Small group health depends on preparing for success.
by Brett Eastman
When I first joined the staff at Saddleback Church. Rick told me he reserved seats for over 800 men on 7 different 747s headed to Washington, DC for Promise Keepers. I suggested we recruit leaders from some of the existing men's groups to launch a few more men's groups from the 800+ men going to the event. Over 300 men said they wanted to join a group, and half dozen men agreed to lead them.
Train your leaders to make your church a more welcoming and connected place.
by Reggie McNeal, Lyle Schaller, Rich Doebbler, and others
One of the most important activities of the church is to draw in people from the outside—whether believers or those who may have never been involved in the church before. This theme, Connecting Newcomers, helps evaluate how welcoming your church is and gives you tools to improve. Helpful topics include: how to foster hospitality on Sunday mornings among regular worship attenders, how to make ...
First off, it's awesome that your group members are very focused on evangelism and are bringing new people to your group meetings. This is vital for groups to stay healthy and balanced, and unfortunately not all groups get to experience that.
The belief that new members actually interrupt a small group's intimacy and momentum is largely unsubstantiated and unbiblical. It is a false premise that has ...
It's true: people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.
Michael C. Mack
Soon after we moved into our forty-unit apartment building, my wife and I wanted to start a Bible study to reach out to the unbelievers who lived there. I had no idea how to start an investigative Bible study, so I asked Glen, a minister at the church we attend.
"I don't think you should do a Bible study yet," he said. "Build some friendships with the people first, keep praying for the people there, ...
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.
Most American small-group ministries have not done as well as they have in places like Korea. Why?
Michael C. Mack
Small-group systems in countries like Korea have exploded in evangelistic growth. Most American small-group ministries have not done so well. Why? An article in Ministries Today (May/June 1993) speculates on five reasons.
1. They are methodologically designed to fail. In Korea, the church is built around small groups, says David Yonggi Cho, pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, the largest church in ...
Principles that will help small groups thrive in your church.
Jeannette S. Buller
1. Prayer - Prayer is foundational to the life and growth of the church. Result - There is a growing understanding of the critical part prayer plays in accessing spiritual power and in hearing God. Intercessors are mobilized and prayer is a vital component of every church meeting.
2. Integration - Disciple-making small groups are the basic building blocks of the church.Result - There is a system of ...
Planning ahead can ensure that you're not the only one who shows up for the meeting.
Michael C. Mack
Have you ever held a small-group meeting where no one showed up? Rather than feeling resentment, try these steps to help avoid this situation in the future.
Develop a core group. Include a leader, apprentice leader, and a host or hostess (any of these roles could be held by couples). The core leadership group is expected to be at every meeting. Also, if you are hosting the meeting at someone else's ...
A skit you can do during service to encourage people to join small groups.
Charles Bennetch
Note: This skit was given in the fall, prior to beginning a new small groups ministry.
Setting: Six to eight adults on platform, seated in semicircle.
Spotlight is first on narrator, then it moves to leader as he begins to lead the group. After he speaks, time stops—and the light moves to each member in turn as he or she thinks back over the previous year. (Their thoughts are prerecorded, and ...
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