Sticky Church

Sticky Church presents a model for retaining church members through sermon-based small groups. Pastor Larry Osborne shares the approach developed at North Coast Church that helped them maintain a high retention rate of new members. The book outlines specific strategies for implementing sermon-based small groups, including leadership structures, discussion formats, and practical solutions to common challenges. North Coast's model focuses on reinforcing the Sunday message through weekly small group discussions rather than using standalone Bible studies. The system described emphasizes relationship building and spiritual growth through consistent attendance and participation. Osborne includes real examples from North Coast Church's experience, along with tools and resources for churches considering this approach. At its core, Sticky Church challenges traditional assumptions about church growth by focusing on retention rather than attraction. The book presents a vision of sustainable church community built on deepening connections between members rather than constantly seeking new ones.

Readers note this book offers a practical approach to church growth through sermon-based small groups rather than complex programs. The focus on retention over attraction resonates with many church leaders. Readers appreciate: - Clear, actionable steps to implement small groups - Research and data supporting the methods - Real examples from North Coast Church - Simple writing style without church jargon Common criticisms: - Too focused on one specific church model - Limited discussion of other small group approaches - Some found it repetitive - Several readers wanted more detail on handling group dynamics Ratings: Amazon: 4.5/5 (180+ reviews) Goodreads: 4.0/5 (900+ ratings) Reader quote: "Finally a small group book that isn't trying to reinvent the wheel. The sermon-based approach makes sense for both leaders and members." - Amazon reviewer Critical quote: "Good concepts but feels like an extended advertisement for their specific church program." - Goodreads reviewer

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🔄 North Coast Church, where Larry Osborne pioneered his sermon-based small groups, grew from 128 to over 12,000 weekly attendees largely through this model 📊 The "sticky factor" (retention rate) at North Coast Church reached 80% of visitors who attended a small group, compared to the typical church retention rate of 40-50% 🤝 The sermon-based small group concept originated when Osborne noticed people were more likely to discuss and apply content they had already heard in the weekend message 📚 Larry Osborne wrote this book after serving more than 30 years as a pastor and receiving countless requests from other church leaders about his small group strategy 🏆 The principles in Sticky Church have been implemented by thousands of churches worldwide, including several megachurches that previously struggled with member retention