Here’s the thing nobody tells you about church planting: it almost never starts with a grand vision statement or a five-year strategic plan. More often than not, it starts with pizza crumbs on your coffee table and someone saying, “Why can’t church feel more like this?”
If that sounds familiar, keep reading. Because what you’re experiencing might not be wishful thinking—it might be God preparing you for something bigger than you imagined.
Small Beginnings, Big God
Let’s get something straight from the start: God has a thing for small. He picked a teenage girl to change the world. He used a lunch from a kid to feed thousands. And chances are, He’s going to use your messy, imperfect small group to impact your community in ways you can’t see coming.
Here’s what I’ve learned after watching this happen over and over again: the best church plants don’t start in conference rooms—they start in living rooms. They don’t begin with strategic planning sessions—they begin with authentic relationships.
I know of a family whose story perfectly captures this. Their small group started with four people crammed into their tiny apartment. Today? They’re leading a church of 80 people who are actively multiplying throughout their city. They tell me -they never saw it coming. They just wanted to love their neighbors well.
That’s how God works. He takes your “just wanting to love people well” and turns it into something that changes everything.
The Signs Are Already There
So how do you know if God is stirring something bigger in your small group? Here’s what I’ve noticed:
Your group has become a magnet. People keep asking to bring friends, coworkers, neighbors. When your group members can’t stop talking about what happens when you gather, that’s not coincidence—that’s God creating momentum.
You’ve outgrown every space you try. Living room to garage to community center, and you’re still running out of chairs. That’s a good problem to have, and it’s usually God saying, “Ready for the next step?”
Leaders are emerging naturally. You’re seeing people step up without being asked. They’re facilitating discussions, organizing service projects, taking initiative. When multiplication DNA starts showing up, pay attention.
Your heart is breaking for your community. Your conversations have shifted from “What do we need?” to “How can we serve?” When your small group starts dreaming about meeting needs in your neighborhood, that’s the Holy Spirit at work.
The Tension Is Normal (And Necessary)
Let me tell you what’s coming next, because nobody prepared me for this part: the transition from small group to church plant is going to create tension. Good tension, but tension nonetheless.
Some people will love the intimacy you’ve built and worry about losing it. Others will be ready to rent the high school auditorium tomorrow. Some want to stay in homes forever. Others are already picking out sound equipment and designing websites.
Here’s the truth: this tension isn’t a problem to solve—it’s a season to navigate. The discomfort you’re feeling isn’t evidence you’re doing something wrong. It’s evidence you’re doing something right.
The best church plants embrace this tension instead of trying to eliminate it. These groups have the hard conversations, dream together while being honest about their fears, and lean into the mess because God shows up there.
If you’re sensing God might be calling your small group to plant a church, here’s your next play:
Start with extended prayer. I’m not talking about your normal five-minute prayer time. I’m talking about dedicated seasons of seeking God together. Fast as a group. Take prayer walks. Ask the Holy Spirit to make His direction unmistakably clear.
Get connected with DOVE leadership. You don’t have to figure this out alone—and you shouldn’t try to. Our regional teams exist to walk alongside groups like yours. We’ve been where you are, and we know the path forward.
Think multiplication from day one. Don’t just plan to add people—plan to multiply leaders. Build the expectation that your church plant will plant churches. Make multiplication part of your DNA before you even launch.
Fight to stay relational. As you grow, the thing that made your small group special can’t become the thing you sacrifice for size. Big churches are just collections of small communities doing life together well.
Launch Day (And Beyond)
When you finally have your first official service—whether it’s in a school cafeteria or someone’s backyard—it’s going to feel surreal. All those months of prayer and planning suddenly become reality. You’ll look around and think, “How did we get here?”
But here’s what I want you to remember: launch day isn’t your destination. It’s just the starting line for the next chapter. The real work happens in the weeks and months that follow as you create space for others to experience what your original small group discovered.
You’ll face challenges you never saw coming. You’ll make mistakes that keep you up at night. Some people will leave, and it’ll hurt more than you expected. Others will join who become family in ways that surprise you.
This is church planting. This is what multiplication looks like. It’s beautiful and messy and life-giving and exhausting all at the same time.
You’re Not Doing This Alone
If you’re reading this and your heart is racing because this sounds exactly like what’s happening in your small group, take a deep breath. You’re not alone in this. You’re part of a movement that’s happening all over the world—ordinary people in ordinary living rooms saying yes to God’s extraordinary invitations.
The kingdom of God advances through people just like you. People who started with pizza and prayer and ended up changing their communities. People who didn’t have it all figured out but were willing to take the next step anyway.
Your small group might just be God’s next multiplication miracle. The question isn’t whether you’re qualified—it’s whether you’re willing.
So what’s it going to be? Are you ready to see what God wants to do through your gathering?
Read more:
DOVE Church Planting – Church Plant USA – DOVE USA
DOVE International: dcfi.org
Church Planting: churchplanting.com