, I see hundreds of people whose lifes have been changed and see the ripple effect that it has made in communities across the US and around the world. One high school student I disciple married my sister, imagine that! He became a pastor who has multiplied untold numbers of disciples.

Just by joining a small group, engaging in community, helping people become more like Jesus, you will see the fruit of your labor in the future in changed lives. Who doesn’t want that?