Churches all over the nation are recognizing a need to get small groups going in their congregations. As people sense a desire for deeper relationships within the body of Christ, interest in the movement is rising. But getting small groups started in a church and keeping the groups healthy are two completely different jobs.
As head of Touch Outreach Ministry, my job is to look at churches that have ...
Get tips on how to lead an effective small group even if you don't think you're ready.
by Brett Eastman
Some of you have been leading groups for six years—hosting is old hat for you. Some of you have been doing it for six months and may be looking to become a better host. And some of you just completed your first six-week study and, frankly, are still recovering from the experience.
Some of you may have stories like mine: John, who was a leader of a college group I was in for six weeks, tapped me ...
A simple assessment tool for gauging how healthy group members are.
by Life Together
If you want to have a healthy small group, it goes without saying that its members need to be healthy. So a good way to move yourself and your group toward well-being is by assessing each individual's level of health. Once this is established, you can help one another set goals for growth and can encourage one another in the problem areas.
The following questions are geared toward helping you and your ...
Pain is difficult, but is also a catalyst for spiritual growth.
by Brett Eastman
Nobody likes pain, and nobody likes to experience pain alone. Even Christ, while hanging on the cross, asked God, "Why have you forsaken me?" Yet God often uses it to trigger some of the greatest life-giving moments.
We often fail to appreciate that pain points out a problem that's blocking personal growth. In order for God to deal with certain areas of our life, he allows certain levels of discomfort ...
A church needs to carefully consider the risks and benefits before launching a group.
by Randy Christian
Support groups cost something. They tax the entire system of the church. A church may be flush with excitement at the prospects of helping a needy group, but if a church is not ready, a new support group can do more harm than good. We are wise, then, to count the cost of support groups before we start them.
After starting more than two dozen different support groups in our church, I've learned what ...
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 ...
Follow these six steps to help your leaders grow spiritually.
by Brett Eastman
When my daughter Michelle was diagnosed with a form of cerebral palsy, we thought she'd never walk. But one day she started getting up on her haunches and crawling. The next minute, she was pulling herself up on furniture and trying to walk, but she didn't look like she would ever stand sturdy on her legs. After we put her in a little walker that allowed her to cruise around the house, she went from ...
Learn about accountability from the early Methodists.
by Christianity Today
...
In late 1738 and early 1739, under the influence of Moravian pietists, the Wesleys began forming small groups for mutual accountability. These groups, called "bands," comprised about six people and made radical demands on the lives of believers—though no more radical than the gospel. Here are the 1744 Rules of Bands.
* * *
The design of our meeting is to obey that command of God, "Confess your ...
Transformation—the process of becoming holy—begins in your mind.
Transformation—the process of becoming holy—begins in your mind. We will see in this seven-session course, that the apostle Peter shows us how to begin to think differently, which will radically affect our behavior. We all make split-second decisions in any given moment to do right or wrong. To choose right, we must learn to be obedient to God, which will give us an appetite for being ...
A creative exploration into the role of creation and the creative arts in the Christian faith.
The following 3-session course will help you and your group think creatively by discussing what role creation and the creative arts have in the faith. You'll be challenged with questions like: What place does beauty have in the life of the Christian? Can literature play that important a role in the Christian's experience? Why should all Christians read poetry and what affect can poetry have?
Printer view of these results
