Small groups can be one of the most powerful tools for spiritual growth in a church—but only if we guard them well. What starts as a group of people seeking Jesus together can quickly lose its purpose if we’re not intentional. When small groups drift from God’s design, they stop forming disciples and start just filling calendars. If you’ve ever felt like your group isn’t growing, deepening, or multiplying, one of these six small group killers might be the cause.
- Subjectivity – When opinions matter more than Scripture.
A group can’t be spiritually healthy if God’s Word isn’t at the center. If the Bible becomes background noise and the discussion revolves around “what this means to me,” you’ve already lost your footing. God didn’t give us small groups to float in a sea of feelings—He gave us truth to anchor our souls. Scripture should lead the conversation, not human speculation. - Irresponsibility – When spiritually immature leaders are given spiritual authority.
Leadership isn’t just about scheduling meetings—it’s about shepherding people. When churches fail to prioritize spiritually mature leaders, small groups can drift into dangerous territory. A leader doesn’t have to be perfect, but they should be walking with Jesus consistently, pursuing holiness, and able to guide others toward truth. Immaturity in leadership leads to instability in community. - Shallowness – When people play it safe and never get real.
You can’t grow together if everyone’s wearing a mask. When group members keep things surface-level and never share struggles, victories, or doubts, the group becomes more like a social club than a spiritual family. Vulnerability invites grace. But when no one opens up, no one truly grows. - Dodginess – When accountability is awkward, so it gets avoided.
Accountability isn’t judgment—it’s love. If we care about each other, we’ll help each other walk in obedience to Jesus. But too often, we dodge the hard conversations. We say things like, “That’s between them and God,” when God may be prompting us to speak truth in love. A group that won’t sharpen each other won’t grow together. - Disengagement – When group life only exists during meeting times.
A healthy small group isn’t just a weekly event—it’s a shared life. If no one checks in, follows up, or prays outside the walls of a home or classroom, the community never deepens. Church isn’t just for Sunday, and group isn’t just for Wednesday. Real discipleship happens in between the meetings. - Comfiness – When the group grows but never goes.
Some groups get so close they never want to let go—and that’s the problem. A group that refuses to multiply can become a cul-de-sac for growth rather than a catalyst for mission. Healthy things grow, and growing things multiply. If your group is full, strong, and comfortable, it’s time to raise up new leaders and launch new groups.
Small groups can be life-giving, disciple-making engines in the church—but only if we’re willing to protect them from the things that slowly kill them. Let’s build the kind of groups where truth is honored, people are challenged, and lives are changed.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
