The story of a church who found the first thing they needed to do with small groups was to offer them.
by Life Together
Three weeks into the initial launch of small groups at Church of the Resurrection in Leewood, Kansas, church leadership is still feeling overwhelmed by its members' eager response. The church was expecting to begin with 150 small groups and 1,500 participants, but ended up with 240 groups and 2,600 participants.
Debi Nixon, Director of Small Group Ministry at this United Methodist church, says she ...
The desire for genuine community is the strongest motivator for small group involvement, but you have to be willing to commit.
by Dan Lentz
It seems like small groups are popping up everywhere. And churches that have a recognized small group ministry are becoming more the standard than the exception. Why is that? What's going on?
As director of smallgroups.com, I have a lot of contact with churches that are neck deep in the small group movement. My job revolves around helping pastors and small group leaders keep their small groups active ...
Real commitment can lead to a deep small group experience.
by Life Together
I got involved with my small group about one year ago. At first, it seemed like the group wouldn't be able to relate to one another. There was such a mix of ethnic groups and varying ages; we also had a mix of both singles and couples. But I quickly found that we all shared one desire—we all wanted more of the Lord in our lives.
So we made a commitment to one another. We decided that for the six ...
What the Society page reveals about our need for each other
Amy Simpson
Ephesians 4:3–6
I inherited an old trunk that sat in my grandma's basement. It had belonged to the generation before, who had used it to bring their possessions across the sea from Sweden. It sits in my dining room. It smells a little musty, but I treasure it as a link to my heritage.
I was thrilled to receive the trunk, but even happier when I opened it and saw my bonus surprise. The bottom was ...
A creative way to introduce the concept of accountability into your group
Sue Skalicky
Being a part of the over-forty crowd, I now know people who have had a face-lift. One acquaintance, a lady ten years older than me, had "the works" done - brow-lift, eye-bag removal, and whatever else was involved to make her look extremely surprised 24/7 for weeks after surgery. The process seemed agonizingly painful to me. The moment I saw the row of staples that crossed her hairline from ear to ...
Are your small group members being transformed by the Bible?
Scott Olson
Are your small group members becoming better informed about the Bible? Great! But are they also being transformed by the Bible?
To ensure growth, application, and change in the lives of small group members, try some of these suggestions:
Paradigm Shift.Change how you look at the Bible study portion of your meetings. Begin referring to this as "Bible application" time rather than Bible study time.
Relevant Teaching. Seek out materials that will speak to group members' real and felt needs. Don't assume that your pet topics will also appeal to them; make the effort to discover what they want to learn.
What works, and what doesn't, when leading a group of challenging people.
Pat J. Sikora
Challenging people. Wounded people. Dysfunctional people. Each year we find more of these in the church, creating a challenge for small group leaders. A regular small group in the church might have one or two of these people, in which case the leaders can buy and read my booklet, "Why Didn't You Warn Me?" But what do you do with a whole group of people who are so wounded that they don't conform to ...
A sobering reminder to make God's kingdom our priority
Reggie McNeal
The following excerpt was taken from a keynote address given by Reggie McNeal at a recent Organic Leadership conference. To learn more about the next conference, managed by CMA Resources, click here.
Authentic ways of believing, sharing, and living a rich gospel message.
Six Bible studies from the Christian Vision Project pose the question of our modern American gospel message: is it too small? In an age of consumerism, are we trying to "sell" Jesus? Are we embracing the whole Bible or just select parts of it? And is our faith real and deep enough that we can share it with others—simply, creatively, genuinely?
The story of a group that cared for a couple in their small group during the wife's illness.
by Life Together
Five years ago, my wife, Margaret, was diagnosed with lung cancer. Like everyone who hears this news, we were traumatized, but we trusted God for a miracle. After the doctor operated, he said they were able to get all the cancer and there was no need for follow-up treatment. We thanked God, rejoiced in her healing and got back to our "normal" life.
That life would be short-lived, however. A year-and-a-half ...
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