Things are falling apart, and you can see the end coming. It's as though they have an expiration date, like prepackaged food. But it doesn't have to be this way. However, the real reason small groups often fall apart has to do with structure. Small groups are also called covenant or accountability groups.
Members mutually agree to hold each other accountable.
The focus is helping each other remain faithful to God in every area of life. These four elements are the basic building blocks of an accountability or covenant group. These are non-negotiables. You can't have a small group without them. How these elements are put together, however, vary.