An interview with Tom Albin about the success of the Wesleys.
by Tim Stafford
Small groups—in which 6 to 12 people regularly gather to talk about their spiritual journeys, study the Bible, and pray—have become an integral and dynamic part of modern American church life. They have helped transform thousands of churches and millions of individuals. Though many think they were invented in the last couple of decades, they've been around in one form or another since the ...
One church learned that prayer is the essential ingredient for small group success.
by Life Together
Linda lay in bed recuperating from knee surgery. As much as she wanted to go to church and participate in the weeks leading up to the 40 Days of Purpose campaign, Linda could barely get out of bed.
She kept thinking about Pastor John's challenge to host a group for the 6-week campaign. How could that be possible? Though she couldn't sign up group members at church, she prayed people would become a ...
Take this quiz to help you decide about child-care options.
Michael C. Mack
Take this quiz to help you decide about child-care options. Every church's small-group ministry-and each group-is different, so there are no right or wrong answers. But you can think through the choices that will work best in your situation. Child care can be a great opportunity rather than a burden, if you plan.
_____ 1. What is the policy for your group? (a) No children except for nursing infants; ...
There are several practical ways you can include people with special needs in your group.
Esther M. Bailey
As a teacher or leader, you want everyone to receive benefit from your group session. When someone with special needs could benefit from your group, you wonder how to meet his or her needs. How can you bring a sense of belonging to someone who usually feels like a misfit?
Here are some suggestions I have used in various situations to integrate special persons into a group:
Statistics force us to see the reality of what's occurring in our small groups program.
Joel Comiskey
Over the past few years I have tried numerous weight reduction programs. During those weight loss weeks, I have forced myself to get on the scale, knowing it would tell me the truth—the reality of the situation. In some of my heavier moments, I have avoided the scale like the plague.
The main reason to keep and review weekly small group statistics is quality control—to know the reality ...
Here’s a practical way to help all of your group members participate.
by Jim Egli
Under [Christ's] direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love (Ephesians 4:16, NLT).
That's our goal for this small group. Each person plays an important role and the group grows "as each part does its own special work." Together we experience Jesus' love ...
With the right tools, your youth ministry can realize even your most "impossible" goals.
As a youth leader, you've got a tough road. Your job is to get a diverse group of busy, overwhelmed students to share one goal: getting to know Jesus Christ deeper and to make Him known to others. As if that isn't hard enough, you also want your ministry to be a place where students can find real friendships and ...
Use this practical tool to determine the childcare options in your small group.
by Michael Mack
Every church's small-group ministry is different. So is every small group. That's why we all need to think through the choices that will work best in our individual situations. If you plan ahead, the right childcare option can open up great opportunities for your small group instead of becoming a burden.Â
1. What is the childcare policy for your group?
[ ] No children are present except for nursing ...
How one church built groups from natural affinity groups.
by Life Together
When our church took a health assessment, we made an interesting discovery: People who were not in small groups rated themselves just as highly in fellowship/connectedness as people who were in small groups.
We used to view our church as hundreds of disconnected souls in desperate need of community. But we learned everyone in our church is connected to someone: a family member, co-workers, customers, ...
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