There is no consistency from meeting to meeting and no accountability established. Doug contends that the impact of these groups is low. It s simply a means to an end- a necessary part of a program, not a catalyst to students building deeper relationships with each other. These type of groups also meet as a part of the program. These groups, however, have the same students each week, thus having a medium level of consistency.
Students have a chance to interact with the same students each week.
But, again, the purpose is to get through a given set of questions or to discuss a certain topic. The level of impact is much higher. Relationships can deepen, and depending on the small group leader, some accountability will be encouraged. These types of small groups focus more on the students than the teaching. Content might be a starting place for discussion, but the focus is on building relationships and accountability.