The Healthy Transition of Spiritual Multiplication: When and Why?

Many of us shutter at the thought of our group splitting up to start other groups. We don’t even want to think about the people we love leaving our group to go start another. What a preposterous idea that is!! Who thought that was a good idea in the first place?

Most of you have or are experiencing the life changing growth that comes from the relational community found in thrive Groups. This is why it is vital to help as many people as we can find this same place in their journey with Jesus.

“When?” is the big question that often answers “Why?” as well. I would not encourage you to simply state that your group will split after a certain period of time like 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, etc. I would say that what you should frequently look at is the health of your group. Ask yourselves if your coming together is still bringing spiritual growth to the people in the group. Is your group finding ways to serve; becoming more like Christ? Are you building into one another through your relationships? If these three things are not still taking place, you may want to consider the group’s next step. Maybe it is time for some to start another group. Maybe it is time to mix things up a bit and do something different that will promote the spiritual growth that group life should bring about.

Just an FYI. I would not be so concerned about building more groups as I would be about helping to build healthy groups. I believe that if your group is truly seeking God’s plan then you will know when the right time to multiply is. It should be a healthy transition, not a forced change. It is healthy to talk about this with your group so that when the time does come, you will all have an understanding that moving on is nothing personal between the members of your group. It is simply time grow on to the next place that God has for you.

So who thought this multiplying thing was a good idea in the first place? Honestly, it was an amazing guy name Jesus Christ that suggested the idea of us multiplying. I, personally, am pretty happy that the disciples listened. I mean, think about it. What if “the 12” decided to keep their faith to themselves? What if every pocket of people Jesus ministered to kept their faith to themselves?

“We Don’t Need an Apprentice, Our Group is Staying Together For Life”

As a group, your purpose is to nurture one anothers’ spiritual health. When you love and nurture the spiritual health of your group partners, they will do the same for you.

It’s important to begin with the end in mind, and the end goal is creating healthy groups that produce healthy spiritual lives. This often demands that the group leader ‘partner’ with another member or members, supporting one another in the leadership role and in their personal jouneys with the Lord.

This can be a big job at times. This is where the importance of having an apprentice comes in. When I say “apprentice”, some of you get real uncomfortable because you hear things like splitting and breaking up your group. These things come to mind for good reason. However, let me redefine what “apprentice” might mean to you right now. The apprentice is the leader's partner. They are the ones that could take over the group when the group leader feels called to lead elsewhere (notice I did not say they were certainly leaving). What happens when the group leader goes on vacation or on a business trip? Does the meeting get cancelled or rearranged because the group is so reliant on them that it would fall apart if it were not for their presence at every function?

An apprentice may be or may not be the future leader of another group that births from your current one. For the moment, consider them a leadership partner.