Use this practical tool to determine the childcare options in your small group.
by Michael Mack
Every church's small-group ministry is different. So is every small group. That's why we all need to think through the choices that will work best in our individual situations. If you plan ahead, the right childcare option can open up great opportunities for your small group instead of becoming a burden.Â
1. What is the childcare policy for your group?
[ ] No children are present except for nursing ...
Sing a few simple praise choruses: "Give Thanks," "he is Exalted," "More Precious than Silver."
Leader: Purchase a box of blank inside thank you notes. Make sure there is one card per person.
Take a few minutes to talk about the blessings of the last year. Ask each person to share something for which they are thankful for in the past year. After you hand out a card to each person, say something like ...
At Northeast Christian Church, where I serve as Small Groups Pastor, we have a variety of types of groups. One popular type is the neighborhood group. They are an important strategy in our plan to reach out to our community and to shepherd our people in community. I sat down and discussed neighborhood groups with one of our leaders, Katie Haller.
We believe that children and youth are an integral part of the church now—not just in the future.
Jay Firebaugh
We often refer to the church where I serve as a "two-chop stick church." Other people would call us a cell church, but I prefer the picture that comes from identifying ourselves as a two-chop stick church. What we mean by that is that we have two equal aspects that work together to designate how we do "church." They are the aspects of celebration and cell. In celebration, we assemble weekly in a large ...
How to plan a VBS Jamboree and follow-up Bible study group.
Michael C. Mack
You can have a Jamboree and backyard Bible studies whether you live in an apartment or a house. All you need is a neighborhood with kids. Even if only a few kids live on your block, you can invite them and then invite them to invite their friends. But holding an event like this takes planning. Use this checklist.
Make friends with the kids and parents you want to invite. You need to build up relationships and trust, so that you are not perceived as some stranger trying to "convert" the neighborhood.
Our children are dormant volcanoes, ready to erupt for God!
Holly Allen
Dad aren't you glad we went to our cell group tonight? We got blessed? I like getting blessings over me!
Ten year old Zachary, one of the spiritual "bricks" in our church, said this to his dad after a cell meeting. (Our spiritual bricks are those 9 to 13 year old boys who draw or make airplanes during church and ask when will it be over every five minutes.) I asked Mike, the dad, to describe what happened ...
Mentoring future Small-Group Leaders from the next generation.
Daphne Kirk
I wonder what qualities you would be looking for in the new small group leader you were choosing to mentor?
How about some of the following qualities: Impressionable, teachable, humble, enthusiastic, having faith to believe God for the impossible, loving people unconditionally, quick to forgive, and loving Jesus with all their heart. If you found someone like that, many of us would be ready to pour ...
What to do when children want to interrupt meetings.
The Small Group Network Community
Tom and Terri have three preschool children … who are out of control. Darryl has tried several options for childcare, but the kids still interrupt meetings constantly. Tom and Terri insist on having the kids in the same house as the meeting, but Darryl can't lead a meeting without several interruptions.
These studies will help women and mothers who feel overworked and want to find a happy medium.
Somehow many women have gotten the idea that life is a competition for the busiest-woman-alive award. Our course combats this prevalent cultural attitude with such topics as avoiding comparisons, saying no, connecting with your kids, setting aside a day for rest, and conquering working-mother guilt.
Session 1
Debunking the Myth of the Ideal Mom Did God give us a formula for motherhood?
This six-session course offers Biblical advice on how to pass on our faith.
Passing our faith onto our children is vital. How can we help them want to know Christ? This six-session course will discuss how to make God real to your children by teaching them how to pray, making church a positive experience, helping children make their faith their own, and using stories to make the Bible come alive.
Session 1
Make God Real to Your ChildrenUse everyday examples to teach your child ...
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