4 Thoughts On Thinking Smaller This Summer

Now more than ever it is time to experiment in your ministry. If you have been preoccupied with getting back to business as usual, then give yourself a much-needed break.

Ministry is in a rebuilding/rethinking process and it may take several attempts to find a new course for your ministry. Be prepared to focus and be persistent. Take notes and when you start to get traction then learn to scale your ministry to the next level.

A good place to start rebuilding is to start thinking less, not more. Most of us are accustomed to less by now so just own it and work with it to reestablish something stronger.

Here are some things to remember:

Smaller is stronger. This is discipleship y’all. We get so used to bigger and better that we forget the foundation of small. Small done well will bear fruit. Large done well struggles to keep from becoming shallow.
Small multiplies. Begin with the end in mind. Train leaders in your first group so that they may start small, 2 Timothy 2:2. Don’t start a small group without an apprentice. Focus your attention on developing leaders who can lead others. Eventually, your small group may be only leaders.
Make small memorable. I think most would agree that the best memories in Student Ministry were things that happened small. I have Dads in my ministry tree who still talk about Peach Tea Fridays or other spontaneous small group gatherings that took on rich meaning. This was spontaneous but they can be planned as well.
Make small shareable. When small is done well students will talk about it. Once it catches on you will need help. Train your leaders to create meaningful small moments. Watch small multiply.

Finally, keep reminding yourself that small is good. Especially when your ministry starts to grow. It’s better to be grounded than to get caught up in what we often equate with success. Large is good. Just remember what got you there.