Building Consistency Through Flexibility | June 2025
LEADERSHIP THOUGHT:
Healthy discipleship doesn’t happen through occasional connection, but through consistent relationships and spiritual conversations. Yet, in every season, life happens and schedules change. As leaders, we can’t give up or assume someone’s not committed when they miss Small Group. Instead, we should ask: How can we create more ways for people to stay connected, even when life gets busy?
Consistency requires flexibility. Therefore, leaders must create regular, accessible spaces for people to grow in their faith and relationships. And one of the best ways to foster this is by offering flexibility within our groups.
Three Flexible Strategies to Build Consistency:
1. Recapture Group Meetings: Helping those who missed stay connected.
When someone can’t attend a scheduled group meeting, the tendency is to wait until “next week.” But we don’t have to lose that connection. A recapture meeting is when one or two members meet with someone who missed the scheduled group meeting, creating another opportunity to discuss the week’s discussion guide or simply check in spiritually.
Examples:
Meet for coffee or a quick meal with someone who couldn’t make it.
Schedule a phone or video call to pray and go through the discussion guide.
Meet up to encourage one another and to walk through personal discipleship conversations.
Tip: Empower the Tripod or other members in your group to facilitate these recapture moments.
2. Alternate Group Meetings: Creating additional options for connection.
Some seasons require different options. An alternate group meeting allows members to choose between two meeting times or locations within the same week.
Examples:
Offer a second group meeting on a different day/time for those with schedule conflicts.
Host one in-person meeting and one online meeting during the week.
Encourage a cluster of members to meet separately if they’re in a similar life stage or location.
Tip: This doesn’t have to be every week. It can be offered periodically during busier seasons. But it could be the start of branching or planting a new group.
3. Substitute Group Meetings: Partnering with another group to provide coverage.
If someone cannot attend their regular group, they can join another group as a substitute. This helps them stay connected while also building relationships with others in the church.
Examples:
Partner with another group leader and share each other’s meeting schedules.
When someone can’t attend your group, offer the details of the partner group as an option.
Tip: This is also a great way to expose members to different relational circles in the church.
Why All This Matters:
If we aren’t intentional, summer and busy seasons may cause people to drift, and the Enemy can pull people away from faith. As we create flexible opportunities for connection, we help people to remain consistent in their growth as disciples of Christ. It’s not about adding more meetings, it’s about creatively providing more opportunities for relational and spiritual connection.
REFLECTION &
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Which of these strategies—Recapture, Alternate, or Substitute Meetings—would help the most in this current season?
Who in my group has been missing meetings, and how can I personally help them reconnect and stay connected?
Are there leaders or members I can empower to help facilitate some of these flexible options?
How can we build this mindset of flexibility into our group culture going forward?
PRAYER POINTS:
Pray for wisdom to lead with both consistency and creativity.
Ask God to show you who needs a personal follow-up or recapture moment.
Pray for your group to remain relationally strong and spiritually engaged, even in busy seasons.
Pray for future leaders to rise up and catch the heart of discipleship.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Miracle Wall:
We are also excited to announce the re-launch of our "Miracle Wall" with our new series, "Miracles on Miracles.” Every miracle is a testimony of God's power, love, and faithfulness. If the Lord has moved in your life—no matter how big or small—we encourage you to share it boldly! To share your miracle on the wall, visit pearlside.org/miracles and ignite faith in others. Let's encourage each other and the world that our God is a God of miracles!
UPCOMING CLASSES:
Discipleship Track:
Main Campus Discipleship Track, July 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm in the HUB at Main Campus
Freedom Weekend:
Kahala Campus Men’s Freedom, Saturday, June 28, from 9:00 am - 2:30 pm in the HUB at Main Campus
Kapolei Campus Women’s Freedom, Saturday, June 14, from 9:00 am - 3:0 pm at Lanikila Baptist
Main Campus Women’s Freedom, Saturday, July 12, from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm at the HUB at Main Campus
Main Campus Men’s Freedom, Saturday, July 19, from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm in Classroom 1 at Main Campus
