Why listening is such a valuable tool for those of us in charge
Cathy Mogus
Most leaders are good talkers, but the best ones excel in listening, as well. This is especially true in a small-group setting. Many people join discussion groups so that others will listen to them. A good leader acknowledges this need and will use it as a valuable tool to help those people learn and grow.
If you are a small-group leader, here are some "hearing aids" that can help you tune in to your ...
Ask your group a series of questions that they must respond to by the following gestures. If they would respond "yes" to your question they will use thumbs up. If their answer is "no" they will use thumbs down. If they don't know or are indifferent to your question have them cross their arms. This is fun in a group because everyone is participating all at once and you learn all kinds of things about ...
I used to think that my lack of listening to people was due to either adult ADD or an extremely overactive leadership gift. I figured that some were gifted at listening, I was not, and therefore I could excuse it away. I really thought that to be a good leader AND a good listener was extremely difficult, if not impossible.
Then God took that little errant belief system and said, "Steve, you don't listen ...
Why the hardest decision in a small group is also the most important
Trevor Lee
I've never had a great small-group experience. I've heard people talk about the depth of relationships, personal transformation, and meaningful fellowship that can only be found in a small-group context, but I haven't experienced it. My small-group experiences haven't been bad, but they haven't delivered the depth that others have found. One of the most important reasons for this is something that ...
Learn what it takes to lead, what models to follow, and what fruit to expect.
by Alice Fryling
Group spiritual direction is very similar to individual direction. A small group of people meet together to provide spiritual direction for each other. Members of the group are given the opportunity, one at a time, to be the directee, and the group responds prayerfully to whatever the directee chooses to present.
The format is simple. The group starts with a time of silence or a short meditation. After ...
This download features practical skills and advice that will help you improve as a listener. It also includes helpful ways to administer those skills in a small-group setting.
by Joel Comiskey, Doug Self, Pat J. Sikora, and others
If you lead a small group, you want to be effective in helping your members grow closer to each other and closer to God. If you coach small-group leaders, you want to be effective in supporting and equipping them for the task. But all of that can be short-circuited if you neglect the critical step of listening. ...
Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs that can help you listen well
by Kathleen Miller
Jane called just as I was walking out the front door. Juggling my bag, Bible, and car keys, I answered the phone. "Hi," she said. "Have you got a minute?" I said I did, because I had told the members of my Bible study to call me anytime.
Jane was upset because her best friend, Sarah, had decided to leave the church. I knew Sarah's move stemmed from a ministry opportunity elsewhere. So instead of empathizing ...
One of the secrets of effective small-group ministry is to train group leaders to think in terms of developing a group agenda rather than relying exclusively on a curriculum. Specifically, train leaders to develop a small-group agenda that incorporates all the values you have adopted for your ministry. Curriculum is simply a tool that is part of the group agenda.
During this worship time you are going to not only sing but pray some of your favorite lyrics.
As the leader:
Choose about 4 of your church's favorite worship songs or hymns. Be sure to have copies of the lyrics for each person in the group.
Have the music recorded on tape or CD to use in the group. If you can't find a CD with your chosen songs on it you might ask a musician in your church to join you for the evening to lead the singing.
Printer view of these results
Lead
Train
