A Simple Recipe for Group Success?

Here are two critical ingredients.

by Dan Lentz

Not much about small groups is “clean” or simple, but Dr. Henry Cloud mentioned in a conference session I attended some time ago that he viewed two “ingredients” as being critical for small group success and group member life change. Those two ingredients are PURPOSE and COHESION.

PURPOSE—group members have a clear expectation of what they are to do as a member of their small group. Group members know why the group exists and why they are a committed part of it.

COHESION—there is a strong perceived need for the group by the group members. Group members would feel like they were missing something vital if they missed a group gathering and small group relationships are viewed as high priority.

According to Dr. Cloud, the presence of these two ingredients in a small group is a strong indicator that transformation will take place in group members’ lives.

I don’t disagree with Dr. Cloud, but I wonder what you think? Are these the two ingredients you would have picked? What would you say are the most critical factors of small group success and member transformation?