Small Groups vs Sabbath School Effectiveness

Executive summary

Small groups and Sabbath School represent two distinct approaches to Christian education and discipleship within Adventism. Cross-denominational research consistently favors small groups for spiritual growth and retention: church leaders rank them as the top discipleship method (52%, Barna), they foster accountability, vulnerability, and relational depth that classroom formats cannot match, and they function as "lifeboats" that notice absences and reduce dropout. However, Adventist-specific comp...