Note:This is an excerpt from a book on small groups in general, but the concepts are very relevant to the recovery group environment as well.
No doubt you've heard the expressions many times: "Find your comfort level"..."What are you comfortable with?"..."As comfortable as an old pair of shoes." We love our comfort, don’t we? Our urge to pursue pleasure is deep and universal. Yet there are many places in our lives where God desires to put this urge to death. This may sound harsh, but I know from personal experience—including many confrontations over my own love of comfort—that it is true. Small groups can provide excellent opportunities for us to die to excessive love of comfort by embracing the changes and challenges God brings our way...
Starting New Groups It's an unsettling experience. Maybe you've been there, too. One day some time ago I began pulling on my favorite pants, only to discover, to my dismay, that there was more me than there was pants. Without my ever noticing, the ol' body had subtly begun moving south. The pants problem was one of capacity. Those particular pants were made for someone approximately the size I had once been! We see a similar dynamic at work in small groups—all have a certain capacity. When the natural capacity is exceeded, discomfort follows. The level of care and overall effectiveness of a small group can diminish greatly if the group grows too large. An oversized group often produces frustrated members who may drift away from involvement. Suddenly the group grows smaller again—but for the wrong reasons!
Small groups benefit by growing...and then multiplying before they get too large. If our small groups are effective at care, outreach, biblical fellowship, and the use of spiritual gifts, they will naturally attract people. (Who doesn't want to be part of a group that works?) The key to a healthy, growing group is the attitude of the individual member. Each must contribute to the growth of his or her group and do what is needed to help sustain the pants problem was one of capacity. Those particular pants were made for someone approximately the size I had once been! We see a similar dynamic at work in small groups—all have a certain capacity. When the natural capacity is exceeded, discomfort follows. The level of care and overall effectiveness of a small group can diminish greatly if the group grows too large. An oversized group often produces frustrated members who may drift away from involvement. Suddenly the group grows smaller again—but for the wrong reasons!
Small groups benefit by growing...and then multiplying before they get too large. If our small groups are effective...they will naturally attract people. (Who doesn't want to be part of a group that works?) The key to a healthy, growing group is the attitude of the individual member. Each must contribute to the growth of his or her group and do what is needed to help sustain the momentum of that growth.
If this is the attitude of the members, growth will be exciting because of the sense of ownershipeach one feels. Numerical growth within the group will be rewarding for everyone, not just one or two people. Active participation will position the group to multiply more easily because of the shared workload, common mission, and willingness to be used by the Lord in the service of his people.
The benefits to creating more small groups are numerous. New groups keep us in "adventure mode." New groups allow for the release of new leadership. And new groups mean more room for those [who need recovery].