Word Count: 362 – Est Read Time: 90 seconds
What’s Up:
Most smaller membership churches are burned out, stretched thin, and still not seeing real faith formation. Too often, they’re spiritually exhausted.
So What:
If your members are busy but not growing, it’s time to quit doing “all the things” and start doing the right things … beginning with how you form disciples.
The Point Is:
Less Is Faithful
Small churches trying to maintain big church programming is a recipe for exhaustion. If your average attendance is under 75, you need worship, small groups, and three outreach events a year (Easter, Christmas Eve, and one other target-friendly event). That’s it. Everything else? Cut it.
Sunday School Isn’t Discipleship
You can keep it for the die-hards, but don’t confuse education with transformation. Most adult Sunday school classes are information heavy and formation light.
Small Groups Are the Future
They’re hard to start, but they’re worth it. Launch one yourself, but not in your house or the church building. Find a host. Handpick the right folks. Lead it for a few weeks with the intention of handing it off.
Ditch the Curriculum, Do Life Together
Don’t build your small group around a “curriculum.” Build it around community. Use the Simple Small Groups plan (below). Bible. Prayer. Accountability. Support. It works.
And … ?
If you’re in a smaller church, it’s time to admit it: you’re tired. Your people are tired. But you keep running the same bloated ministry schedule your church built back when pews were full and the nursery was overflowing.
Here’s the hard truth. Faith formation doesn’t require more programming. It requires more purpose. Less clutter. Less committees. Less busywork. It’s time to focus on what actually works: worship that inspires, small groups that disciple, and events that connect with the unchurched.
You don’t have to shut down everything tomorrow. But you do need to get strategic. Start small. Start with one group. Start with one host. And start now. Because if your people aren’t being formed in faith, they’re being formed by something else. And you won’t like the results.
Action!
Download the Simple Small Groups plan and launch your first life-support group before Pentecost: https://fun.effectivechurch.com/simple-small-groups
