I love a great question. I actually look for them and even write them down when I hear them or copy them when I read them. (See also "Quotebook: Never Stop Questioning.")

But there are some questions that are absolutely the wrong question, and they lead to the wrong answer. (See also "The Right Answer to the Wrong Question.")

Here are a few of my favorite frequently asked wrong questions:

1. Why can’t we find enough qualified leaders to connect the people who sign up to join a group? The short answer? You are probably using an old-school system that depends on apprenticing, signing up potential leaders for training courses, or pleading with obviously qualified members to leave the group they love and start a new one.

What’s the right question? It's this: What systems eliminate this issue? Taking my cue from the Andy Stanley line that your ministry is perfectly designed to produce the results that you are currently experiencing, I can say with certainty that the design of the system you are using is the issue. (See also "Top 5 Keys to Starting New Groups—Lots of New Groups" and "My Top 3 Ninja Ideas for Recruiting Small Group Leaders.")

2. What is the best way to “vet” new small group leaders? Can you see where this question leads? The question assumes that vetting must be done and that there is a better outcome if you do it the right way. See that?

Actually, vetting isn’t a bad thing to do, but the search for a best way to vet new small group leaders is based on the notion that safer leaders lead to better groups with fewer issues. In my experience, focusing on vetting produces fewer groups. Better to focus on ways to make it easier for new leaders to invite their friends and build their own groups.

What’s the right question? It's this: Is our system designed to make it easy to begin and nearly automatic to step into a leader development pathway? (See also "Evaluate Your Small Group Ministry With My Signature 10-Point Checklist.")

3. Since coaching doesn’t work, how else can we support and develop small group leaders? My answer? Coaching is not the issue. It does work and is still the best way to support and develop new small group leaders. But if you’re trying to retroactively assign coaches to existing small group leaders, you should expect something like the results of a bad organ transplant. Rejection.

What’s the right question? Try this: How can we build an effective coaching structure that identifies, recruits and develops the kind of coaches that can do to and for our leaders what we want leaders to do to and for our members? (See also "How to Build an Effective Coaching Structure.")

4. How can we reinforce struggling small groups? This is a seriously wrong question because it assumes you should do something out of the ordinary to prop up group leaders and their groups when they struggle. (Most commonly this is about “not enough members"). Artificially resuscitating struggling groups almost always leads to a lifelong dependency for new members.

What’s the right question? This one: How can we build a small group culture where it is easy to take a test-drive as a host, celebrating those who try while allowing struggling groups to end with grace (and find a group to join)? (See also "FAQ: How Can We Help Groups That Are Struggling to Add New Members?")

5. How can I prevent heresy in our small groups? This question is most commonly asked by detractors of a lower bar of leadership, but it is still asked by those with a heightened interest in control. It’s been said that you can have growth or you can have control, and you have to decide how much of each you want. In my mind, the explanation of the church in the first century is not control.

So, what’s the right question? Try this one: How can I provide a pathway for group leaders that will keep them focused on the right destination? (See also "Steve Gladen on Saddleback’s Leadership Pathway.")

Mark Howell is the founder of SmallGroupResources.net, committed to helping churches launch, build and sustain healthy small group ministries. He’s also the pastor of discipleship communities at Canyon Ridge Christian Church. You can read Mark’s blog at markhowelllive.com or follow him on Twitter.

For the original article, visit pastors.com.

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