Recommendations for Improving Small Groups

Meeting at someone's home is fine if you are all friends beforehand...
But small groups are supposed to be open and inviting of strangers....
And a home is way too intimate of a setting. If I don't know you I'm not coming to your house.

I like coffee shops, donut shops, bread shops and etc. Nice and inexpensive and less formal or too much intimacy demanded.

If you are in America there is a church every 5 blocks. Maybe support one of the umpteen dozen churches in your area. Im not sure why a small group must grow, it probably will.if you are consistent in your meeting times amd places, and those attending have a sense of purpose for going.

P
I I don't want to try to convince anyone who doesn't want to be convinced, that would be pushy, or cruel. People who attended the groups I attended were not friends beforehand, and almost without exception were blessed by what happens in such small groups. There is a "small group dynamic" that allows ppl to open up and lets them be known to mere acquaintances, who subsequently become friends. I think we have an instinct to form familial groups, it facilitates the meetings. To be known is a foundational human need, but proving that takes too much proving.
To me, a small group fomed by friends is exclusive, and because I'm not of them, it's a clique. A group like that would not invite non-friends to join in on the blessings they gain from their intimacy. A group formed for the purpose of uniting mere aquaintences "is* welcoming to others, I don't relate to the idea that it can't be, and yes it does take time for newbies to assimilate, but it's a loving process.. It's not at all like joining the Elk's Club, or a worldly In Crowd. I certainly do understand many peoples' reluctance to approach a group that has already achieved a measure of it, it's valid to be hesitant or afraid, because that's the human condition. I own that fear, it used to rule me, but it's much smaller now. One group that I shared "leading" met in a 12' x 16' library meeting room, and after a few months of weekly meeting began to be well known to each other, sharing each others burdens and joys as we felt comfortable to do, and that is just as intimate as a home meeting. But I'm not here to threaten or convince anyone, my question was about how to be inviting, to ppl who might like to share their lives. Those who don't are just as acceptable, we are all in Christ.

One of the best ways to keep people interested in a small group is give them ownership of it. Each week ask someone to be responsible for the next one and they can do anything as they feel led by the Spirit. In one group where the leader hogged the limelight, he was away one week so we had to take over. I took the opportunity to ask about having a meal together. They all agreed and it turned out to be the best meeting we had ever had. No one wanted to go home.

In another group which I had initiated and which met monthly on a Saturday evening, I asked everyone to host an evening and the host could choose what we did. It was a roaring success and everyone attending loved it.

A sure way to turn people off is make the small group a mini church service.

1) Let Holy Sprit lead through the whole body rather than planning a lesson or mini service. This is uncomfortable at first as we are so used to fearfully defaulting to human control, but really, when God is allowed to take command through each and every member of the body sharing what He has given them, He will. There may be a learning curve as people unlearn passivity, though. Ultimately this will call out Christians to want to come as God gives us burdens to share what He has given us with others. Examples include sharing what God is teaching, sharing what is going on in their life, sharing one's needs, writing songs to God, practicing tongues and prophecy, etc. but it is best when people learn to read where God is taking things in the moment. For example, God can point the body to a person who is unable or unwilling to bring up an issue themself.

2) Related to #1, God told my house church not to host in your own home because then you will think it is your group instead of His.

you are very wise!

NEVER put a strict limit on what might happen. Someone opens the study in prayer & it may move into a passionate time of worship.
Remember, when 2 or 3 are gathered together in His name He is in the midst.

As the Bible says "Never give place to the devil". Many times we still have failures by never giving place to God to do what He wants.
One doesn't have to be Pentecostal to let God have His way.
Galatians 5:16
English Standard Version
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Another reason never to put a strict limit on what might happen.... You may never know where God is taking you as a group until you're there. It might form a good study group, but it might slowly form into a congregation that needs to be a church. So many has started that way.

The main thing is, put Christ as the Head, & let Him lead.