Learn how to avoid some dangerous leadership pitfalls.
by Joe Higginbotham
My first experience in small-group ministry is now over—sooner than I expected. But I still believe in the concept. Even though I made so many mistakes, I intend to go out and try again. In fact, I'm already involved in a second small group, and I've taken steps to safeguard against the problems I'm about to describe.
The first group started after my Sunday school class complained that 45 minutes ...
How one person learned that sharing his faith was about relationships.
by Life Together
Trevor grew up in a Christian home, attending church every Sunday. He knew the gospel, and he believed it. But when it came to sharing his faith with others, he never really gave it much thought. In his mind, explaining the gospel to someone who wasn't a believer was something only "super spiritual" people did.
When Trevor arrived at college, he met guys who were really serious about their relationship ...
Delegate leadership responsibilities and serve together to build group unity.
by Life Together
If you lead a small group study, you have a servant's heart. As a group leader, your desire is to develop this same heart in the members of your group.
How do you build a muscle? You build it by using it. Similarly, you need to build the servant's heart by working it.
One way to do this is by rotating leadership. Think about the gifts and abilities of your group members. At the end of your meeting, ...
These obstacles don't have to stop you from doing something big.
by Brett Eastman
After 9/11, President Bush challenged Americans to participate in a national candle lighting ceremony and to ask God for help to get through the tragedy. The response was incredible. Days later I walked through my neighborhood and suggested to neighbors that we do something like this in our neighborhood as an evangelistic outreach and to show what happens when communities work together.
Serving together as a small group can make a big impact.
by Life Together
Ellen watched her neighbor, Meg, deal with a volatile marriage. When reconciliation failed, Meg and her husband finally separated. With five children and no job, Meg's future was dim. Sometimes despair set in as Meg looked ahead to the responsibilities she had to face alone. Though Ellen cared for Meg, she was overwhelmed and, consequently, reluctant to serve her and her family.
Dividing responsibilities not only eases your leadership burden, it helps your group members grow.
by Life Together
First Corinthians 12:7 says that God gives every believer spiritual gifts for the common good of the body. But if your small group is like most, it's led by just one person—you! Not that you're probably complaining, but that's a huge burden. Aside from that, it's also keeping everyone else from growing in their gifts.
The load usually falls on one person because many leaders feel like the only ...
Setting up task groups is a great way to develop a growing number of faithful volunteers in almost any area of ministry. A task group is distinct in that it isn't just a traditional fellowship-building group or a team of people simply fulfilling a task. By definition, task groups attempt to accomplish both fellowship and ministry at the same time.
The principle mission of a task group is to set aside ...
Group members use three sheets of paper to create a visual representation of their day.
Tami Rudkin
Give each person in your group three pieces of construction paper—three different colors. Tell them that you are going to give them 5 minutes to make something with these papers that would describe their day. They may tear them to shreds, wad them up, or tear them into pieces to make a picture of some kind. Don't give them too many ideas or they will be stuck on yours. After five minutes, let ...
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