Why it's vital that your group maintain an upward connection with the Almighty
Joel Comiskey
"Don't teach about worship as part of the small-group order when you're speaking to our leaders," the pastor told me right before the seminar started. "We don't practice worship in our small groups. It's too much of a hassle to train the leaders to direct worship—and after all, our small groups are primarily for non-Christians."
"Okay," I nodded—outwardly calm. But inwardly I was wrestling ...
"Wherever two or three hundred are gathered in a building in my name on Sunday morning, there I am in the midst of them." That's not quite what Jesus said. Two or three were the numbers he mentioned, and that means the glorious risen Christ is no less present in our little Monday-night group than at any other time we worship him. A those psalms that direct us to praise the Lord and give thanks to ...
Worship calls forth deep feeling, and wherever there are deep feelings, there will be some discomfort. A few simple steps will help you introduce worship in a more nonthreatening way.
Start with yourself. Explore ways you can be more worshipful. (Many books on personal worship are available at your local Christian store.) The best ideas for group worship will come from you as you learn how to worship ...
Share your testimony through the lyrics of your favorite song.
Tami Rudkin
Use this worship idea for several weeks running as you won't have time to do it all in one evening. This is a wonderful time of worship, AND it will give each member an opportunity to share a small part of their testimony.
The week before you begin using this praise activity, explain to your group that you would like them to bring one of their favorite praise songs to group. Explain that they need ...
Prayer and worship invite God's presence into the group.
Michael C. Mack
"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly" (Acts 4:31).
I've been waiting for this to happen after prayer in one of my small group's meetings. It hasn't happened yet.
Small group experts talk a lot about small group dynamics. But none of them is as important as the dynamics of prayer and worship. ...
We would like to spend time in worship in our group, but our worship experience has mostly been on Sunday morning, led by a choir and organ. How can we transfer this to our small group?
>Worship in small groups can be a simple, elegant, and rewarding experience if you determine to keep it simple. Attempting to duplicate a Sunday-morning worship time is intimidating at least, and can be defeating if ...
As a pastor of a small groups church, I have visited various groups through the years. I have found that one can often quickly predict much about the future of the group within the first few minutes.
There are groups where people obviously enjoy each other's company. They rapidly flow from laughing to crying together. They respect one other. Group members share more than surface situations and short ...
Discuss important questions surrounding worship styles and practices.
This 5-session course will help you and your group discuss questions surrounding the worship issue, such as: Why and how should we worship? How can we see who God is through worship? How does worship connect with our personal walk with God? How do we prepare for worship? Are there bigger issues to consider other than just worship style?
For many churches, the majority of worship happens on Sunday morning. This is a significant way the body of Christ—as a community—focuses on God and his grace. However, worship that takes place during the week is vital to the life of the church, as well.
No one wants to lead worship, and Darryl's tone deaf—what does he do?
The Small Group Network Community
Darryl is tone deaf. He got kicked out of choir in sixth grade. Dogs howl outside the church building when he sings. Let's face it, he just can't carry a note. But his group wants to worship together. As does Darryl. Darryl asked the group who would lead a worship time, but no one responded.
What should Darryl do?
Here are Your Responses:
Read a selection from Scripture (or a medley of verses) on praise ...