Small groups can be a great place for learning lessons about life.
by Brett Eastman
Two years ago when I met with my new small group for the first time, I was so reluctant. I didn't know if I could ever find the sense of belonging and spiritual family I had enjoyed with my previous group. But they welcomed my wife and me into their lives with arms wide open, and we soon became family. This group has not replaced my other group (nothing ever will), but it has become another circle ...
Integrate your relationships to make them more effective.
by Randy Frazee
Lifestyles today make integrated and interdependent relationships hard to create and maintain. The absence of this interdependence makes us hunger for community. Most of us manage "linear relationships."
Randy Frazee, author of The Connecting Church, describes linear relationships as running "from one relational unit to another. As you exit one world and enter another, there may be some mention of ...
I have been a Christian for as long as I can remember—though I've gone through definite periods of being a "good" Christian and times of being fairly lazy about my faith.
I thought I was in a time of "goodness" until my small group was working through the "40 Days of Purpose" campaign and took a quiz to see how we were doing in the five purposes. My worst was in evangelism. With the exception ...
A near-death experience caused Dennis to take God's leading more seriously.
by Dennis DeKay
Four years ago I was in a terrible accident. Rolling over four times, I broke my neck in four places. During emergency surgery my vocal cords became paralyzed. I often wondered why God spared me. I thought, He must have a purpose for me. After three months of prayer, my voice returned. Over the next three years, however, I still wondered why God saved me.
How one reluctant small group participant discovered God's purpose for her.
by Life Together
I knew God was leading me to be a part of a small group. Every time I heard an announcement about sign-ups or saw a flyer, I felt more and more convinced that I needed to get involved.
But I was nervous about it, and a little reluctant. The first night my group met, I had butterflies in my stomach as I walked toward the front door. But after everyone started showing up, I began to relax. They were ...
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 depends on the personalities and primary purpose of the group. I've seen successful dynamics in groups of 2 to 20. The look and 'feel' of each group's interpersonal communication is defined more by the people who make-up the group (along with their personalities, expectations, etc.), not so much the number of people in it. Every group is unique. One size—be it large or small—may work ...
Why church members often run from community despite their attraction to it
Thomas G. Kirkpatrick
In a book called The Different Drum, M. Scott Peck suggests that while we want intimacy, we often run from it. Perplexing, isn't it? We want to be honest and open, but we are not willing to risk being ourselves in a group of sisters and brothers.
As an example, let's say that Greg is upset over his teenager's recent experimentation with smoking pot. He wants help to sort out his feelings but is reluctant ...
Can't seem to find the right group? Maybe you're what's missing.
Len Woods
We've all heard that old joke where one guy says, "I'm looking for the perfect church" … to which his friend replies, "Yeah, well, if you find it, don't join it or you'll RUIN it!" The point is obvious: There's no such thing as a perfect church. The reason should also be clear: Churches are composed of imperfect people!
What's true of churches is certainly true of small groups. Every group has ...
How is a Christian supposed to approach recovery groups?
Pat J. Sikora
Jenny approached her first meeting of the incest survivors' group with anxiety. She and her counselor had concluded that she had been sexually abused as a child. Her world seemed to spin as she grappled with what that meant. She needed help. She had heard of a 12-step support group for survivors sponsored by her church's Recovery Ministries.
Only a handful of women attended the meeting. The facilitator ...
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