Steve Gladen is pastor of the Small Group Network at Saddleback Church, where he oversees 2,500 adult small groups. In that capacity, he loves watching a big church become small through true community developed in group life. Steve is the author of several resources, including ...
No matter how chaotic things may seem at the time, multiplication is all for the greater good of the kingdom of God.
Dan Smith
The small group was meeting together for the last time. Things couldn't have been worse. Their leader was leaving, the intern was unreliable, others in the group were squabbling and vying for positions of prominence, and one member was about to be exposed for embezzlement, fraud, and disloyalty. Defeat and fear permeated the atmosphere of the room as the leader stood to speak. He said,
Why the little things make a big difference in your group experience.
Joel Comiskey
I once heard a professor share some wise counsel with a group of preachers: "On Sunday morning, before you ascend to the holy pulpit to preach God's inerrant Word before a waiting, hungry congregation, take a moment to make sure that your pants' zipper isn't down." He knew the main point would be missed if the details were left undone.
Details matter. They matter to God, and they matter to your people. ...
The first is to start your own small group, pour your time and effort into leading it, and then watch it grow. As you cultivate a healthy community of believers who grow deeper in their knowledge of God and impact the world around them, you'll certainly catch the attention of your larger church. And, over ...
How to start exploring the Bible with non-believers.
Michael C. Mack
Set a time and place for the meeting. Choose a time that is relatively free from conflicts.
Keep the meetings short, usually no longer than an hour.
Set a definite duration, such as six weeks. People will not respond to something that seems like it might last forever.
Meet in someone else's home or apartment. It's better to be on their "turf." Make sure the place has plenty of room, is comfortable (air-conditioned in summer), and is convenient for participants to get to.
Here's how to successfully "birth" a new small group from an existing one.
Eric Metcalf
First love often seems perfect in our minds—the season, the romance, the memories. For many people, their first small-group experience also seems perfect. They wonder, "How could any group be as good as this one?" That's why birthing a new small group can be a scary proposition.
For those of you who have had a child, your first birthing experience is vividly etched in your minds—crazy, ...
Group members make up rhymes to introduce themselves.
Tami Rudkin
Have your group members introduce themselves in this fun way: Tell your group that you are going on a picnic to the lake. Each person needs to tell the group who they are and what they are bringing to the picnic by making up a rhyme. For example: I am Tami and Im bringing the family. I am Jake and Im bringing the cake.
Try this twist on a classic card game to help get your group talking.
Tami Rudkin
Take a little extra time and play Barrier Breaker Spoons with your group. These are the rules: Sit around a table to play. Place a spoon on the table for every person playing, minus one. So if you have 8 people playing, you should have 7 spoons in the middle of the table. Using a normal deck of cards (take out the jokers), pass out 4 cards to every person. The dealer begins passing the remaining part ...
I was just looking to care for an ailing member, but God opened the door to something much bigger.
Marilyn Yocum
If you are looking for a way to incorporate outreach and mission into your small group ministry, look no further than the neighborhoods into which God has placed church members. The uttermost parts of the earth may lie a lot closer than you think.
My involvement did not spring from a strategic plan but was a matter of practicality. One of our dearest church members, Abigail, had become a shut-in, and ...
All those looking for a small group, please raise your hands!
by Tom Bandy
People want intimacy, and your church is ready to start small groups. A natural fit! But how do you connect the yearning of the public with the opportunity of your ministry?
Let's imagine you have a mission to connect with seekers and mature disciples. You have appointed a great small-group leadership trainer, and you have trained some terrific small-group leaders. Some of the groups may be based ...
Printer view of these results
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