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Let’s be real for a second—making disciples isn’t a one-and-done deal. It’s not like microwave popcorn where you press a button and—BOOM—instant spiritual maturity. No way. Discipleship is more like slow-cooked BBQ brisket. It takes time, attention, and a whole lotta love. And that’s where ongoing groups come in. If you’re a pastor or Bible study leader wondering how to keep your people growing (and actually sticking around), ongoing groups are your new best friend. Here are three reasons why ongoing groups are the heartbeat of any disciple-making church:

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1. Discipleship Needs a Long Runway

You can’t microwave character, and you can’t rush spiritual growth. Sunday mornings are great (love me a solid sermon and some soul-stirring worship), but be honest —how much transformation is actually happening in that 30-minute message? Ongoing groups give people a place to marinate in God’s Word, not just snack on it once a week.

It’s in these groups where people start to really unpack Scripture, ask the awkward questions, and wrestle with real-life application. You get to walk with people over time, not just inspire them from a distance. That kind of slow-and-steady relationship is where discipleship thrives. I’ve said it during times of training and speaking at conferences: “Discipleship doesn’t happen from a distance.”

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2. People Stick Where They’re Known

You’ve probably heard the stat that people will leave a church if they don’t make a friend in the first six months. But let’s level up that idea—people will stay when they’re known, valued, and loved. Ongoing groups become little communities inside the larger church where people are seen. They go from “just a face in the pew” to “Hey, you were on the prayer list this week—how’s your mom doing?”

Discipleship isn’t just about content; it’s about connection. Jesus didn’t just lecture His disciples—He lived life with them. Ongoing groups give us a modern-day way to do the same. It’s life-on-life, not life-on-lecture. Carey Nieuwhof famously said, “Growing churches will focus on connection and community, not content…no one should be able to out-local the local church.” It’s not that he doesn’t believe great biblical content isn’t important. It’s that he believes connection and community give us the opportunity to be in proximity to people so we can get the great content to them.

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3. Leaders Are Made in the Group Circle, Not from the Rows in a Worship Setting

Here’s a little secret sauce for you: if you want to raise up leaders in your church, start with your ongoing groups. Why? Because it’s a lab for leadership. People get a chance to teach, pray out loud (gulp), encourage others, develop ministries to people in the community, share the gospel, and even learn how to lovingly challenge their brothers and sisters in Christ (I call that “stepping on their toes without messing up the shine on their shoes”).

When people lead in a group setting, they grow in confidence and spiritual maturity. Before you know it, you’re not the only one making disciples—they are too. And that’s the goal, right? Multiplication, not just addition.

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Final Word

If you want your church to be a disciple-making machine (and not just a Sunday show), make sure ongoing groups are part of your rhythm. They’re not just a program—they’re the place where spiritual growth goes deep, friendships get real, and future leaders get built. Keep those groups going, and watch what God does.

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