Okay, so that may seem obvious, but one of the critical roles of a small group leader is to shepherd the people in your group. Does the word "shepherd" scare you? It shouldn't. God has provided you with the gifts and abilities to care for those in your small group.
In a healthy small group, the members, as well as the leaders, must be "healthy." In fact, I would ...
How to effectively coach leaders for their continued effectiveness.
by Brett Eastman
Without a guy named John I wouldn't be where I am today.
He was the coach of the first small group I led. When my confidence was waning or I was tired of leading, he came alongside me and said, "I believe you can do it." That meant the world to me. Everybody loves hearing this kind of encouragement.
He also repeatedly said, "I'll help you. I'll walk alongside of you, and you can come to me when you ...
The internet can be an important tool in the development of effectiveness in small-group ministry.
by C.R. Robertson
Our weekly small-group Bible study has been over for nearly an hour. The last of the lingerers has just pulled out of the driveway to head home. I'm picking up the popcorn bowls and coffee cups. My wife is already logging onto the computer, preparing to send quick e-mail messages to several of the young women she has just been talking to.
E-mailing someone she has just spent an evening with may seem ...
Multiplying small groups can be difficult, but the rewards are worth it.
by Randy Frazee
Many groups are resistant to the idea of multiplication. It's difficult to break up an existing group for the sake of reaching out to new people. Having babies—creating new communities—is painful, but the trade-off is better than remaining evangelistically barren. How do you keep a group focused on the gospel's command to be outwardly focused? Here are a few principles for fostering an environment ...
Being faithful to God is important, even when it's not easy.
by Life Together
Patti is a stay-at-home mom, who recently was trying to come up with a way to help supplement her family's income. Around this same time, she joined a women's small group and was introduced to the idea of tithing.
This idea was totally new to Patti, who was already worried about making ends meet. Patti told her leader that she didn't know how she could do it, especially since her husband, though a ...
Making a lasting impact requires close relationships.
by Life Together
As you plan your role in your church's small group ministry, it's important to remember the key principle behind your role as spiritual mentor: More time spent with fewer people has a greater impact. Let's break this down:
1. The starting point of all effective mentoring is RELATIONSHIP. Mark 3:14 says, "And he chose 12, whom he named apostles. 'I have chosen you to be with me,' he told them. 'I will ...
I'm not sure what your lives are like, but mine is progressively getting faster and more complex. As the doors of opportunity increase and the pace of ministry exponentially advances, I find myself struggling to create margins and live a life that is not only pleasing to our Lord, but also aligned with who I am and what I value.
Gandhi once said, "You must be the change you want ...
One man's simple question produces a legacy of life change.
by Brett Eastman
In this story, Brett Eastman, founder and CEO of Lifetogether, recalls how one man's simple question produced a legacy of life change:
I attended college in Southern California, and one day (I remember this like it was yesterday), a guy named John tapped me on the shoulder and asked me how I was doing spiritually.
I thought, "This is odd," but I didn't dismiss him; I actually talked with him for a few ...
Follow these steps to lead people down the path of continued spiritual growth.
by Brett Eastman
Our small group, like most small groups, is comprised of people with varying degrees of Christian maturity. One lady arrived as a spiritual seeker. Within time, she committed her life to Christ and was baptized. The evening of her baptism was a special time for our small group, as we celebrated her decision and prayed with her. Both seasoned prayer warriors and new believers lifted up praises and ...
A collection of resources that can improve your listening skills and help you apply them in small-group situations
"Small Groups in Depth" collections are assembled by the editors of SmallGroups.com as a method of continuing education for people participating in small-groups ministry. Each collection offers step-by-step training on a specific ministry skill or practice. Individuals may read through each resource on their own as a method of self improvement, or may customize the articles, discussion questions, ...
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