Retention – What we can do as Small Group leaders

Jesus makes a significant statement in John 17

John 17:12: While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

• Jesus wasn’t just focused on teaching his disciples, he was also focused on keeping them.

The reality is that we aren’t Jesus, but small groups are designed to build strong spiritual families that are a manageable size. We aren’t able to (or expected to) protect people as Jesus did, but we can do our best to help those in our group stay healthy if they choose to. What that looks like on a practical level is:

• Creating connection opportunities in line with our purpose (Know Christ and become like him – Philippians 3:10)
• Staying in step with our mission (ambassadors for Christ – 2 Cor. 5:20)
• Encouraging one another so that we don’t turn away from God (Hebrews 3:12-13)

We may not be able to stop all loss, but let’s do a great job of keeping everyone we can!

Warning signs – to watch for and train each other to watch out for.

1. Entangled – 2 Peter 2:20

“If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.”

• A marked return to worldliness or conscience searing sins
• Living too shrewdly (Luke 16:8) – Jesus says that the people of the light are different!

• Choked – Luke 8:14

The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

• Caught up in things that consistently takes a lot of time, energy and focus away from God and the kingdom. (Get rich schemes, expensive hobbies, etc…)
• Key here is that they aren’t growing (maturing) – Growing is a huge key in staying faithful (2 Peter 1:3-10)

• Distant – Galatians 2:12-13

“Before certain men came from James he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.”

• Sudden (or subtle) changes in closeness – separating from people they used to be connected to
• Patterns of living change out of strong fear

• Swayed – Galatians 1:6-9

“Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.”

• More influenced by personalities than the Scriptures. Quickly going back and forth between strong opinions rather than clear teaching of the Bible.
• Watch for this when people study the Scriptures! Are they truly convinced by the Word?

• Unproductive – Hebrews 6:7-8

“But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed…”

• What are people producing? God expects good from the blessings he gives us. (Matt. 7:16-17)
• “Thorns and Thistles” – Words or actions that injure others – watch for bad action or bad example

Remember: We can’t make people change, but God does expect us to love each other deeply from the heart (1Peter 1:22). If we see any of these qualities in our brothers and sisters, love means speaking the truth to them in love about our concerns.

2 Timothy 2:23- 26 provides very helpful instruction:

²³ Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. ²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. ²⁵ Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.