Small Group Starter Guide for Small Churches

Small groups are one of the most effective discipleship tools available to any church, and small churches have a natural advantage: the relationships are already there. But most small church leaders don’t know where to start. They’ve heard that small groups are important, but they’re not sure how to launch them, sustain them, or deal with the inevitable problems that arise.

This guide gives you a practical, field-tested framework for launching and sustaining small groups without a large budget or professional staff.

According to Lifeway Research (2023), small churches with fewer than 50 attendees face significant challenges with small group participation — 39% say less than 25% of attendees are in a small group. But churches that do get small groups right report higher evangelistic impact, stronger assimilation, and deeper discipleship.

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