While January is often a hectic season for small-group ministries, December is typically more relaxed. Groups are winding down from their fall studies. Many take a break from gathering together over the holiday season.
For those reasons, December is a great time for group leaders to take a step back and assess the overall health of their groups.
What’s going well in our group? What struggles are we facing? What steps should we take to grow spiritually and numerically in the coming year? The following evaluations will help you gain some traction in answering these questions.
[Note: To gain a more thorough evaluation of your group’s experience, consider asking group members to complete this assessment the next time you’re together. For the best results, encourage them to turn in the assessment anonymously.]
Study Material
How many positive comments have you received regarding your recent Bible studies or curriculum material?
0 1 2 3 4 5 or more
How many negative comments have you received regarding your recent Bible studies or curriculum material?
0 1 2 3 4 5 or more
What percentage of your group members have participated during most group discussions?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(50 percent) (100 percent)
How would you rate the overall excitement level during group meetings?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(Low) (High)
Spiritual Growth
How many group members have professed to growing spiritually in the past six months?
0 1 2 3 4 5 or more
To what degree have you grown spiritually in the past six months?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(No growth) (Significant growth)
How often do group members confess sin within the group?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(Rarely) (Often)
In the past three months, how many times has your group worked together to serve those in need—either internationally or in your local community?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(Never) (Four or more)
Relational Growth
How many visitors have attended a group meeting in the past three months?
0 1 2 3 4 5 or more
How often do group members spend time with one another outside of scheduled group meetings?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(Rarely) (Regularly)
How often do group members share personal and/or vulnerable information about their lives during group meetings?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(Rarely) (Regularly)
How would you describe the strength of the relationships within your group now compared to the strength of those relationships six months ago?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(Same strength) (Much stronger)
Moving Forward
Based on your answers above, conclude this assessment by engaging the three questions mentioned earlier:
- What’s going well in our group?
- What struggles are we facing?
- What steps should we take to grow spiritually and numerically in the coming year?
Sam O’Neal is a Content Editor on the Adult Ministry Publishing team at LifeWay. He has a passion for seeing discipleship and full-bodied Christian education done right in the local church—especially in the context of small group communities. Sam is also the author of “The Field Guide for Small Group Leaders“. You can follow Sam on Twitter @SamTONeal.