By Brent Lacy
Small churches have a natural advantage in small group ministry: they are already small. The relational depth that large churches spend enormous resources trying to create is the default setting of a small congregation. The challenge is not creating community, it is structuring it so that discipleship actually happens within it.
This hub collects every resource MinistryPlace has published on small group ministry, from starting your first group to training leaders and multiplying groups across your congregation.
Leading Groups
Curriculum & Studies
Leader Training
Multiplying Groups
Prayer & Covenant
Starting Small Groups
Small Group Ministry in Small Churches: How to Build Community That Lasts
A complete guide to starting and sustaining small groups in a small church, including structure, frequency, and how to get people to actually join.
Small Groups
How to Start Small Groups in a Small Church (Even If You’ve Tried Before)
Practical guidance for churches that have attempted small groups before and struggled to make them stick.
Small Groups
Small Group Covenant: How to Set Expectations That Make Groups Work
A simple covenant framework that sets clear expectations and builds commitment from the start.
Small Groups
Church Membership Covenant
How a church membership covenant creates the foundation for small group participation and accountability.
Community
Leading Small Groups
How to Facilitate a Small Group: A Training Guide for New Leaders
Everything a new small group leader needs to know about facilitating discussion, handling difficult members, and keeping groups healthy.
Leadership
Small Group Icebreakers That Actually Work
Low-pressure conversation starters that help new groups build trust and get past surface-level conversation.
Small Groups
50 Small Group Discussion Questions for Small Churches
Discussion questions designed for honest, substantive conversation across a wide range of topics.
Discussion
Small Group Prayer Guide
How to incorporate meaningful prayer into every small group meeting without it feeling forced or formulaic.
Prayer
Curriculum and Bible Studies
Small Group Curriculum for Small Churches: How to Choose What Works
How to evaluate and choose curriculum that fits your group’s size, theological commitments, and learning style.
Curriculum
How to Plan a Small Group Bible Study: A 6-Week Framework
A complete framework for planning and leading a 6-week Bible study, including session structure and discussion guides.
Bible Study
James Bible Study for Small Churches
Free Bible study materials for the book of James, including a 4-week youth version and adult small group guide with PDF downloads.
Bible Study
Sunday School Curriculum for Small Churches
How to choose and adapt Sunday school curriculum for small, multi-age classes.
Curriculum
Leader Training
Small Group Leader Training Guide
A complete training guide for new small group leaders, covering facilitation, conflict, and how to keep groups growing.
Leadership
Volunteer Management for Small Churches
How to recruit, train, and retain small group leaders, including how to prevent leader burnout.
Volunteers
How to Handle Church Conflict: A Biblical Guide
Small group leaders need a clear framework for handling conflict within their groups. This guide provides it.
Leadership
Multiplying Groups
How to Multiply Small Groups in a Small Church
When and how to multiply groups, including how to identify and develop new leaders from within existing groups.
Growth
How to Build a Church Planting Network
Small groups are the foundation of church planting. This guide connects small group multiplication to church planting vision.
Church Planting
Prayer and Covenant
Small Group Prayer Guide
A practical guide to prayer in small groups, including how to pray for one another, handle sensitive requests, and build a culture of prayer.
Prayer
Prayer Ministry in Small Churches
How to build a church-wide prayer culture that starts in small groups and extends to the whole congregation.
Prayer
Small Group Covenant Template
A simple, practical covenant that helps groups commit to one another and to the group’s purpose.
Small Groups
Do not try to launch a small group program. Launch one group. Meet consistently. Let it model what community looks like. When people see it working, they will want to be part of it.