--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We almost always involve unbelievers in…" description: "\"“We almost always involve unbelievers in our small groups. And we give them opportunities to lead the discussion.”\" — Andy Stanley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/andy-stanley-737_small-groups_we-almost-always-involve-unbelievers-in_1744110.png" --- # We almost always involve unbelievers in our small groups… ![“We almost always involve unbelievers in our small groups. And we give them opportunities to lead the discussion.” quote by Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/andy-stanley-737_small-groups_we-almost-always-involve-unbelievers-in_1744110.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/andy-stanley-737_small-groups_we-almost-always-involve-unbelievers-in_1744110.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/andy-stanley-737_small-groups_we-almost-always-involve-unbelievers-in_1744110.png) > ““We almost always involve unbelievers in our small groups. And we give them opportunities to lead the discussion.”” [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders often include skeptics in small groups and let them guide discussions to foster engagement. **In simple terms:** Include doubters and let them lead. Key Takeaway Invite skeptics to lead. Themes leadership inclusion discussion community Mood encouraging thoughtful Type practical motivational When to use this quote - church small groups - team meetings - training sessions - community building Key Concepts group dynamics empowerment faith formation Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance input from believers and non‑believers? - What safeguards ensure constructive dialogue? A Different Perspective Skeptics may dominate or derail conversation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Small groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-groups/) [Unbelievers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unbelievers/) ## Related quotes > [I will be asking my network to lead a discussion on the issues of class, race, energy, the environment, disaster planning, Iraq -- all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-williams/i-will-be-asking-my-network-to-lead-a-discussion-on-the-issues-of/) [Brian Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-williams/) > [Imagine a world where unbelievers were critical of what we believed but envious of how well we treated one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/imagine-a-world-where-unbelievers-were-critical-of-what-we-believed/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [My kids think you are always supposed to be in a small group and lead one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/my-kids-think-you-are-always-supposed-to-be-in-a-small-group-and-lead/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [I believe one of the best preparations for marriage is participating in a small group. If a person has learned to be intimate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/i-believe-one-of-the-best-preparations-for-marriage-is-participating/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [A man should remind himself that an object of faith is not scientifically demonstrable, lest presuming to demonstrate what is of faith, he should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/a-man-should-remind-himself-that-an-object-of-faith-is-not/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [We the Christians may not save the souls of unbelievers because only Jesus Christ does that but we are the bridge by which they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kang/we-the-christians-may-not-save-the-souls-of-unbelievers-because-only/) [Albert Kang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kang/) > [Unbelief is actually perverted faith, for it puts its trust, not in the living God but in dying men. The unbeliever denies the selfsufficiency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/unbelief-is-actually-perverted-faith-for-it-puts-its-trust-not-in-the/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Dogma demands authority, rather than intelligent thought, as the source of opinion; it requires persecution of heretics and hostility to unbelievers; it asks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dogma-demands-authority-rather-than-intelligent-thought-as-the-source/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Probably no one of us has the True Religion. But all of us together - if we are allowed to be free - are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/probably-no-one-of-us-has-the-true-religion-but-all-of-us-together-if/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [In my life, the only certainty is to be uncertain. I'm an unbeliever who believes in skepticism. I'm only sure about being unsure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-my-life-the-only-certainty-is-to-be-uncertain-i-m-an-unbeliever/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Many of the innovations in science and philosophy have come from unbelievers, some of whom died for their 'unbeliefs.' Without unbelief, we might well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-stein/many-of-the-innovations-in-science-and-philosophy-have-come-from/) [Gordon Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-stein/) > [“If you are a pastor there is no way you can lose faith without losing face, you are considered the devil incarnate by your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-you-are-a-pastor-there-is-no-way-you-can-lose-faith-without-losing/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [Few things are more important at this time in history than for religious people to listen to the New Atheists as if these unbelievers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dowd/few-things-are-more-important-at-this-time-in-history-than-for/) [Michael Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dowd/) > [ \[T\]he politically correct are above the rules of ordinary civility, once they have identified you as an unbeliever in their religion. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/t-he-politically-correct-are-above-the-rules-of-ordinary-civility/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) ## More by Andy Stanley > [Somehow, what's in our hearts, good or bad is eventually translated into words and deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/somehow-what-s-in-our-hearts-good-or-bad-is-eventually-translated/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [We are not all leaders. We are called leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/we-are-not-all-leaders-we-are-called-leaders/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Preachers prepare with this fear: 'Am I going to be able to fill the time?' The audience never worries about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/preachers-prepare-with-this-fear-am-i-going-to-be-able-to-fill-the/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [If it suddenly became impossible for us to cover up all the junk we normally hide from the rest of humanity, I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/if-it-suddenly-became-impossible-for-us-to-cover-up-all-the-junk-we/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [The greatest thing you do as a leader may not be what you do as a leader but who watches you do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/the-greatest-thing-you-do-as-a-leader-may-not-be-what-you-do-as-a/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [“right standing with God comes through faith in the promises of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/right-standing-with-god-comes-through-faith-in-the-promises-of-god/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [People pray in one direction but they walk in a different direction, and direction always determines where we end up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/people-pray-in-one-direction-but-they-walk-in-a-different-direction/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [The God of Christianity never claims to be fair. He goes beyond fair. The Bible teaches that he decided not to give us what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/the-god-of-christianity-never-claims-to-be-fair-he-goes-beyond-fair/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Any fear associated with giving to God's kingdom is irrational. It's on par with a farmer who, out of fear of losing his seed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/any-fear-associated-with-giving-to-god-s-kingdom-is-irrational-it-s/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [We rob ourselves when we make decisions in the moment with no thought of how those decisions will impact our futures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/we-rob-ourselves-when-we-make-decisions-in-the-moment-with-no-thought/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [“In the critical arenas of life, you cannot make up for lost time. As”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/in-the-critical-arenas-of-life-you-cannot-make-up-for-lost-time-as/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [I've talked to many individuals who want to discuss their problems. But they don't really have problems. They have chosen to live in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/i-ve-talked-to-many-individuals-who-want-to-discuss-their-problems/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [I can't make people fall in love with Jesus, but I can arrange dates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/i-can-t-make-people-fall-in-love-with-jesus-but-i-can-arrange-dates/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [A leader is someone who has the courage to say publicly what everybody else is whispering privately. It is not his insight that sets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/a-leader-is-someone-who-has-the-courage-to-say-publicly-what/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/when-your-memories-exceed-your-dreams-the-end-is-near/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) [Explore all 386 Andy Stanley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) ## More Small groups quotes > [Empowerment of individuals is a key part of what makes open source work, since in the end, innovations tend to come from small groups,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/empowerment-of-individuals-is-a-key-part-of-what-makes-open-source/) [Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/) > [I wish I could see over crowds and small groups of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oates/i-wish-i-could-see-over-crowds-and-small-groups-of-people/) [John Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oates/) > [The lure in art collecting and its financial rewards, not counting for a moment its aesthetic, cultural and intellectual rewards, is like the trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/the-lure-in-art-collecting-and-its-financial-rewards-not-counting-for/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [Having small group once a week gives me a lot of encouragement and accountability. Even though I go to church, I dont really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/having-small-group-once-a-week-gives-me-a-lot-of-encouragement-and/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [After so many years now, it's just suspected by most people that there simply is no way to change the direction Washington's going or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/after-so-many-years-now-it-s-just-suspected-by-most-people-that-there/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“STARTUP THINKING New technology tends to come from new ventures—startups. From the Founding Fathers in politics to the Royal Society in science to Fairchild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/startup-thinking-new-technology-tends-to-come-from-new-ventures/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) > [“Conformity is a problem for many small groups. Members put a higher priority on cohesion than on coming up with a well-reasoned choice. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/conformity-is-a-problem-for-many-small-groups-members-put-a-higher/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That's where we all kind of were in the mid-1960s. Students for a Democratic Society grew from a small group of socialists at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/that-s-where-we-all-kind-of-were-in-the-mid-1960s-students-for-a/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [I co-taught a seminar called Small Group Processes with my professor. I learned so much from it, so much about myself, about groups, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-beatty/i-co-taught-a-seminar-called-small-group-processes-with-my-professor/) [Paul Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-beatty/) > [A small group had concentrated into their own hands an almost complete control over other people's property, other people's money, other people's labor -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/a-small-group-had-concentrated-into-their-own-hands-an-almost/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“So, look at the Trinity and think again about what it means to be human. Yes, the relationships in the Trinity call for and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-a-ware/so-look-at-the-trinity-and-think-again-about-what-it-means-to-be/) Bruce A. Ware > [You want to stay alive in a zombie swarm? You go alone or in a small group, where everyone is of similar physical condition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/you-want-to-stay-alive-in-a-zombie-swarm-you-go-alone-or-in-a-small/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [“The Bible tells us that the small groups in New Testament times pursued the biblical purposes of fellowship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism, and worship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gladen/the-bible-tells-us-that-the-small-groups-in-new-testament-times/) [Steve Gladen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-gladen/) > [If we're by ourselves we come to feel crazy and alone. 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