The betrayed members of a small group work to forgive the man who lied to them.
by Life Together
"Just forgive him," replied Pastor Bill. "That's what God wants us to do."
David and Michael were fuming. "How can we?" they questioned. "William betrayed us. He lied to us."
Just two days earlier, William, a youth pastor, confessed his six-month affair with a girl from the youth group. As details unfolded, William's friends were astounded by William's nervy scheming: a clandestine rendezvous in the ...
A small group works through their past hurts together.
by Life Together
"Can you love God if you don't love your neighbor?" Jenny asked her small group.
It seemed like a simple question, but the lengthy pause suggested otherwise. Martha, a new believer, broke the silence. "I suppose the 'right' answer is we can't love God; but right now I feel like I love God, but I can't love my dad. He's hurt me too deeply."
Martha was daddy's little girl growing up. She could do no wrong ...
Our ministry wasn't going well, the group was unhealthy and the students weren't connecting. Then, I tried cell groups.
Trevor Throness
My first job as a paid youth pastor was in a church of about 250 people. On a good youth group night we had 15 kids. On a bad night, we had three or none, depending on which key kids had offended each other that week. It's humiliating to fit your entire youth group in a Chevy Sprint and have one seat belt left over.
Our first retreat was truly an ordeal. Several kids refused to take part in an encouragement ...
In complex issues, if you know your own preferred reaction to conflict, it can help you choose the right course.
Betty Veldman Wieland
Conflict is a normal part of small group life. In fact, if we don't have conflict, someone is not being honest. People are just too different from one another to avoid it completely. I do not like conflict. It makes me feel, well, conflicted! At the same time, I believe that understanding the nature of conflict and being prepared to deal with it as a small group leader, coach, or staff person is essential ...
Acknowledging conflict, and turning the focus to Christ, can sometimes quell a rising storm.
Marilyn Yocum
It was an unusual gathering of people; not quite what we expected when we offered a small group in the home of a church member on the west side of town. The hostess mentioned the group to several neighbors and former coworkers and, quite to her surprise, they ALL came. That is how we ended up with a group of ten people, representing five different area churches.
How to keep your small group from running aground.
Ken Gonyer
Shipwreck!
It was after midnight on March 24, 1989, when the Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker leaving the Trans Alaska Pipeline Terminal, struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, tearing open the hull and dumping eleven million gallons of sticky, black crude oil into the ocean. The resulting oil slick polluted the shores and destroyed wildlife in Valdez Harbor. It was the worst oil spill in U.S. history. ...
Embrace conflict as an opportunity for growth and fellowship.
Sue Skalicky
I read through the small group covenant as I had done countless times before. I like to revisit the purpose of our small group and restate the need for commitment and confidentiality every time we begin a new study. I expected this time would be no different than the others, when agreement with the covenant was unanimous. As I finished reading the last point, I asked the group as I usually do, "Is ...
"One day a man met Spurgeon on the street, took off his hat and bowed, and said, 'The Rev. Mr. Spurgeon — a great humbug!' Spurgeon took off his hat and replied, 'Thank you for the compliment. I am glad to hear that I am a great anything!'" With some well timed words, Spurgeon took the sting out of the criticism. He knew how to respond to his faultfinders.
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